In the programme of archaeological studies on the territory of Hanoi to commemorate the 1000 e anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, the Museum of History of Vietnam in coordination with the Service of Culture and Information of Hanoi and the Leading Bureau of the 1000 e anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, has undertaken the excavation of the group of sites of the temple – pagoda Ba Tam (Duong Xa – Gia Lam – Hanoi).
In the programme of archaeological studies on the territory of Hanoi to commemorate the 1000
e anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, the Museum of History of Vietnam in coordination with the Service of Culture and Information of Hanoi and the Leading Bureau of the 1000
e anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, has undertaken the excavation of the group of sites of the temple – pagoda Ba Tam (Duong Xa – Gia Lam – Hanoi).
In this excavation, 10 pits have been dug with a total area of nearly 300m
2, a depth varying from 1,15m to 2,4m. On the basis of the structure of layers, the following layers have been determined:
1. Architecture of the Ly
At a depth of 0,8 – 1,2m, which is the vestiges of constructions, foundations, of reinforced floors, of canalisations. This layer has been influenced by the new constructions under the restored Le. From consructions under the Ly only remain short segments in rectangular bricks, of dimensions 36×19×5cm, wihout mortar. The floor is formed with square bricks, decorated with peonies, lotus, chrysanthemums. The floor is reinforced from under by bricks and tiles disposed side by side in a depth of 0,3 – 0,4m (comprising flagstones, rectangular bricks, shoe form tiles, flat tiles… ). Besides are discovered sink canalisations, of 4,9m of length, of orientation east-west, formed by pipes of various types, found for the first type (see fig.).
The first type, of tube form, colour of yellow brick, has been made after the technics of rolled tape, with traces of fabrication, 36cm long, 1cm thick, with diameter 18cm. The neck is 1cm long, to suit the next tube. The second type, is semi-circular, the one placed against the other, dark red, made by mould, the neck going into the next tube is rather long and is about 6,5cm. Total length 34cm, thickness 1cm. The third type, semi-circular, with a body nearly hexagonal, colour dark red. In the external surface are graved the two characters Dong Nhi to fix the orientation.
Besides, there exist canalisations using semi-circular tubes, 0,36m of length, 0,18m of diameter, placed in series, the bottom of the canalisation is formed by rectangular bricks placed side by ide as in the royal palace of Thang Long.
There are also canalisations covered by a line of roof border tiles encroaching the one upon the other. This type is rather special with strokes graved around the body. It is the first discovered of this type and show how meticulous is the system of canalisations of the Ly.
Researches have shown that the architectural vestiges of the Ly are very dense and tend to develop toward the actual pagoda, so that only the architectural elements of the Ly have been determined, whereas on the plane no units have been discovered.
2. Architecture of the restored Le
Situated at a depth of 0,4 – 0,8m, consisting in a lot of architectural vestiges, borders of foundations, consolidated floors. During this period, one make profit from the plane and the large dimensions of architectural materials of the Ly to construct foundations and consolidate the floor.
Besides, are discovered traces of foundations and floor using rectangular and square bricks of Bat Trang, of the end of century XIX, beginning of century XX, and traces of construction of the house of superior bonzes, constructed toward 1950.
The results of the excavation have given new knowledges on the site of temple-pagoda Ba Tam, completed the documentation on history, architecture and buddist art.
Under the Ly, the architectural constructions are construsted with a great extent. This is proved by the used materials (rectangular bricks, flagstones) and the architectural decorations (sandstone, cooked earth, the two lion statues, stepped walls decorated with phoenix and linga) and the borders of foundations, the canalisations, the traces of consolidation and heaps of construction rubbish. The architectural constructions last until under the Tran and are constantly repaired and restored. Under the restored Le, the site is newly constructed but uses the same plane as the Ly.
Through the evolution of the earth layers, the architecture and the traces of life of the period of the anterior Le are nearly absent. Thus, together with the vestiges of the Ly, Tran like Long Do Son (Ha Nam), Bao An (Gia Lam), the results of the excavation of the site Ba Tam have contributed to proove an historical problem, that is the predominance of confucianism over buddhism in the period of the anterior Le.
Nguyen Van Doan