Binh Phuoc(VNA) – The southern province of Binh Phuoc announced the Prime Minister’sdecision to recognise an ancient Loc Hoa lithophone as a national treasure duringa ceremony in the provincial museum on August 28.
The lithophone, foundby a local farmer in 1996, is among 24 artifact sets honoured as nationaltreasures by the PM in the sixth series of recognition last year.
Bui Huu Trieu was diggingin his garden in Village Eight, Loc Hoa Commune, Loc Ninh District, when hefound 12 pieces of an ancient musical instrument lying next to each other in sizeorder. After informing the communalauthorities about it, he continued to discover another 14 pieces of theinstrument.
Since its discovery,the Loc Hoa Lithophone has been studied by many state agencies, as well asexperts both at home and overseas, who believe the instrument was created byancient peoples more than 3,000 years ago.
The recognition of theLoc Hoa lithophone as a national treasure shows the distinctive culture of theancient Vietnamese in Binh Phuoc, said Deputy Director of the Binh PhuocDepartment of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Do Minh Trung at the event.
Pham Huu Hien, DeputyDirector of the Musuem of Binh Phuoc said the museum will exhibit thelithophone for public view, adding that it will promptly draw up plans tosafeguard the artifact and promote its value. –VNA