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| Lieu Coc Twin Towers site after two phases of archaeological excavation |
Hue City People’s Committee has assigned the Department of Culture and Sports to draft a report requesting excavation and exploration permits from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in accordance with regulations. Additionally, the Department will take the lead in guiding Kim Tra Ward People’s Committee on determining the appropriate size and area for constructing a protective shelter for the site, preparing a detailed cost estimate, and submitting it to Hue City People’s Committee for review.
Earlier, after concluding the second phase of exploration and excavation at Lieu Coc Twin Towers site, Hue City Department of Culture and Sports submitted a preliminary report to the People’s Committee of the city. This phase was conducted over more than a month, covering an area of 66 square meters. The results fully revealed the architectural foundation layout of the North Tower and provided a relatively complete understanding of the South Tower’s foundation structure, as well as partial identification of the structure, boundaries, and spacing of the surrounding northern and southern walls.
The archaeological team also collected 9.380 artifacts and fragments, mainly consisting of architectural materials, decorative elements, inscribed stone fragments, glazed ceramics, earthenware, terracotta, and copper fragments.
After the excavation, the specialists held an initial briefing, in which experts and researchers praised the findings. It was confirmed that the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site comprises an architectural complex situated on a low alluvial mound along the right bank of the Bo River.
The site is planned within a flat area containing two main temple-towers at its center, enclosed by boundary walls separating the central sacred area from the surrounding zone, with an entrance through a Gateway Tower. Notably, the Lieu Coc Twin Towers are currently the only site known in Vietnam to feature two principal worship towers (whereas similar sites typically have one or three main worship towers).
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| Artifacts unearthed in the 2nd phase of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers excavation |
Based on the results and initial evaluations from the second excavation phase, Hue City Department of Culture and Sports proposed that the People’s Committee of the city allow for continuing to excavate the remaining area (approximately 200 square meters). This effort is intended to fully uncover and complete the overall site layout of the Lieu Coc temple-tower complex.
This is the crucial moment for a comprehensive research investment in the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site, laying the foundation for establishing a unique Champa cultural space, or, more ambitiously, a Champa cultural museum to gather and exhibit the artifacts and records currently held by Hue. Such a project would help promote and showcase this distinctive cultural heritage, serving as a cultural tourism highlight for Kim Tra Ward in particular, and heritage-rich Hue City as a whole.
In addition to the continued excavation, plans include building a protective shelter over the site to prevent potential collapse during the upcoming storm season. Furthermore, a sustainable conservation project for the Lieu Coc Twin Towers is being proposed for inclusion in the 2026-2030 public investment capital plan. This will ensure timely preservation and enhancement of the site’s value for socio-economic development and provide the scientific basis to elevate the Lieu Coc Twin Towers to the status of a Special National Heritage Site as soon as possible.