Performed by: Le Chung | June 28, 2024
(Fatherland) - After more than 2 months of archaeological exploration and excavation at the National Architectural and Artistic Relic of Lieu Coc Twin Towers, many new discoveries have contributed to the scientific basis for developing a plan to preserve, restore and promote the value of this relic.
The Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic is located in Lieu Coc Thuong village, Bau Thap hamlet, now Xuan Thap residential group (Huong Xuan ward, Huong Tra town, Thua Thien Hue province). This is a typical architectural work of the Cham people, with many values in terms of science, history, culture, architecture, religion, beliefs...
The monument consists of two towers built close together (about 2.8m apart) on two parallel axes in the East-West direction, with the entrance to the towers on the East side. The name "Lieu Coc Twin Towers" was taken from the place name of Lieu Coc village and the scale of the two towers to name the monument.
In 1994, the Minister of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) signed a decision to rank the Lieu Coc Twin Towers as a National Architectural and Artistic Relic according to Decision No. 921/QD/BT dated July 20, 1994. Although the current state has been seriously degraded and damaged, compared to the Champa temples known from Bac My Son (Quang Nam) and beyond, besides Phu Dien Tower, Lieu Coc Twin Towers is the relic that is assessed to have the best preservation status.
From late April to early June 2024, the National Museum of History in coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thua Thien Hue province conducted archaeological exploration and excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic. The exploration area is 20m2 (4 pits), the excavation area is 60m2 (3 pits). This archaeological research and excavation is to clearly determine the scale, structure, nature and age of the relic. Thereby serving the planning, conservation, restoration and promotion of the overall value of the relic.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat, an officer of the National Museum of History, who presided over the archaeological exploration and excavation, said that the excavation process expanded and connected the excavation pits (H1, H2, H3) together to form a large pit (9.4 x 10.3m), surrounding the foundation of the North Tower. Thereby, the ground plan, scale and structure of the North Tower temple architecture were clearly determined.
The scale and structure of the North Tower consists of four parts: the foundation, the tower base, the tower body, and the tower roof. The tower roof alone has collapsed and cannot be recognized; the tower body has also collapsed more than half, so recognition is also limited. From the foundation to the tower body, all are built with bricks, the bricks are arranged horizontally and vertically, in which the outer covering and the inner surface of the foundation and the tower wall all use intact bricks, while the core wall is mostly made of broken bricks mixed with pure yellow clay.
Bricks were used to build the Liugu Twin Towers.
To fully determine the scale and overall structure of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic, experts also opened 5 exploration pits, including 2 pits in the East along the central axis of the North Tower, 1 pit in the Northeast corner, 1 pit in the Southeast corner and 1 pit in the West.
In the exploratory pits, the locations of the Gate Tower (gopura), the Fire Tower (kosagraha), the Eastern wall system (antarmandala) and the path connecting the South Tower to the North Tower were determined.
"Through the results of excavation and observation of the current surface, we initially identified only 2 main temples and towers in the relic, with no sign of a third tower. If there are only 2 main worship towers, then Lieu Coc Twin Towers is a special relic, the only one in the Champa temple and tower relic system with 2 main worship towers. Normally, Champa temple and tower relics are distributed along Central Vietnam, during the research process, only a system of 1 or 3 main worship towers was recorded, there is no case of 2 main worship towers like in Lieu Coc", Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat assessed.
According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat, in parallel with revealing the scale of the architectural foundation of the North Tower and other related architectural vestiges, during the excavation process, a huge amount of relics including more than 4,800 specimens were also collected. In which, the main focus is on architectural materials, architectural decorations, stone stele fragments and reliefs, glazed ceramics, porcelain, terracotta and metal coins.
Architectural materials include 3,936 specimens of bricks and tiles, of which bricks account for the majority with 3,920 specimens, and tiles have 16 pieces. Pottery was found in many different shapes and materials. The discovered metal coin is 1 "Nguyen Phong thong bao" coin written in Hanh thao style, dated 13th century.
The architectural decorations found at the site are mainly decorative accents on the corners of the towers. The decorations are made of yellow-gray sandstone, in addition to the simple block-shaped artifacts, smooth surfaces, in the shape of a Nandin bull's head, with a mane on top, and a long pin embedded deep into the corner of the tower. A total of 50 pieces have been identified with bull-head decorations, including 2 intact artifacts.
Stone relics found 4 specimens, especially the Buddha head relief dating from the 11th-12th century. It can be said that this is a valuable collection of artifacts, certainly after research, editing, appraisal and scientific documentation, it will provide a lot of important information, helping research and display to promote its value.
Through research and excavation practices, experts also recommended that the area of research and archaeological excavation should be continued to be expanded to clearly determine the scale, original structure, nature, characteristics, and age of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers. This will serve as a scientific basis for developing a plan to preserve, restore, and promote the value of the relic, and to develop a dossier explaining the relic in accordance with its inherent value.
In addition, it is necessary to study and strengthen the tower wall system to avoid deterioration and collapse; clean the brick surface, prevent moss and mold and trees from growing over the architecture. In the lower part of the foundation, it is necessary to fill the ground and pave the tower yard, leaving only the tower base and tower walls exposed. Design a roof house for the two main tower architectural works. Use modern technology to help visitors visualize the complete tower architectural works. Research to establish a Champa cultural museum in Thua Thien Hue, right at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic...
Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Information of Thua Thien Hue province, said that although the scope of the recent archaeological excavation was still very limited, it had yielded many new discoveries, further affirming the great values of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers relic. After this period, the Department of Culture and Information will propose to the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province to soon continue to expand the second phase of archaeological excavation of this relic. If this can be done, there will be a basis and plan to preserve and promote its long-term value.
Source: https://toquoc.vn/nhieu-phat-hien-moi-sau-dot-khai-quat-khao-co-di-tich-quoc-gia-thap-doi-lieu-coc-20240628003952319.htm
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