Binh Dinh (VNS/VNA) - Artefacts unearthed at the ChauThanh Tower ruins in Binh Dinh have helped archaeologists place the oldest dateof these structures to between the 4th and 6th centuries.

The provincial Department of Culture and Sports and the Vietnam Institute ofArcheology hosted a conference to announce the early results of archaeologicalexcavations of the Chau Thanh Tower remains in Nhon Thanh ward, An Nhon town, BinhDinh on August 18.

Pham Van Trieu, deputy head of the Historical Archeology Department at theInstitute of Archeology, said the unit has uncovered three architectures of twodistinct stages based on stratigraphy, building techniques, and constructionmaterials.

Bricks, tiles, ornamental ceramic pieces, laterite, many statue fragments,porcelain, and small pieces of gold were also found, among many more antiques,architectural materials, and stoneware.

Trieu believes that the findings of the third phase continue to provide crucialinformation for verifying the official scale of the Chau Thanh Tower andpinpointing the site of the main temple.

"Through the findings, it can be said that this ruins exists a large-scaletower architecture, and reflecting the entire historical period of the ancientChampa capital," he said.

The third excavation also helps identify the oldest date of the Chau ThanhTower remains in the 4th to 6th century.

Similar findings were discovered in ancient architectural works at Tra KieuCitadel (Quang Nam), Co Luy (Quang Ngai), and Ho Citadel (Phu Yen).

They are evidence of the three-hundred-year era of territorial unification,which created a common nation.

Notably, the results of the excavations at Chau Thanh demonstrate the earlyimpact of Hindu culture on the spiritual lives of the Cham people.

Le Dinh Phung of the Vietnam Association of Archeology, said the remains of ChauThanh Tower are one of two large-scale ancient Cham architectural works thatshed light on historical evidence of the initial capital of the Lam Ap Kingdomin Binh Dinh.

Phung added that this archaeology would contribute to the clarification of BinhDinh’s culture and history as well as Champa's historical culture after it hasbeen merged into the Vietnamese cultural flow.

Huynh Van Loi, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture andSports, praised the archaeological findings at the Chau Thanh Tower.

The cultural sector of Binh Dinh plans to collaborate with the Institute ofArcheology and scientists in order to continue investigating and clarifying theliterary, historical, and religious significance of the Chau Thanh Tower ruins./.