Vestiges of two 600-year-old pagodas have been discovered in Vi Xuyen district, the northernmost province of Ha Giang , according to the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology.
Since the beginning of April, archaeologists from the institute and the Museum of Ha Giang have found all four roof corners of a pagoda named ‘Nam Dau’ in Nam Thanh hamlet, along with two dragon-shaped figurines and other decorative details attached on the roof.
Experts also unearthed a number of traces thought to belong to the pagoda, such as lotus petal-shaped tiles, and a terracotta lion head, phoenix and crane.
Some of these features had been thought only to exist at the Thang Long Citadel in Hanoi or major structures of imperial courts in the past. Some of the other discoveries have never been seen before in Vietnam .
Through studying the objects, researchers said Nam Dau pagoda was built under the Tran Dynasty (1225 – 1400) in the later half of the 14 th century.
Dr. Tran Anh Dung from the archaeology institute said although the main part of this pagoda is not intact, discovered vestiges with their historical and cultural values are useful for the study of the Tran Dynasty’s features.
During the excavation, the team has also found out some relics showing the presence of another 600-year-old pagoda in nearby Na Lach hamlet, but it was much smaller than Nam Dau.
Numerous traces of the Tran Dynasty have been discovered in Vi Xuyen district so far. Among them, a stone stele at Sung Khanh pagoda and a bell of Binh Lam pagoda were recognised as national treasures.-VNA
Since the beginning of April, archaeologists from the institute and the Museum of Ha Giang have found all four roof corners of a pagoda named ‘Nam Dau’ in Nam Thanh hamlet, along with two dragon-shaped figurines and other decorative details attached on the roof.
Experts also unearthed a number of traces thought to belong to the pagoda, such as lotus petal-shaped tiles, and a terracotta lion head, phoenix and crane.
Some of these features had been thought only to exist at the Thang Long Citadel in Hanoi or major structures of imperial courts in the past. Some of the other discoveries have never been seen before in Vietnam .
Through studying the objects, researchers said Nam Dau pagoda was built under the Tran Dynasty (1225 – 1400) in the later half of the 14 th century.
Dr. Tran Anh Dung from the archaeology institute said although the main part of this pagoda is not intact, discovered vestiges with their historical and cultural values are useful for the study of the Tran Dynasty’s features.
During the excavation, the team has also found out some relics showing the presence of another 600-year-old pagoda in nearby Na Lach hamlet, but it was much smaller than Nam Dau.
Numerous traces of the Tran Dynasty have been discovered in Vi Xuyen district so far. Among them, a stone stele at Sung Khanh pagoda and a bell of Binh Lam pagoda were recognised as national treasures.-VNA
