The Wat Phou (Temple on the Mountain) archaeological site is located in Laos, in the Champasak province. The director of the excavations, Professor Patrizia Zolese, is a charismatic woman of great character. Her research has brought to light an important compound made of temples, dwellings, palaces and proof of an entire Khmer city that was contemporary to the city of Angkor in Cambodia. Today, the entire area of 400 sq.km has become the most important archaeological park of South-East Asia and has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
In August 1969, a U.S. bomber aircraft dropped its bombs over a solitary valley in the province of Quang nam, Vietnam. About 1500 years earlier, the Champas had chosen this land as the site to build their most important sacred temples. These buildings were the proof of the most ancient ethnic group in Vietnam, the most important spiritual and religious centre of the Champa kingdom- namely My Son.
The support of the Italian Archaeological Mission, which over the years has developed some very intense relations with the local authorities and inhabitants, has also fostered the use of particular procedures on this site in order to continue with its research.
- Direction: ISABELLA ASTENGO
- Production: DUNA FILM INTERNATIONAL, RAI EDUCATIONAL
