VIENTIANE, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Excavations taking place in Tonpheung district in northern Laos' Bokeo province, where several hundred Buddha statues have been unearthed, will be upgraded to a national level as more figurines were found.

The Lao government will appoint a national-level committee consisting of senior officials to ensure that future excavations are carried out professionally, with records detailing all the artifacts to be systematic and accurate.

"The findings are of great significance and merit national recognition. The next step will be to research the origins of the Buddha images and look for clues about their original location and purpose," Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket was quoted as saying by the Lao National TV in a report on Friday.

Upgrading the operation to the national level includes using the drone to view the site from a broad aerial perspective, identify boundaries, and record all the locations where the ground has been dug over so far.

In addition, modern equipment will be used, and foreign experts will be brought in to advise on appropriate methods of excavation and preservation, help make accurate records, and ensure that no artifacts are damaged.

According to a report issued by the Information, Culture and Tourism Department in Bokeo province on Thursday, local authorities have completed the registration of 154 of the Buddha statues.

Several Buddha statues were retrieved from the Mekong River's shore in Tonpheung district in Bokeo province, some 340 km northwest of the Lao capital Vientiane.

On March 16, a large Buddha image was found, measuring 80 cm in height, 56 cm in shoulder width, and 88 cm in total width.

The age and origin of the Buddha images were unclear. Most of them were made of bronze and some were engraved with letters. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)