(VNF) - Thousand-year-old characters believed to be drawn by ethnic Cham people have recently been discovered at the UNESCO-recognized Phong Nha- Ke Bang Park, located in central Vietnam, local media reported.

The characters seen on the walls of Bi Ky grotto in Phong Nha Cave, secluded in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, were believed to be drawn by Cham ethic people around 1,000 years ago.

The park is located in the central province of Quang Binh.

The Sai Gon Giai phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper cited Professor Arlo Griffiths, member of a research team from the French School of Asian Studies, as saying that the characters were written and inscribed in the early 11th century.

The professor added that a group of scientists are currently conducting further research on the drawings.

Working out the age of the characters is integral to the process since it is indicative of the presence of the ethnic Cham people in the area, which will enhance the cave system’s cultural values, the newspaper cited Le Chieu Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Centre as noting.

Earlier this month, the management of Phong Nha- Ke Bang park received a recognition certificate from the United Nations organization for the second time.

The second recognition is based on the park’s rich biological persity and picturesque, awe-inspiring landscape, including Son Doong Grotto, the world’s largest cave.

Part of the UNESCO-recognized Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park. Photo: Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park Center.

The park first earned the honor in 2003 for its stunning geological and geomorphologic values.

Provincial tourism officials earlier underscored the notable strides that Quang Binh has seen since its park was first recognized by the UNESCO in 2003.

They are upbeat about the surge in tourist arrivals, particularly international ones, to the province in recent years thanks to the thrills that adventure tours to Son Doong Cave have offered, and pin their hopes that the second UNESCO recognition will further benefit the province and its residents.

In 2012, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung issued a decision to expand the park from 85,754 hectares to 123,326 hectares./.

by VNF