Workers find Champa culture stone grinding table during highway construction

A construction worker in Gia Lai province, Vietnam, discovered an ancient stone grinding table while clearing land for a new highway.

Ngô Văn Hiệu found the sandstone artifact on November 10 during work on the Quy Nhơn to Pleiku expressway. The object was located near the Kôn River, about 700 meters downstream from the Vân Phong dam. Archaeological experts identified the 21.5 kg stone as a relic of the Champa culture.

The table features carvings on all four sides, most notably the Garuda, a mythical bird, and the Naga, a mythical serpent. These figures are common in Hindu and Champa art. Experts say these tables were typically used in Chăm temples to grind powder or materials for religious rituals. The artifact was found near the Hòa Sơn tower ruins, though officials have not yet confirmed if the stone originated from that specific site.

Authorities in Gia Lai province plan to take the stone to a museum for further study and preservation.