After 3D scanning, photography, and measurements were taken to create a scientific record, the thousand-year-old sacrificial altar was temporarily covered with sand to preserve its original state.
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| The overall layout of the special spiritual architectural relic from the Ly Dynasty, located at pits G7-G8, has an east-west width of 19.5 m. The central structure consists of two concentric circles: the inner circle has a diameter of 9.34 m, and the outer circle has a diameter of 14.5 m. |
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| The newly unearthed relic site is located beneath and next to the Parliament building. |
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| Immediately after its discovery, archaeologists and historians arrived to investigate, but determining its name proved difficult because it was the first time they had encountered a site with such a unique shape. |
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| Key details of the central architectural feature. |
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| The layout of the special spiritual architectural relic from the Ly Dynasty, at pits G7-G8, is illustrated with standing figures, symbolizing the positions of the wooden pillars. Scientists believe this is a spiritual architecture for worshipping the Supreme God and the Five Emperors, combined with ancestral worship to affirm the legitimacy of the dynasty bestowed by Heaven, a type of architecture inseparable from the overall structure of ancient Eastern capitals. |
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| After discussing the location, architecture, artifacts, and comparing them with previously studied relics in Thang Long - Hanoi such as the Nam Giao Altar and the Xa Tac Altar in Vietnam and other countries, the scientists initially agreed to name it the "Heaven-Earth Worshiping Relic of the Early Ly Dynasty Emperor." |
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| Details of the wooden stakes and binding ropes surrounding the central structure. |
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| The central stone structure is meticulously detailed. Scientists have stated: "This structure holds exceptional value within the overall collection of Ly Dynasty architectural relics unearthed in Thang Long." The relic dates from approximately 1010-1048 and continued to be used until the mid-12th century. |
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| Details of the central wooden structural elements of the eastern architecture. |
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| Eastern architectural plan. According to the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, this is one of the earliest spiritual and cultural relics in Vietnam, a unique spiritual site found only in the capital of the early Ly Dynasty. In the context of the East at that time, this type of relic demonstrates the high spirit of self-reliance and self-strength of Dai Viet during the Ly Dynasty. |
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| The Institute of Archaeology has implemented emergency protection measures for the site, such as temporarily filling it with sand to preserve its original state. The entire site has been 3D scanned, drawn, photographed, measured, and documented to build a scientific record. |
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| Details of the wooden structural components and the western architectural plan were presented. Given the exceptional importance of the site, the President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences proposed a preservation plan. After considering the opinions of the scientists, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung agreed on the need to preserve and maintain the original state of the sacrificial altar in particular, as well as other important relics in the central area of the Imperial Citadel in general. |
Source: Zing News
