A reclining Buddha image unearthed in Bokeo province on March 25 measures 1.88m in length and is 54cm wide. - Deputy Director General of the Heritage Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Thonglith Luangkhot
VIENTIANE: Bokeo authorities supervising a dig in Thonpheung district say that more than 300 Buddha images, 14 heads of Buddha images, and other artefacts have been excavated from March 20-25, with the search still continuing.
Deputy Director General of the Heritage Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Thonglith Luangkhot, said on March 20 that authorities had found 59 Buddha images and two heads of Buddha images.
On March 21 they reported that another 57 Buddha images and five head of statues had been located.
On March 22, 34 Buddha images and one Buddha head were unearthed, while on March 23 another 99 Buddha images and a head were discovered, followed on March 24 by the excavation of 71 Buddha images and five heads.
The latest find on Monday (March 25) consisted of four Buddha images including a reclining Buddha 1.88m and 54cm wide.
No facts about the age and origin of the figurines are known, but authorities believe they date back to the time when a town named Souvanna Khomkham occupied the site.
The excavations began on March 14 near the Mekong River at a location close to Done Phuengkham island.
Most of the statuettes are made of bronze and all have been placed in Thongthip Phatthanaram temple in Yaitonpheung village, Tonpheung district, for safekeeping, where they are being closely guarded.
The town of Souvanna Khomkham was destroyed and rebuilt several times by different rulers before it was finally abandoned.
The site still bears the evidence of a former civilisation and the remains of 44 structures made from bricks and sand can be seen, believed to be temples, stupas and statues.
These archaeological remains mostly date back to the era when Laos was the Kingdom of Lane Xang, although the town was first established over 1,600 years ago, according to the Lao website www.tourismlaos.org.
However, over the years these have been raided by looters from both Thailand and Laos. One of the most special finds in recent years was one of the largest Buddha statues ever to be discovered in Laos, measuring 7.10m in width and 7.22m in height. Each shoulder is 1.10m wide and the distance from the hip to the knee is 3.6m. - Vientiane Times/ANN
