Discovery of the site and research

After being the spiritual centre of Champa, My Son fell into oblivion for several centuries and was reclaimed by the jungle. The site was rediscovered in 1885 by a group of French soldiers. In 1895, C. Paris was the first one to clear the site of My Son. Then, from 1898 to 1899, two French scientists came to do some research on the epitaphs. At the beginning of the 20^th century, the architect and French archaeologist Henri Parmentier came to My Son to study Cham art and architecture. His first results were published by the EFEO (the French School of the Far East). C. Carpeaux and other scientists also published their research on the architecture, sculpture and culture of the Chams in general and of My Son in particular. Over a period of 40 years, at the beginning of the century, some temples at My Son were restored and consolidated.

The most significant study is probably "L'Art du Champa" by P. Stern, published in Paris, in 1942. According to it, Cham architecture can be classified into seven categories: My Son, Hoa Lai, Dong Duong, My Son-A 1, Po Nagar, Binh Dinh and Po Klong Garai. According to the 20th century census, My Son remained 71 towers, which were divided into: Group A and A' (Chua Towers): 19 relics; Group B, C, D (Cho Tower): 27 relics; Group E, F (Ho Khe Tower): 12 relics; Group G: 5 relics; Group H (Ban Co Towers): 4 relics; other groups such as: K, L, M, N, 0 each one comprised from 1 to two relics. In 1945, My Son fell into oblivion again. Bad weather and devastating wars unfortunately destroyed most of these masterpieces of architecture. The site was mainly affected at the end of 1969, because of the repeated assaults and bombing of the B52s. This is how Kalan A 1, among so many other monuments, was destroyed. Even today the evidence of the war is still visible. Following the on-site investigation, there still remain 31 Cham towers with the wall of 1 m high and over:

Group A and A' remain 3 relics and a large debris. Group B remains 8 over 14 relics. Group C remains 7 over 7 relics. Group D remains 3 over 6 relics. Group E remains 3 over 9 relics. Group F remains 2 over 3 relics. Group G remains 3 over 5 relics. Group H remains 1 over 4 relics. Group K remains 1 over 1 relic. Group L, M, N, 0 became the ruins. After the reunification of the country, on April 29^th, 1979 the Ministry of Culture and Information promulgated the decision number 54/VH-QD in which My Son Cham Towers were recognized as “Sculptural art relics" need to be protected. The Vietnamese government made all kinds of efforts to preserve the remains in My Son, in collaboration with numerous associations and experts, Vietnamese and foreign, and scientists interested in archaeological, historical and cultural issues. Besides the important people who helped in the discovery and rehabilitation of My Son at the beginning of the century, such as Parmentier, Carpeaux and Stern, we can also mention Kazimienrz, head of a team of Polish scientists, who has played a major role in the preservation and restoration of My Son, from the beginning of the 80's until 1994.