The southern province of Binh Phuoc announced the Prime Minister’s decision to recognise an ancient Loc Hoa lithophone as a national treasure during a ceremony in the provincial museum on August 28.
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A musician performs on ancient Loc Hoa lithophone. (Photo: VNA)
The lithophone, found by a local farmer in 1996, is among 24 artifact sets
honoured as national treasures by the PM in the sixth series of recognition
last year.
Bui Huu Trieu was digging in his garden in Village Eight, Loc Hoa Commune, Loc
Ninh District, when he found 12 pieces of an ancient musical instrument lying
next to each other in size order. After informing the communal
authorities about it, he continued to discover another 14 pieces of the
instrument.
Since its discovery, the Loc Hoa Lithophone has been studied by many state
agencies, as well as experts both at home and overseas, who believe the
instrument was created by ancient peoples more than 3,000 years ago.
The recognition of the Loc Hoa lithophone as a national treasure shows the
distinctive culture of the ancient Vietnamese in Binh Phuoc, said Deputy
Director of the Binh Phuoc Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Do Minh
Trung at the event.
Pham Huu Hien, Deputy Director of the Musuem of Binh Phuoc said the museum will
exhibit the lithophone for public view, adding that it will promptly draw up
plans to safeguard the artifact and promote its value.
Source: VNA
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