VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Local residents made an exciting discovery of 14 Buddha images, 22 swords and a gong inside a cave in Nadee village in Viengthong district, Borikhamxay province.
Based on their appearance, local authorities believe they could be antiquities and have asked archaeologists to verify the age of the artefacts.
Director of the Borikhamxay provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Sonthong Vibounkuang, told the Vientiane Times that local people came across the relics on Monday (April 24) when they were searching for food inside the cave, which is located in a wooded area.
Astounded by their find, they notified local authorities, who believe that 13 of the Buddha images are made of gold.
The authorities have placed the artefacts in a safe location in Nadee village, where they are being guarded day and night.
Locals are now flocking to worship the Buddha images at a temporary shrine, Sonthong said.
Such finds are not uncommon in Laos and ancient Buddha images and relics have been unearthed in many places, both hidden in containers and buried in the ground. It is believed that people hid these valuable items to prevent them being stolen by invaders many years ago.
In 2018, local residents uncovered hundreds of small Buddha images and other relics underneath That Inghang Stupa in Savannakhet province, while the stupa was being renovated.
The artefacts were estimated to be up to 2,000 years old. They were made of gold, silver, bronze, wood and other materials and ranged in height from 8cm to 10cm.
In 2019, locals discovered 60 Buddha images in Tham Phapheenoy cave near Khamphalaeng village in Mahaxay district, Khammuan province. Archaeologists said they could be hundreds of years old.
The Buddha images were made of Mansonia gagei (a fragrant wood similar to sandalwood) and are now kept in the cave, which has become a popular tourist attraction.
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