A musician performs on ancient Loc Hoa lithophone. (Photo: VNA).

The lithophone, found by a local farmer in 1996, is among 24 artifact sets honored as national treasures by the PM in the sixth series of recognition last year.

Bui Huu Trieu was digging in his garden in Village Eight, Loc Hoa Commune, Loc Ninh District when he found 12 pieces of an ancient musical instrument lying next to each other in size order. After informing the communal authorities about it, he continued to discover another 14 pieces of the instrument.

Since its discovery, the Loc Hoa Lithophone has been studied by many state agencies, as well as experts both at home and overseas, who believe the instrument was created by ancient peoples more than 3,000 years ago.

The recognition of the Loc Hoa lithophone as a national treasure shows the distinctive culture of the ancient Vietnamese in Binh Phuoc, said Deputy Director of the Binh Phuoc Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Do Minh Trung at the event.

Pham Huu Hien, Deputy Director of the Museum of Binh Phuoc said the museum will exhibit the lithophone for public view, adding that it will promptly draw up plans to safeguard the artifact and promote its value.

Source: VNA