Large Buddha statue unearthed in northern Laos

VIENTIANE (Xinhua): A Buddha statue with a height of at least 2 meters has been excavated from a sandy area near the Mekong River in the northern Lao province of Bokeo.

The statue unearthed Thursday is the largest statue found in the ongoing excavation of ancient artifacts in the province's Tonpheung district.

Nine other Buddha images were also unearthed on Wednesday, according to a Lao national TV report on Friday.

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

The excavations began in March and have been upgraded to a national level as more figurines were discovered.

The Lao government has appointed a national-level committee consisting of senior officials to ensure that the excavations are carried out professionally. - Xinhua