The Cham and Khmer stone artifacts in the Vietnam National Museum of History (VNMH) hold a big quantity and have an important cultural and historical value. However, they are degrading due to natural conditions and the disadvantages of the preservation technique. To deal with this matter, VNMH has made a plan for a co-operative project with the École Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO), to reach to a better conservative method, firstly by the stone analysis.
A presentation to introduce about this type of analysis was held in the afternoon of the March 4th, 2015 at the VNMH. The presentation was made by Dr. Christian Fiescher from Costen Archaeology Institute, California University, Los Angeles, USA and Mr. Bertrand Porte in charge of EFEO in Cambodia. Previously, this group of experts have visited and worked on site at the VNMH since March 2nd.
In the meeting, they presented the results of the analysis that they have carried out previously in some museums including the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, the National Museum of Cambodia and the Vietnamese History Museum in HCMC. It is a kind of analysis with two portable spectrometers to analyze different stone composition in a non-invasive way, which means without having to take a sample. All data and report will be made to define the stone composition and the date of the pieces as well as the causes of the corrosion. Thus, it is expected to make a better solution for the conservation of the objects.
Some photos:
Dr. Christian Fiescher (left) and Mr.Bertrand Porte (right) check the stone statue, outdoor exhibition in the VNMH
Stone base in the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture after analysis and conservation
Result of the analysis of the stone artifact (National Museum of Cambodia)
Data and report of the analysis in the Vietnamese History Museum, HCMC and Phnom Da (Cambodia)
Linga in the VNMH, the object will be analyzed
Thu Nhuan
EN: Tran Trang