Implementing 2 projects at My Son Temple Complex

Brother 1 My Son

Group L towers in My Son Temple Complex will be excavated. Photo: Tan Thanh.

Speaking to Dai Doan Ket newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DTC) of Quang Nam province said: "The implementation of 2 archaeological excavation projects at the L tower group at My Son Temple Complex has been licensed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the Institute of Archaeology to implement. This is a very meaningful project in the overall work of management, conservation and promotion of the value of the My Son World Cultural Heritage. In fact, after each archaeological excavation at My Son, archaeologists, scientists and researchers have discovered additional valuable historical, cultural and scientific elements, contributing to a solid scientific basis for restoration projects at My Son Temple Complex".

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet - Director of the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board said that under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and provincial leaders, the conservation, restoration and renovation of the My Son Temple Complex has always been focused on. However, the My Son Temple Complex still has about 71 relics and ruins distributed in many areas and most of the architectural works are no longer intact and need to be restored soon.

Therefore, on May 6, 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 1263 allowing the unit to coordinate with the Institute of Monuments Conservation, the Institute of Archaeology and the CM Lerici Foundation (Italy) to conduct archaeological excavations at the L tower group, in the My Son temple complex, with an excavation area of 150m2, from May 9 to July 30, 2025.

Regarding this issue, MSc. Nguyen Van Tho - Head of Conservation Department, My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board said that recently, archaeologist Dr. Patrizia Zolese and her colleagues have implemented measures to reinforce and protect the original state of the architectural foundation of the L tower group buried deep in the ground. From there, the group came up with a plan to restore the heritage to keep it intact.

Along with the archaeological excavation project of tower group L, the successful implementation of the conservation project of tower groups E and F will help revive the entire My Son relic site. At the same time, it will create a premise to continue to preserve the remaining tower groups in My Son in the future.

Dr. Patrizia Zolese shared: “Our main goal in the work of dismantling and cleaning up the ruins of the L tower group is to find authentic data as a scientific basis for the restoration of the L tower group. The initial results show that the L tower group has a structure and style that is not only very different from other tower groups in the My Son Temple Complex but also very different from other tower temples in Champa architecture”.

Brother 2 My Son

The project to preserve tower groups F and E at My Son temple has initially revealed the wall system near tower F1.

MSc. Nguyen Van Tho said: Currently, at the My Son relic site, there are 2 projects including archaeological excavation of group L and group E, F, in which group L has so far discovered some new architectures that have not been discovered before, some experts believe that this area is likely a residence and not a temple. "Currently, we are continuing to research and correct artifacts and can confirm that group L is an architectural work, not a separate architecture, recorded in the early 20th century".

As for groups E and F, Master Nguyen Van Tho said that, based on the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Vietnam and India, the restoration of groups E and F was continued. Group E and F is one of the towers that survived the war. Currently, groups E and F are being restored by Indian experts, and the weather is very favorable for excavation and restoration work here.

“The results of recent excavations, especially the new discoveries in the current excavation, have shown that these architectural works date back very early. The discoveries of artistic sculptures in this excavation also show the worship of Shiva as well as the cultural exchange between the Champa dynasty and ancient countries in the region,” said Master Nguyen Van Tho.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong - Director of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province said: "In addition to the L tower group, according to the memorandum of understanding signed between the two governments of Vietnam and India, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) continues to restore the EF tower group, the EF tower group is a complex of architectural ruins with special historical and cultural value of the My Son World Cultural Heritage. However, this group of temples and towers is still in a state of ruin after the war. This project is very necessary to preserve and restore the architecture and original elements remaining after the war. Both projects have the important goal of preserving the original elements of the heritage, continuing to identify the hidden value of the My Son World Cultural Heritage".

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet - Director of the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board said: “The implementation of the archaeological excavation project of the L tower group is very important because this is the last few tower groups of My Son that need urgent excavation and preservation. In particular, the method of preserving the L tower group after excavation is also proposed by the unit to be completely different from previous projects. Specifically, the current state after excavation will be preserved intact by the open-air method to serve visitors. The L tower group is located on a high mound, relatively isolated from the remaining tower groups in the relic site”.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/trien-khai-2-du-an-tai-khu-den-thap-my-son-10308037.html