The Buddha images unearthed on March 17 in Tonpheung district, Bokeo province. - VT
VIENTIANE: A collection of Buddha images of unknown age and origin has been found in Tonpheung district, Bokeo province, and have been taken to Thongthip Phatthanaram temple in Yaitonpheung village for safekeeping.
Provincial authorities carried out a search for buried artefacts over the weekend near the Mekong River at a location close to Done Phuengkham island, after the provincial administration office and a team of experts from Heritage Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, suggested that this was a likely hunting ground.
The search operation was productive, turning up several Buddha images on Saturday (March 16) and another image on March 17.
One of the largest statues was 80cm high, 56cm wide at the shoulders, and having an overall width of 88cm, according to the Information, Culture and Tourism Office in Tonpheung district.
The excavation followed the discovery on March 11 of the head of a Buddha image and several small headless images while workers were carrying out road repairs near Thongthip temple. The head of the statue was found in sand used by the construction company to upgrade the road.
The discovery led provincial authorities to search for other artefacts and excavations in the area in the hope that more will be found.
Bokeo province has several old temples and was once the site of an ancient city named Souvannakhomkham. All that remains of it today is a 7- metre-high Buddha statue, which was long ago raided for the treasures hidden inside. - Vientiane Times/ANN
