Phan Dinh Phung, Deputy Director of the Phu Yen Service for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the granite stone is 170cm high, 60cm wide and 25cm thick. The surface of the stele bears eight lines of ancient Champa script. It was discovered under the roots of a tree that is hundreds of years old.

The recent findings at the site, including a square water well, are clear indications that the site contains valuable cultural and historic relics from the Kingdom of Champa, said the expert.

The Kingdom was founded in the second century and existed till the 13th century.

Phung added that his agency was conducting research to determine the stele’s age and planned to launch archaeological excavations at the site in future.

It is the second stone stele linked to the ancient Champa civilisation found in Phu Yen Province.

The first was a relief on the wall of Nhan Mountain in the heart of Tuy Hoa City. It dated back to the 5th century, bearing the prayers of King Bhadravarman of the first dynasty of the Kingdom of Champa.