Quang Nam strengthens protection of national treasures

(QNO) - Quang Nam province currently has 7 national treasures being preserved and displayed in museums and private homes, most of which are well protected, especially since the incident of the throne in Hue being vandalized, the protection work has become more rigorous and scientific.

National treasure My Son A10 altar. Photo: VINH LOC

My Son protected in the open direction

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet - Director of My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board said that the unit is currently preserving and displaying two national treasures including Ekamukhalinga and My Son A10 Altar. These are artifacts discovered at My Son temple complex.

Many years ago, identifying risks that could affect national treasures such as chemical impacts, theft, natural disasters, storms and floods, the Management Board has implemented many strict protection and security measures while still creating the best conditions for visitors to visit and admire the treasures.

Specifically, with the Ekamukhalinga treasure, from the time it was discovered (November 22, 2013) until it was recognized as a national treasure (January 14, 2015), the treasure has always been permanently displayed in a tempered glass cabinet (with a QR code board with information on the content on the outside) at the My Son Museum for visitors under the constant supervision of security guards, specialized departments, camera systems, and sensor systems day and night, including fire prevention, hygiene, ensuring temperature, light as well as physical and chemical impacts on the artifact...

Similarly, with the national treasure My Son A10 Altar, after being completely arranged from 17 sandstone blocks in 2020 and recognized as a national treasure in 2021, the artifact is still arranged in its original position in the A10 temple, with a barrier to prevent visitors from approaching (there is an information board and QR code about the artifact outside). At the same time, it is constantly monitored by security guards, a camera system, and alarm sensors when visitors approach the artifact, promptly preventing acts of direct encroachment on the national treasure.

Ekamukhalinga My Son treasure. Photo: DOCUMENT

According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, in addition to strengthening security from a distance, especially for visitors who show suspicious signs during their visit, promptly preventing acts of direct damage to national treasures, promoting the value of treasures and policies to protect national treasures to the community and tourists; preventing natural disasters and risks to treasures are also regularly focused on.

"The unit is researching to strengthen additional measures such as building a suitable roof to avoid direct impact of rain and sun on the national treasure My Son A10 altar to minimize the impact on the treasure but still ensure easy access for visitors to learn" - Mr. Khiet shared.

Safekeeping of national treasures

Quang Nam province currently has a total of 7 national treasures. In addition to the 2 national treasures on display and promoting their value at My Son, there are 3 treasures being kept at the Quang Nam Museum and 2 national treasures owned by Mr. Luong Hoang Long (Xuan Hoa block, Cam Pho ward, Hoi An city), including the Hoang Long bronze drum, dating from the 4th-3rd century BC to the 1st-2nd century (belonging to the Dong Son culture) and the Hoang Long bronze jar, dating from the 4th-3rd century BC to the 1st-2nd century (belonging to the Dong Son culture).

Notably, most of the three national treasures kept by the Quang Nam Museum are made of precious materials. Specifically, the Shiva statue head, belonging to the Champa culture, 10th century, (discovered on July 23, 1997 in Phu Long village, Dai Thang commune, Dai Loc district, recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure on December 25, 2015) is made of gold alloy.

Lai Nghi gold jewelry collection, Sa Huynh culture, 3rd century BC to mid-1st century (discovered from archaeological excavations of Lai Nghi relic from 2002 - 2004, now in village 7B, Dien Nam Dong commune, Dien Ban town, recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure on December 31, 2024), gold material.

Lai Nghi animal-shaped agate beads, Sa Huynh culture, 3rd century BC to mid-1st century (excavated from 2002 to 2004, now in block 7B, Dien Nam Dong ward, Dien Ban town, recognized by the Prime Minister as a National Treasure on December 31, 2024), agate material.

Gold beads in Lai Nghi gold jewelry collection. Photo: Quang Nam Monuments and Museums Management Board

According to Mr. Tran Van Duc - Deputy Director of the Quang Nam Monuments and Museums Management Board, due to the lack of conditions for special cabinets and security, the unit has not yet displayed the original 3 treasures, instead, 1/1 scale versions made of composite material are displayed to serve customers, all original treasures are kept in a safe placed in the museum's artifact warehouse and protected by an outer layer of foam and a silica gel desiccant bag. Outside the safe is a concrete storage cabinet; there are two keys (1 safe, 1 storage cabinet) kept by the representative of the Board of Directors and the head of the professional department.

“We always carefully inspect and preserve artifacts, from cleaning to applying insect control measures before bringing artifacts into the storage warehouse, minimizing the entrance of insects and rodents by treating all gaps; periodically exterminating termites, rats, and insects…” – Mr. Duc informed.

However, Mr. Tran Van Duc said that in the long term, it is necessary to upgrade the basic warehouse or build a new warehouse, ensuring the criteria for preserving national treasures as well as museum artifacts, especially investing in modern equipment, ensuring a stable and favorable environment for long-term preservation of treasures; equipping equipment to disinfect artifacts before storing them, ensuring strict compliance with the principles and techniques for safe and scientific preservation of national treasures.

In early June, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a document to individuals and units managing national treasures, including the Quang Nam Monuments and Museum Management Board; the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board and Mr. Luong Hoang Long (Xuan Hoa block, Cam Pho ward, Hoi An city) requesting an assessment of the current status of display, preservation, protection and security and safety measures for national treasures under direct management, especially the security and safety plan and risk response measures implemented (since the decision to recognize national treasures) as well as other proposals and recommendations.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/quang-nam-tang-cuong-bao-ve-cac-bao-vat-quoc-gia-3156789.html