VIENTIANE (Xinhua): Buddha statues of unknown age and origin were retrieved from the Mekong River's shore in Tonpheung district in northern Laos' Bokeo province.
The excavation followed the discovery on March 11 of the head of a Buddha image and several small headless images while workers were repairing a road near Thongthip temple in Tonpheung district. The head of the statue was found in sand used by the construction company during the upgrade of the road, according to Lao national TV report on Friday.
On March 16, a large Buddha image was found, measuring 80 cm in height, 56 cm wide at the shoulders, and had an overall width of 88 cm.
A total of 38 Buddha images were found during the excavation from March 16 to 18. Another three Buddha images were excavated on Friday, according to the report.
Bokeo province, some 340 km northwest of Lao capital Vientiane, has several old temples.
The discovery led provincial authorities to search for other artifacts, and excavations in the area are continuing in the hope that more will be found.
Head of the Information, Culture and Tourism Department in Bokeo province, Somkhit Vongpanya, said that the age and origin of the Buddha images was unclear but that most were made of bronze and some were engraved with letters.
When the excavation is complete, the statues will be examined by specialists from the Heritage Department of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. - Xinhua
