Bone-attached iron rings found near Anawrahta Pagoda in Bagan World Heritage Site

Bone-attached iron rings were unearthed near the subsidiary pagoda on the fourth terrace of the Anawrahta Pagoda in the Bagan World Heritage Site, according to the Bagan Branch of the Department of Archaeology and National Museums. The discovery was made while the Bagan Branch of the Department of Archaeology and National Museums and preservation experts from the People's Republic of China were jointly carrying out preservation work at the Anawrahta Pagoda. During the process of repairing the damaged iron framework of the subsidiary pagoda (northwest corner) on the fourth terrace, bone-attached iron rings were found embedded in the bricks inside the outer plaster. A total of 11 iron rings were discovered: three from the northwest corner (northern side), two from the southeast corner (southern side), three from the southeast corner (eastern side), one from the southwest corner (western side), and two from the southwest corner (southern side). The bone-attached iron rings were found buried within the bricks between the iron frameworks. Research conducted on the bricks and plaster at the location where the iron rings were found confirmed that these bricks and plaster are from the Bagan era. Research into whether iron rings were embedded and used between walls during the Bagan era revealed that iron rings were embedded and used on the walls of the inner circular corridor and the second circular corridor of the Ananda Pagoda; large iron rings were hung above the upper part of the Maung Ma La of the Dhammayangyi Pagoda; iron rings were embedded and used on the walls of the circular corridor of the Apaya-dana Pagoda; iron rings were hung on the inner arches of the Nanpaya Pagoda to provide light; and iron rings were embedded and used on the upper walls inside the north-facing arches of the Darma-sala hall of the Gu-pyauk-gyi (Myinkaba) Pagoda, according to research findings. The findings related to the 11 bone-attached iron rings discovered at the Anawrahta Pagoda have been sent to the verification team and the archaeology expert team to confirm the authenticity of the ancient artifacts.