Centuries-Old Buddhist Temple Unearthed in Laos

May 4, 2006

Thursday, April 27, 2006

VIENTIANE, Laos — The remains of a centuries-old temple, along with

thousands of historical artifacts, have been uncovered in and around

the Lao capital during excavations for the upgrade of a major road, a

newspaper said Wednesday.

Lao archaeologists believe the temple Vat Yotkeo dates back to the

1548-1571 rule of King Sai Setthathirat, the Vientiane Times said.

Fittingly, the ruins have been found on what is now called

Setthathirat road.

The temple was destroyed by the Thais, who burned and pillaged

Vientiane in 1828.

In addition to the temple, archaeologists have also unearthed about

10,000 artifacts, including a stone ax that could be 4,000 years old,

the paper said.

The artifacts were found during an archaeological survey ahead of the

upgrade of national route No. 1 which runs through Vientiane from the

airport to the Friendship Bridge, which spans the Mekong River

frontier with Thailand.

The Japanese, who are behind the road project, are giving high

priority to the survey before potentially damaging construction work

begins.

Director of Archaeological Research Viengkeo Souksavatdy said that the

finds "help us to better understand the history of Vientiane and how

it developed as a community," the report said.

Remains found at the temple include parts of a ceremonial hall, the

base of a large Buddha image, smaller Buddha images, pottery and roof

tiles, the paper said.

Vientiane was razed by the Thais following the defeat of the last king

of the Vientiane dynasty of Lan Xang, Chao Anouvong. The population

abandoned the city, and soil and jungle covered the remains of the

damaged buildings.

Large-scale construction did not recommence until the French arrived

toward the end of the nineteenth century to colonize the country.

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