Some tourist guides working in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang tourism centre in the central province of Quang Binh on March 21 discovered, quite by chance, an ancient jar inside the Phong Nha grotto.

The brown 64cm-high jar, with a diameter of 50cm, was found 100m away from the Bi Ki cave in the grotto complex. The stalactites in the grotto had been hiding the jar and prevented its discovery.

Bi Ki cave, known as one of the most beautiful in the region, has preserved some vestiges of the Cham people for hundreds of years.

Local people suggested that the jar was made by the Cham people to store the remains of their dead.

The tourism centre will carefully preserve the artifact while waiting for further direction from provincial authorities.-VNA