Ancient lithophones return to Khanh Hoa

A ceremony to handover two sets of Khanh Son ancient lithophone was held in the south - central province of Khanh Hoa on March 27 by the Vietnam National Sub-Institute of Culture and Arts Studies in Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa Department of Culture and Sports.

A ceremony to handover two sets of Khanh Son ancient lithophone was held in the south - central province of Khanh Hoa on March 27 (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, Dang Quoc Van, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, acknowledged that the sets lithophone hold precious musical values, presenting cultural life of ethnic minority groups in the province.

After the reception, the sets were handed over to the provincial museum for display and further preservations. Besides, the museum will study and compile a dossier to recognise the instruments as national treasures.

In 1977, in Doc Gao (To Hap, Khanh Son District), a man named Bo Bo Ren discovered 12 pieces of stones in different sizes and shapes which could produce musical notes when hit. Afterwards, archaeologists unearthed and discovered more tools used to make lithophone, stone axes, stone hammers, etc.

Based on the artifacts discovered, they concluded that the set of lithophone dated from 2,000 to 5,000 years ago. In 1979, information about Khanh Son lithophone was officially made public, both at home and abroad. Since then, lithophone has become a pride of Raglai ethnic people living in mountainous areas in Khanh Hoa.

In 2020, Khanh Son district plans to restore three systems of stone slabs placed at the streams to protect crops of Raglai people. Each system consists of nine to 15 slabs which are long, big, and can produce sounds. These systems will be put at natural water flow in three locations./.

VNA