THANH HÓA — Scientists have gathered more evidence of a 14th-century Buddhism centre in an excavation at Am Các Pagoda, Tĩnh Gia District in the central province of Thanh Hóa.

The pagoda was built under the Trần Dysnaty.

It reached its peak under the Lê Trung Hưng Dynasty in the 18th century as a Buddhist centre of the area, the researchers revealed. Over time, the pagoda was destroyed. A new pagoda was built at the site few years ago.

A modern pagoda was built where the ancient one once stood.

Scientists from the Institute of Citadel Studies, part of the Việt Nam Social Sciences Academy, have excavated a total area of 543sq.m at the site.

They found remnants of a workshop producing building materials and gathered thousands of ceramic objects that helped them determine the exact dates the site was active.

Scientists noted that the pagoda was formed in 14th century, shortly after the formation of the independent Đại Việt nation. Buddhism was flourishing in the area starting in the 10th century.

Traces of various building materials were found in a workshop at the site.

According to Bùi Minh Trí, director of the institute, ancient documents mentioned Am Các Mountain but scientists have not found any written clues on Am Các Pagoda.

Researcher Trần Văn Thức, from the Thanh Hóa College of Culture, Sports and Tourism said a group of researchers will go to China to search for more ancient documents concerning the founding, history and cultural value of the pagoda.

Researchers at the site.

The pagoda is situated in Các Mountain, 500 metres above sea level, overlooking the southeast sea of Thanh Hóa Province. The pagoda used to be surrounded by jungle.

Scientists asked concerned agencies to do further research at the site to complete a dossier to propose recognising the site as a national historic and landscape site.

Local authorites also intend to devise a plan to preserve and develop the site into a spiritual and tourism site with a total area of 300ha. — VNS