Ancient stone tortoise discovered in Hue

VietNam News ^ | 6/2/2005

[nickcarraway]

THUA THIEN-HUE — An ancient stone tortoise, which is thought to date from the Nguyen Dynasty, has been found recently in the central Thua Thien-Hue Province – the ancient imperial capital in 18th and 19th centuries.

The white stone sculpture, which weighs 1 tonne, and is 1.6m in length, was discovered by local farmers in the province’s Phu Loc District. Besides many sophisticated patterns that decorate the artefact, there is a Chinese character on its head, which means "King" and deep square cavity 60cm up the tortoise’s back.

According to local residents, they also found broken porcelain, tiles and a series of foundations – the vestiges of ancient construction.

Archaeologists from the province’s museum have started research to date the ancient stone tortoise and other uncovered items. "There might have been a royal edifice in this area in the past," said one archaeologist.

[nickcarraway]

Slow and steady: An ancient tortoise found in Thua Thien-Hue.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[LimitedPowers]

An ancient stone tortoise, which is thought to date from the Nguyen Dynasty, has been found recently in the central Thua Thien-Hue Province – the ancient imperial capital in 18th and 19th centuries.

A whole lot of "ancients" in this article: but are the 18th and 19th centuries "ancient"? Do they mean B.C., or some other timescale?

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[phoenix0468]

Actually it is the 18th and 19th century A.D. which does question the use of the word ancient.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Nick. Not a ping, just adding to the catalog. If this tortoise is ancient, the family farm where I grew up must be prehistoric. This Nguyen Dynasty did indeed rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and at least one website sez it is still around, opposed to the commie regime ruling Vietnam today, and thinks it should be restored as a constitutional monarchy.

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