Unearthed Xepon artefacts go to museums

All artefacts found and collected from the Xepon gold mining project over the past decade in Savannakhet province’s Vilabouly district have been officially handed over to the Lao government.
A handover ceremony took place yesterday at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Vientiane between Lane Xang Minerals Limited and the National Museum, Savannakhet province Museum, and Vilabouly district office of information, culture and tourism.

Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Buangeun Xaphouvong, Savannakhet province Vice Governor Mr Khamphoun Touphaithoun, Lane Xang Minerals Ltd Managing Director, Mr Saman Aneka, and officials from both sides witnessed the handover.
Some 7,800 items made from copper, gems, ceramics, and wood were uncovered and collected from the mining project site over the past ten years.
Authorities said the cooperation between the government and private sector was an outstanding achievement in archaeological studies and cultural heritage conservation.
The deputy minister praised the participation of various sectors in the protection of ancient materials, saying the implementation of a memorandum of understanding between the government and investors had yielded outstanding results.
“Aside from obtaining the artefacts through the technical process, we have also gained important scientific information on history and culture. This reflected the political, economic, and social administration, especially industry and trade in ancient times, which has been well-known at local and national levels, and in the region,” he added.
According to a release from the ceremony, from 2008 to the present, Lane Xang Minerals Ltd dedicated more than US$1.3 million supporting the conservation of Lao history and cultural heritage through cooperation with the Department of Heritage, National University of Laos, and James Cook University of Australia in archaeological studies.
The includes cooperation at the local community, national, and international levels, with volunteers from Vientiane, villagers, students from Australia and Laos, archaeologists, and officials from the Heritage Department working closely together to unearth artefacts.
The team of archeologists discovered evidence of more than 200 antic mine shafts dating back over 3,000 years ago. This means Vilabouly district is considered one of the first mining area in Southeast Asia.
“We believe ancient mining around Sepon mine continued to about 1,300 years, where people evacuated the rich copper ore then refined it in the so-called Peun Baolo and Thong Na-Ngeuak (Naga field) location and exchanged the minerals and metals since then” the press release from the company stated.
Some 828 antique items were handed over for display at the National Museum, 409 items to the Savannakhet province Museum, and 6,644 items (individual gem pieces counted separately) to Vilabouly district culture hall.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Khamphoun Touphaithoun noted the uncovered artefacts verified Lao history, especially the ancient sticky rice boxes which confirmed that local people have been eating the staple for around 3,000 years.
He also stressed the party and government policy on conservation of cultural heritage, saying the Thong Nangeuak (Naga rice field) had become the heritage of the local community and may be upgraded to national heritage.
Lane Xang Minerals Ltd Managing Director, Mr Samane Aneka remarked that the handover ceremony was a significant milestone in the conservation of historical and cultural heritage cooperation but noted it did not mean the end of the collaboration.
He said the company was committed to continuing its support and working closely with the partners from the government for at least the next ten years until the closure of the mining project.
Director of the National Museum, Ms Vanpheng Keopanya, Director of Savannakhet province Museum Mr Nalathiveth Ammalathithada, Head of Vilabouly district office of information, and culture and Tourism, Ms Touythong Keovongsa also attended the event.

By Somxay Sengdara
(Latest Update September 25, 2019)