VietNamNet Bridge – The most comprehensive historical and archaeological assessment of the My Son heritage site to date has been gathered in a newly published book titled Champa and the Archaeology of My Son.

My Son was a Hindu temple complex within the kingdom, located in what is known today as Duy Xuyen District in the central province of Quang Nam.

It controlled what is now southern and central Viet Nam from approximately the seventh century through to 1832. My Son was a Hindu temple complex within the kingdom, located in what is known today as Duy Xuyen District in the central province of Quang Nam.

Dozens of Vietnamese and foreign scholars contributed writings on the artistic treasures of My Son and its preservation process as part of a project carried out by Italian and Vietnamese specialists for the last ten years.

“My Son is one of the most important archaeological sites in Asia,” said archaeologist Patrizia Zolese, who has been involved in the project for many years and is also a contributing author for the book. “I have been called to work in My Son by spiritual voice rather than scientific voice…As culture has no border,” she added.

Architect Hoang Dao Kinh greatly appreciated the enthusiasm and efforts made by foreign experts in the long process of preservation of the My Son heritage site since the late 1970s.

“Many Polish experts shared untold difficulties with us from the beginning,” he said.” Kazimiers Kwiatkowski, the head of the Polish experts delegation, even spent months every year for six years at the site to help Vietnamese specialists, who then had little knowledge of conserving brick towers.”

“There is still much to do, but we have been supported alot by colleagues from France, Italy, Japan and Laos,” Kwiatkowski said. “I want to express my deep gratitude to their help so far for our today’s My Son.”

The site is located 69km southwest of Da Nang, and approximately 10km from the historic town of Tra Kieu. It comprises many Champa temples, in a valley roughly 2km wide, surrounded by two mountain ranges. It was the site of religious ceremonies for the kings of the Champa Dynasty, and it was also a burial place of Champa royal and national heroes. My Son was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1999.

(Source: Viet Nam News)