The artifacts were discovered a day earlier by workers clearing the site for upcoming restoration work. The pieces were found about 15 metres from the North Tower, according to Bui Tinh, Director of the Gia Lai Provincial Museum. Specialists were immediately sent to secure the location and transport the objects for processing in line with heritage regulations.
Initial assessments identify one artifact as a Hindu deity bas-relief carved from sandstone. The standing figure holds two lotus flowers and is framed by Makara arch motifs and flame patterns. The piece measures 1.06 metres high and 0.6 metres wide, and is believed to have decorated an upper roof tier of the tower.
The second find is a sandstone lion bas-relief, 0.42 metres tall and 0.44 metres wide, thought to have been used at the corners of the tower’s base.
Both objects are now undergoing preservation and will be displayed for visitors. The museum will report the discovery to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to seek approval for an emergency excavation aimed at further documenting the historical and cultural value of the Duong Long architectural site.
Duong Long Tower, also known as Nga Tower, dates to the 12th–13th centuries and comprises three structures: the Central Tower at 42 metres, the South Tower at 36 metres, and the North Tower at 34 metres. The site, noted for distinctive Champa architecture, was designated a Special National Monument in 2015.
Restoration efforts funded by various sources in recent years have helped preserve the complex, during which thousands of artifacts have been uncovered. A Brahma deity bas-relief found in 1985 was recognised as a national treasure in 2016.
