Entrance to My Son K tower in the east direction - Photo: BD
On the afternoon of April 8, the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board announced the discovery of a sacred path, about 500m long, leading to Tower K. This information caused surprise.
'Turns upside down' 220m2 of land, archaeologists discover secret entrance to My Son Sanctuary
Why does the archaeological process over hundreds of years not have this information?
The secret path "reverses" all searches about My Son
According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy - Institute of Archaeology, head of the excavation team at My Son, for a long time, visitors to the heritage mainly explored the vestiges in the holy land.
There has been no published information about an intact "map" of a relic that was once very systematic, with a complete heritage complex from the entrance to the ceremony, the towers, the sacred worship area...
Therefore, finding a sacred road, which could be the most important construction in My Son Sanctuary, is a breakthrough, contributing to preserving and promoting the value of the relic.
But what makes many people wonder is the Shinto path located on the empty land in front of the K tower, under the feet of visitors, and has only just been found?
On the afternoon of April 8, when presenting about this archaeological expedition, experts said that there have been many doubts surrounding the road for a long time.
Tower K is a single tower that stands alone from the other groups of towers. If you enter My Son valley by road along the stream, the first structure you will see is Tower K.
Scientists study traces of the sacred road - Photo: BD
In 2017 - 2018, when the Indian expert team restored and embellished the K tower, they continued to record that the tower had two east and west doors.
However, at that time, information about the road sign from tower K to the center of My Son was not of interest.
In June 2023, when the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board coordinated with the Institute of Archaeology to excavate around the K tower - My Son to authenticate architectural remains, they unexpectedly discovered two sections of the surrounding walls extending from the K tower to the east, forming a road leading to the E - F tower areas.
This is the key for archaeologists to determine the existence of a previously unknown spiritual path in the history of My Son.
That road is completely different from the route designed to welcome tourists to visit My Son for a long time.
What will My Son do?
According to the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board, with the announcement of a road for dignitaries and monks to enter the center of My Son Sanctuary to perform spiritual rituals for the first time, My Son heritage is facing a great opportunity.
If you know how to do it, the sightseeing activities will be more attractive and legendary, and visitors will flock to it. My Son Sanctuary will also be raised in stature on the world heritage map.
Cultural researcher Nguyen Thuong Hy believes that the value of the sacred road shows the shape of a "heritage complex" with full functional areas, not simply rows of towers as before.
My Son Sanctuary Center - Photo: BD
In many places around the world and even domestically, once valuable archaeological discoveries are announced, that destination is also pushed to another level of value.
The problem is how to do it, how to take advantage of the advantages to enhance and promote the great value of the relic.
Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy - Institute of Archaeology - suggested to My Son that once "updated" in the archives, the sacred path would be a great material for calculating and designing the tour route.
In particular, the My Son Legend Night program will also be revised and supplemented with new scripts. Visitors to My Son will be extremely surprised to know that there used to be a sacred road leading back to the center of My Son Sanctuary, just like the road that has long brought visitors in.
Vice Chairman of Duy Xuyen District People's Committee Dang Huu Phuc requested to protect the excavation pits absolutely and carefully.
Next is to make full documentation and calculate what to do to promote the value of this sacred path for conservation activities and visits to My Son Sanctuary.
How many other secrets are there in My Son?
In addition to the sacred road, scientists believe that My Son Sanctuary has many other valuable structures buried underground that have not yet been discovered.
It is said that there used to be a watchtower in front of My Son Sanctuary. The stele at the site also records that the towers at My Son were built in the 5th century, with Tower F1 being the oldest tower recorded, dating back to the late 8th century.
So was there ever a road leading to My Son Sanctuary before the 7th century - much earlier than the newly discovered religious road?
To answer this question, scientists recommend continued extensive excavation.
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