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| National treasure: A set of 11th century stone linga-yoni, which is judged biggest intact of its kind ever excavated in the country. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Đăng Lâm |
Viet Nam News
QUẢNG NGÃI — An excavation at Bút Mountain Tower in central city of Quảng Ngãi unearthed the biggest-ever intact linga of Chăm Pa civilisation, researcher Vũ Quốc Hiển, former deputy director of National Museum of Vietnamese History said on May 5.
The stone linga measures 40cm in diameter, 43cm in height, while the yoni attached below measures 168cm in length, 124cm in width and 25.5cm in thickness.
Hiển, who led the excavation, commented that the object should be considered a national treasure.
The linga-yoni set is among 109 objects including baked clay, ceramic and porcelain wares dated between 10th and 13th century unearthed at the site.
The excavation found a laterite foundation below the tower. The foundation is almost intact and rare.
“Bút Mountain Tower might have been the place where Chăm Tower was first built. It’s on a high hill, instead of a low plain like Bánh Ít Tower (in central Province of Bình Định), Nhạn Tower (central province of Phú Yên) and Bà Tower (central city of Nha Trang),” said Ngô Văn Doanh, an expert on Chăm Pa civilisation.
According to scientists, Bút Mountain Tower was built in the 11th century, mark a change in style between Sơn Mỹ A1 Tower style (of 10th century) to Bình Định Tower style (12th -14th century).
Scientists hope to preserve and restore the original foundation of the tower.
They also suggested to build a temple to put the linga-yoni set and valuable objects unearthed at the site. They hope to complete a dossier to submit to concerned agencies to recognise the tower as a national level Chăm Pa art and architecture relic site and the linga-yoni set as a National Treasure. — VNS
