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
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13124653 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nguyễn Thu Loan (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), Ung Thi Dieu Thuy (0000-0003-0877-2753, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), Luong Van Duong (0000-0001-7801-5155, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), Trần Thị Thu Hương (0009-0008-3094-173X, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), Ba Trung Toan (University of Khanh Hoa), Maria Luisa Saladino (0000-0002-7481-8556, University of Palermo, corresponding author), Francesco Armetta (0000-0002-7677-602X, University of Palermo), Philippe Colomban (0000-0001-6099-5423, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, corresponding author), D Hreniak (0000-0003-1384-2314, Polish Academy of Sciences), Nguyen Quang Liem (0000-0003-0623-0635, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 173-173 |
| Publication date | 2025-05-15 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Heritage (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2571-9408 • E-ISSN: 2571-9408 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/heritage8050173 |
| OpenAlex | W4410401263 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 22 |
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
Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Civil engineering · Engraving · Geography · Visual arts · Engineering · History · Masonry and Concrete Structural Analysis
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |