New discoveries at My Son Sanctuary
(QNO) - Recent excavations at the My Son Sanctuary (Quang Nam, Vietnam) have uncovered significant new findings, particularly at tower group L.
Under a project approved in 2025, Vietnamese and Italian experts from the C.M. Lerici Foundation have revealed that tower group L may have served as a residential area rather than a religious site. This is a major discovery, as no previous residential zones had been identified at My Son.
Tower group L, consisting of two towers (L1, L2) located on a high mound, had only been marked on early French maps without prior excavation. Initial work in 2019 provided early clues, but the 2025 excavations have now exposed foundations and boundary walls that differ notably from other tower groups. Additional exploratory digs west of L2 are assessing the presence of more buried structures.
Surveys, updated site plans, and condition reports are being compiled to inform future restoration. Uniquely, Group L will be preserved in situ for public viewing after excavation.
Simultaneously, conservation efforts continue at Groups E and F with support from India’s Archaeological Survey. These heavily damaged towers, dating from early Champa periods, are being restored under a USD 4.85 million Indian grant.
Early sculptural and architectural discoveries suggest vibrant cultural exchanges between Champa and neighbouring ancient civilisations, reaffirming My Son's global heritage value.