Description
This archaeological discovery has two histories. The first, told here by the archaeologists involved, is the story of the dig, as their trowels brought to light the bricks, tiles, pillars, sculptures and ceramics of countless ancient temples and palaces. The second is the history of the citadel itself, in its early years as an outpost of the Chinese empire, in its heyday as the Forbidden City of Vietnam's emperors, and in its downgrading and eventual destruction at the hands of the Nguyen dynasty and French colonial rulers. The book relates the questions, findings and emotions of research team members as the imperial citadel took shape before their eyes. Drawing on the results of their work, it presents a historical narrative of the continuous development of a regional political centre on this site. Bringing together history, urban history and a fascinating story of the interplay of influences from China and Southeast Asia, this is also a fascinating case of an Asian capital city coming to understand its history, and deciding how to preserve its archaeological remains.
Book Information
ISBN 9789813252295
Author Andrew Hardy
Format Paperback
Page Count 328
Imprint NUS Press
Publisher NUS Press
Weight(grams) 567g