New Discovery of Buddha Collection at
Tam Nong Papha , Thakhek District, Khammuan Province, Central Laos
Viengkeo SOUKSAVATDY
Director, Division of Archaeological Research
Lao PDR
Abstract:
Tam Nongpafa was discovered in mid May 2004 by villagers of Ban Tha Khae and Ban
Na Khangsang while rowing a canoe in a underground pond and searching for
various forest products. The mysterious cave's entrance was hidden behind a
vegetation about 12 metre above this pond and opens on a steep cliff wall of a
limestone massive. During the last hundreds of years, inside of this cave was
preserved not only the beauty of geological formations, but also a very precious
cultural value of Lao art. It is a most significant Collection of Buddha Statues
ever discovered in Laos. This Treasure Collection has survived intact and in
good condition, it consists of 229 Buddha statues, made of bronze, lead, wood,
terra cotta and pollen covered with gold and silver plated. Apart of the
iconographic items, some of religious movables were also preserved. About 8
dates were identified in the palm leave manuscript and on the throne of statues.
According to this written source, the manuscripts are belonging to the earlier
date which between 1568 and 1627, whilst the pollen statues are between
1738-1754. Among the bronze statues, many of them represent a stylistic design
that can be found a lot of similarity with those bronze statues displayed in
Sisaket and Ho Phrakeo Museums in Vientiane. The small Bouddha made of pollen
covered by gold and silver plated that known by traditional appellation as "Phra
Keson Dokmai" are identical to those found in Luang Phrabang, Vientiane,
Champassack and many places throughout the country.
Who takes the objects to this cave? When it was happened, when it was abandoned,
what is the reason? Why to keep in such mysterious place? Why nobody remember
about what was happened here? Where is the custodian gone? A lot of questions
are still to be answered in the further research activity.