Article Dans Une Revue Heritage Année : 2025

Likely Technology Making the Ancient Cham Bricks Lightweight, Carvable, and Durable for Constructing Big Engraved Towers Lasting Thousands of Years: A Case Study of the Po Nagar Towers, Nhatrang, Vietnam

Résumé

The Po Nagar Towers (Thap Ba) complex, an iconic heritage site of Cham culture and a nationally recognized special relic, has stood in Nhatrang, Vietnam, for over a thousand years. We report here a preliminary analysis of original ancient Cham bricks from the Po Nagar Towers using a combination of appropriate characterization techniques, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman micro-spectroscopy, thermal dilatometry, compressive strength testing, and water sorption. Mechanical properties and firing temperatures of the ancient bricks have been determined to support the discussion on the likely technology used to make them. Specifically, they were made from clay, sand, plagioclases/feldspar, and grog mixed with intentionally added carbon precursor (charcoal powder), then fired at temperatures between 800 °C and 1000 °C to form lightweight bricks with a mass density of 1.3–1.6 kg/dm3 and an open porosity of 18–25%. The ancient Cham bricks have their texture and porosity to meet the requirements of the thin rubbing joint technique in tower construction and to contribute to the carvability and durability of Cham towers. A comparison is made with the bricks for tower restoration during the 2000s.

Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
heritage-08-00173 Cham bricks 2025.pdf (1.47 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte
Licence

Dates et versions

hal-05089470 , version 1 (29-05-2025)

Licence

Identifiants

Citer

Nguyen Thu Loan, Ung Thi Dieu Thuy, Luong Van Duong, Tran Thi Thu Huong, Ba Trung Toan, et al.. Likely Technology Making the Ancient Cham Bricks Lightweight, Carvable, and Durable for Constructing Big Engraved Towers Lasting Thousands of Years: A Case Study of the Po Nagar Towers, Nhatrang, Vietnam. Heritage, 2025, 8 (5), pp.173. ⟨10.3390/heritage8050173⟩. ⟨hal-05089470⟩
129 Consultations
301 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

  • More