Scientists examine an archaeological hole on the foundation of Can Chanh Palace. (Photo: VNA) Hue served as the capital of Vietnam during the NguyenDynasty (1802 - 1945), the last feudal in Vietnam, by the name of PhuXuan.
Findings from archaeological holes, covering about 200 sq.m. intotal, show changes in the palace foundation during different restorationperiods since it was built under the reign of King Gia Long (1762 - 1820).
According to archaeologists’ preliminaryconclusions, Can Chanh Palace was built on a weak geological background,possibly an area of lakes or swamps in the past, so its foundation wasreinforced during restoration periods in history.
Nguyen Ngoc Chat, deputy head of the research and collectiondivision of the Vietnam National Museum of History, said from its constructionin 1804 to its destruction in 1947, the palace underwent 11 rehabilitations at different levels.
Some experts recommended restoring the palace to the statusit was under the reign of King Khai Dinh (1885 - 1925) as it was one of themost beautiful architectural structures of the Nguyen Dynasty at that time.
Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments ConservationCentre, said conducting archaeological studies is a compulsory step during therestoration of relic sites. This time’s excavation has provided much scientificdata supplemented to a study serving the palace restoration.
Can Chanh Palace has been researched for more thantwo decades, with support from experts of Japan’s Waseda University. The conservationcentre will strive to complete procedures soon so as to start the restorationproject in 2024, he added.
The palace was a site where Nguyen kings worked and granted audiences to mandarins. It was destroyed in February 1947, with only thefoundation left.
In 2021, the Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Councilapproved a project on Can Chanh Palace rehabilitation with estimated total investmentof 200 billion VND (8.3 million USD) funded by the provincial budget.
Hue city is home to fiveworld heritages, namely the Complex of Hue Monuments, Nha Nhac (Vietnamesecourt music), the woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty, the imperial archivesof the Nguyen Dynasty, and the royal literature on the Hue royal architecture./.
VNA
