Ancient Stone Musical Instrument Discovered in Lam Dong

A collection of lithophones, an ancient musical instrument consisting of 11 slabs (photo), was found by researchers working for the Lam Dong Museum on Thursday. With 30 slabs, this is the largest lithophones find to date. Eighteen slabs are undamaged, but one is broken.

Mr Nguyen Van Thang of Hoa Nam Commune, Di Linh District, Lam Dong Province discovered a lithophone in 2003 when he was digging a hole to plant coffee. Mr. Thang washed the slabs and left them in his garden because he did not recognize their value.

In 2005, Mr Nguyen Van Ninh of B’Lao Ward, Bao Loc Town, a cousin of Mr Thang, saw the lithophone and took it to show others. Ms Doan Thi Ngo, vice director of Lam Dong Museum , said this lithophone was missing five slabs. She also said that Lam Dong Museum would invite experts to assess this unique collection.

From 1997 to date, Lam Dong Museum has collected four sets of lithophone slabs, three from Di Linh District and one from Bao Loc Town.

Researchers said that lithophone were played between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago. The first lithophone was discovered in Dak Lak by the French.