The Provincial Museum, in collaboration with the Southern Institute of Social Sciences under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, held a scientific seminar on September 15 to assess the value of the artifacts, which are currently preserved and displayed at the museum.
The artifacts are regarded as significant not only for their artistic qualities but also for what they reveal about the development of Champa art in the Vijaya region, particularly the distinctive Bình Định style.
Between the 11th and 15th centuries, Vijaya developed into an important political and religious center of the Champa Kingdom.
Researchers have identified a distinctive artistic tradition from this period as the Mẫm Tower style, also known as the Bình Định style.
Mẫm Tower and Dương Long Tower are considered notable sites within this cultural context, reflecting the relationship between Champa art, architecture and spiritual life.
Associate Professor Dr. Bùi Văn Liêm, a member of the National Cultural Heritage Council and standing vice chairman and general secretary of the Vietnam Archaeological Association, said the artifacts should be assessed within the historical, archaeological and cultural context in which they were created.
He said the two stone lion statues from Mẫm Tower and the Dương Long Naga relief collection were important not only for their artistic beauty but also for the information they provide about social and artistic development during the Bình Định style.
Researchers have identified certain influences of Khmer art in the Mẫm Tower lion statues. However, they said the sculptures were not simply imitations. Champa artisans adapted these influences and reshaped them according to their own aesthetic sensibilities.
Associate Professor Dr. Bùi Chí Hoàng, a member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, described this as part of a broader process of cultural exchange in the region. He said research should focus on identifying the traditional local elements reflected in the process of cultural reception and creative adaptation.
The two lion statues and the Naga collection, he said, are valuable not only as individual artworks but also as evidence for understanding the architectural, artistic and spiritual characteristics of the Champa people in the cultural space associated with Vijaya and the Thị Nại port city.
The Dương Long Naga reliefs appear in a variety of forms, including multi-headed serpents. Archaeological excavations at Dương Long Tower between 2006 and 2008 uncovered thousands of carved stone fragments, with snake motifs accounting for an estimated 70% to 80% of the finds.
The prevalence of the motifs indicates the important role of the Naga in the architectural decoration of the Dương Long Tower complex.
Dr. Nguyễn Khánh Trung Kiên, deputy director of the Southern Institute of Social Sciences, said Vijaya-era sculpture should not be viewed as passive imitation.
Champa artisans absorbed influences from Khmer art during the Angkor period, including Naga, Makara and Garuda motifs, as well as the sinuous dragon motif associated with Đại Việt art, while transforming them through their own artistic language and aesthetic concepts.
He said documenting and preserving the Champa stone sculptures at Dương Long and Mẫm Towers for possible national treasure recognition would not only honor the works but also support a more systematic approach to integrating the monuments into the broader landscape and enhancing their long-term value.
Researcher Nguyễn Thanh Quang described the Naga sculptures at Dương Long Tower as a notable feature of ancient Champa architectural and sculptural art. The dense concentration of Naga motifs, he said, reflects cultural exchange and adaptation among the Cham, Indian and Khmer peoples.
Based on the research findings, the Provincial Museum and the Southern Institute of Social Sciences are finalizing scientific documentation for the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The department will use the documentation to advise the Provincial People's Committee on submitting the dossier to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and subsequently to the Prime Minister for consideration of national treasure recognition for the two Mẫm Tower lion statues and the Dương Long Naga relief collection.
Bùi Tĩnh, director of the Provincial Museum, said expert opinions from the seminar would be incorporated into the documentation, providing a foundation for improved preservation and promotion of the artifacts' value.
If recognized as national treasures, the artifacts would gain more than an official designation. Their recognition would further preserve the stone sculptures of Champa architectural sites in Gia Lai as historical evidence of an artistic tradition that left a lasting mark on the ancient Vijaya region.