The artefact of an ancient kiln was found in the garden of a local man in Phú Bình Ward, Tịnh Khê Commune, Quảng Ngãi Province. — VNA/VNS Photos Đinh Hương

QUẢNG NGÃI — The recent archaeological excavation at the ancient Châu Sa Citadel in the central province of Quảng Ngãi provides precious evidence of a large-scale production centre dating back to approximately the 2nd-3rd centuries AD, experts have confirmed.

The excavation was conducted as an emergency by the Quảng Ngãi provincial museum since early June after a local man reported that he accidentally discovered artefacts suspected of being an ancient kiln relic.

While digging holes to plant trees in Thành Village, Phú Bình Ward, Tịnh Khê Commune in April, a local man named Nguyễn Kiên and his family members found an ancient gourd-shaped kiln, measuring approximately 3.5m long and 1m wide.

Recognising the importance of the site and to prevent the risk of damage, the museum immediately conducted a survey and sought permission for urgent excavation.

An archaeologist collects samples of the remaining coal at the excavation site.

Quảng Ngãi Province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on June 10, 2026, issued Decision No 296/QD-SVHTTDL, allowing the museum to conduct the urgent archaeological excavation on an area of ​​100sq.m, comprising two pits labelled H1 and H2 in Thành Village.

To facilitate in-depth research, the authorities extended the excavation period from July 9 to July 19. The museum has just completed the excavation in the inner site of the citadel, with results showing a large-scale pottery workshop complex along with important architectural remains.

The results have also opened up valuable documents to 'decipher' the appearance of a transitional historical period that has been very little documented about the citadel, known as the only remaining relatively intact earthen citadel of the ancient Chăm People.

The excavation team carefully doing their work at the site.

According to Dr Đoàn Ngọc Khôi, deputy director of the museum, who also led the excavation, the emergency research achieved many important results, clarifying previous findings during 2022.

At the site, the team discovered three more tile kilns, bringing the total number of kilns discovered in this area to four. Notably, in addition to the previously discovered kilns with walls of over 20cm thick, this research uncovered a new type of kiln with very thin walls of only about 4.2cm but still functioning properly for firing tiles.

The team also discovered a waste dump containing many tiles, gravel, and coal surrounding the kiln areas, which were used by the workers as drying and processing surfaces for their products.

These traces clearly demonstrate that the inner area of Châu Sa Citadel was once a complex of workshops, a large-scale centre for producing tiles for the construction of temples and palaces.

The artefacts were confirmed to date back to approximately the 2nd-3rd centuries AD, belonging to the post-Sa Huỳnh and pre-Chăm period – the time when small kingdoms were being formed.

"In particular, right in the middle of the Châu Sa Citadel, we discovered traces of a new architectural structure located in a strategic position and believed to have been the workplace of a state-level power agency at that time," Dr Khôi said.

One of the three new ancient kilns unearthed at the site.

Alongside architectural remains, a series of highly valuable artefacts, ranging from household pottery and roof tiles to religious and commercial items, have also been discovered.

These are crucial 'keys' that help scientists decipher the urban structure, daily life and production techniques of ancient inhabitants, clarifying the cultural exchange and transformation of the Vietnamese people later on, the expert said.

The Châu Sa Citadel, built before the 10th century, is the only relatively intact earthen citadel of the ancient Chăm people remaining in Việt Nam. The citadel is large in scale, consisting of two inner and outer round walls, nestled against natural mountain ranges and directly connected to the waterway network leading to the Sa Kỳ and Đại Cổ Lũy sea gates. This site was recognised as a National Historical and Cultural Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 1994.

To preserve and sustainably promote the heritage value of the groundbreaking discoveries, Dr. Khôi suggested that authorities should implement a special plan soon for the Châu Sa Ancient Citadel, and simultaneously prepare a dossier to propose upgrading the relic from a national to a special national monument.

Regarding the recently unearthed kiln complex, Khôi suggested that the cultural sector should coordinate with local authorities to hold a direct on-site assessment meeting to develop the most optimal preservation solution for the area.

Hồ Duy Cư, 73, an elderly local, said that villagers were very proud to know that their residential area preserves historical values ​​of their ancestors.

When the authorities carried out archaeological excavations and proposed conservation and expansion plans, the villagers all agreed and were ready to cooperate with the authorities to ensure the sustainable protection of the historical site as soon as possible, Cư said.

The archaeological team stated that, after completing the fieldwork, all artefacts and relics will be registered, inventoried, protected and temporarily stored at the provincial museum before being displayed to the public in the future. — VNS