A stone road dating back to the 14th century has been discovered at theremains of the Ho citadel complex in the central province of ThanhHoa .
The 2km road linking the citadel's southern gatewith the Nam Giao worship platform has been described as the "mostbeautiful old stone road ever built in the country".
Archaeologists excavated a total area of 1,500sq.m in front of thesouthern gate revealing blue stones as big as 1sq.m buried up to 1mbelow the surface.
The road is thought to have been usedby the king and the royal family when travelling between the citadel andnearby Nam Giao worship platform to pray to heaven for peace andprosperity at the peak of Don Son Mountain.
Archaeologists have found the road mainly intact and discovered variousantiques including metal spears, stone cannon balls and ceramic objectsfrom the early period of the late Le dynasty (1428-1527) as well asarchitectural ornamentation from the periods.
Researcherand director of the Ho Citadel Preservation Management Centre Do QuangTrong said the good state of the road is thanks to the time and energythe original builders put into construction.
"So far, this is the most beautiful old stone road found in the country," he said.
The road has been listed in the heritage file of the citadel to submitto UNESCO by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, aprofessional association that works to conserve and protect sites ofcultural heritage around the world. The association hoped the road wouldbe listed among the oldest stone paths of royal citadels in SoutheastAsia .
Archaeologists also hoped to unearth remnants of abridge at the southern gate that is mentioned in various historicalsources.
Excavation will continue at both sides of the southern gate, three other gates and within the palace complex.
The citadel, mentioned in Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu (The Complete Annalsof the Great Viet), was built during the reign of King Tran Nhuan Tong(1397) by Royal Mandarin Ho Quy Ly, who acceded to the throne in 1400.
It was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site last June.
Curved stone gates face north, east, south and west and were found tobe intact. The southern entrance, which consists of three curved gates,acted as the main entry point, and its design was a departure from thetraditional Chinese-influenced design found in similar citadels./.
The 2km road linking the citadel's southern gatewith the Nam Giao worship platform has been described as the "mostbeautiful old stone road ever built in the country".
Archaeologists excavated a total area of 1,500sq.m in front of thesouthern gate revealing blue stones as big as 1sq.m buried up to 1mbelow the surface.
The road is thought to have been usedby the king and the royal family when travelling between the citadel andnearby Nam Giao worship platform to pray to heaven for peace andprosperity at the peak of Don Son Mountain.
Archaeologists have found the road mainly intact and discovered variousantiques including metal spears, stone cannon balls and ceramic objectsfrom the early period of the late Le dynasty (1428-1527) as well asarchitectural ornamentation from the periods.
Researcherand director of the Ho Citadel Preservation Management Centre Do QuangTrong said the good state of the road is thanks to the time and energythe original builders put into construction.
"So far, this is the most beautiful old stone road found in the country," he said.
The road has been listed in the heritage file of the citadel to submitto UNESCO by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, aprofessional association that works to conserve and protect sites ofcultural heritage around the world. The association hoped the road wouldbe listed among the oldest stone paths of royal citadels in SoutheastAsia .
Archaeologists also hoped to unearth remnants of abridge at the southern gate that is mentioned in various historicalsources.
Excavation will continue at both sides of the southern gate, three other gates and within the palace complex.
The citadel, mentioned in Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu (The Complete Annalsof the Great Viet), was built during the reign of King Tran Nhuan Tong(1397) by Royal Mandarin Ho Quy Ly, who acceded to the throne in 1400.
It was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site last June.
Curved stone gates face north, east, south and west and were found tobe intact. The southern entrance, which consists of three curved gates,acted as the main entry point, and its design was a departure from thetraditional Chinese-influenced design found in similar citadels./.
