Field survey of Truong Luy relic in Gia Lai province

This event was held after preliminary results from the archaeological excavation of Truong Luy relic in Gia Lai province that lasted more than a month (from May 23 to June 30), conducted by Gia Lai Provincial Museum in coordination with the Southern Institute of Social Sciences .

Archaeological excavation pit at Dong Ham station in Truong Luy Gia Lai relic. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

The archaeological excavation was conducted on a total area of 200 m2, at 3 locations of the Truong Luy relic located in Gia Lai province, including: H4 Station (village 4, An Lao commune), Dong Ham Station (village 5, An Lao commune) and An Quang Station (village 2, An Hoa commune). The excavation provided important documents, clarifying the construction techniques and structure of the rampart system and the garrisons.

The archaeological excavation has clarified the construction techniques and structure of the rampart system and the garrison of Truong Luu Gia Lai. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

One of the most prominent discoveries is the vestiges of watchtowers at Dong Ham Fort and H4 Fort. These watchtowers have a circular structure, possessing many similarities with the watchtower architecture previously found at Thu Fort - a larger fort in the same system. This similarity is shown through the tight organization of the defensive space, including corridors for soldiers, a system of surrounding trenches and solid walls.

The entrance of a section of the Truong Luy relic excavated at An Quang station. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

These findings contribute to strengthening the hypothesis that the construction of the Great Wall and the network of forts/fortresses were not individual projects, but were part of a large-scale, comprehensive plan directly coordinated and supervised by the central government of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The strategic purpose of the Long Luy was to control and manage the important border area between the Kinh community in the plains and the ethnic minorities in the mountains.

The newly excavated rampart at Fort H4. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

The results from the field trip combined with archaeological reports will be a solid scientific basis for organizing a scientific workshop with the theme "Research on the value and orientation for preserving and promoting the value of Truong Luy relic in Gia Lai province" scheduled to take place on August 25, at Hai Au Hotel (Quy Nhon Nam ward). The workshop will provide strategic orientations, specific and feasible solutions to preserve and promote the value of Truong Luy relic - a unique defense structure and a valuable cultural heritage of Gia Lai province in particular, and Vietnam in general.

A section of rampart at Fort H4 had its foundation architecture revealed after an archaeological excavation. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

According to many scientific documents, Truong Luy is a defensive construction that dates back to the Nguyen Lords, but was built on the largest scale during the Nguyen Dynasty, with the purpose of preventing attacks by the Man people (therefore Truong Luy is also called Tinh Man Truong Luy, Man Tran Luy or Man Binh Luy); protecting the main road or the upper road, along with the people in the plains and mountains.

Research results of scientists today recorded that the Truong Luy system is about 127.4 km long, running from Quang Ngai province to Gia Lai province. Of which, the Truong Luy section in Gia Lai province is more than 14.4 km long, located at an altitude of 400 - 800 m above sea level, stretching from Hoai Nhon Bac ward to An Lao and An Hoa communes. Along the entire rampart line in Gia Lai, there are 19 posts, 500 - 1,000 m apart; each post has 4 watchtowers, each watchtower has 10 guards.