STYLE, AND DATE OF ANCIENT SCULPTURES FROM THE CAT TIEN ARCHAEOLOGY SITE

Abstract

Cat Tien is an archaeology site with a series of eight mounds lining the easter side of the Dong Nai River near the town of Cat Tien, Lam Dong province. The results of excavations from 1994 - 1998 to 2001 - 2006 and 2020 - 2021 show that this architecture was possibly built during the 6th and 9th centuries. Despite being a Hindu temple precinct, it should be noted that the presence of deities in Cat Tien is limited, as only statues depicting Ganesha, Durga, and Nandi have been discovered. It is worth mentioning that these particular deities are directly associated with Siva. The statues present in this location have a stylistic resemblance to the sculptures associated with the Chenla and Champa traditions, which originated during the period from the 7th to the 9th centuries. However, all of them are small, rough, and less delicate in shape, which may be a local feature of the ancient statues in Cat Tien.