The dig will be conducted on an area of 100 square metres over 10 days.— Photo Hung Thinh

BEN TRE (VNS)— The museum in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in HCM City on Saturday began excavating an ancient tomb in Cho Lach town.

Associate Prof. Pham Duc Manh, dean of the university's Faculty of Archaeology, said the large-scale double tomb dates back to the late 18th or the early 19th century. It carries features of tombs built for officials under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), he said.

The tomb has been degraded due to "natural and human impacts," he added.

The dig will be conducted on an area of 100 square metres over 10 days. The Ben Tre Museum will preserve artifacts unearthed during the excavation. —VNS