QuangNgai (VNA) - Experts from the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences andMineral Resources have found a unique complex of fossilised coral – believed todate from 4,000 to 6,000 years ago – on the coast of Ly Son Island, 30km offQuang Ngai province mainland.

Dr Nguyen Xuan Nam from the institute said thata group of researchers and scientists found the population of palaeontologicalcoral reefs over an area of 20,000sq.m extending 400 metres along the coast, northeastof the island.

The coral reef complex, which was named Coi Xay(a manual rice mill seen in rural areas in the old days) coral, includes a heapof coral blocks scattered on the beach.

“It’s an amazing discovery. We haven’t foundsuch a coral reef complex in Vietnam before. It’s like manual rice mills dottedalong the beach,” Nam said.

“The discovery of this strange coral populationhelps explain the palaeontological environment during the Flandriantransgression, creating an attraction for tourists, researchers andpaleontologists,” he said.

Nam said the discovery was part of initialresearch to recognise Ly Son Island as a global geo-park.

He warned the province should enact specialprotection for the coral reef complex, as well as the islands, to prevent thembeing destroyed by human activities and overloaded with tourism andconstruction.

He said some residents did not know theimportance of the reefs, and they even took parts of the coral to use infarming.

Samples of the coral reefs have been sent forexamination at international laboratories to establish their age and structureas well as scientific name.

In response to a warning by scientists from theinstitute, the central province people’s committee released an urgent decisionto protect the population of newly found coral reefs, banning all constructionand approaches or human activities in the area.

According to archaeologists, Ly Son Island is adormant volcano. The terrain of the island was created from eruptions 25 to 30million years ago, leaving landscapes with rocks, caves, cliffs, rock archesand a lake.

The island has abundant relics related to the SaHuynh, Champa and Dai Viet (or Great Viet) cultures that existed on the islandfor thousands of years, according to Dr Pham Quoc Quan, a member of theNational Heritage Council. 

Quan said ceramic fragments and otherantiquities from archaeological excavations revealed the first community livingon the island belonged to the Sa Huynh culture between 2,500 and 3,000 yearsago,

Geologist Vu Cao Minh warned that exploitationof beach sand and coral reefs for farming garlic and onions could result indamage to coral reefs around the island, while the boom in hospitality servicescould lead to a mass collapse of the underground water structure of the island.

Scientists also warned the province about aproposal to develop a hotel and resort complex because it would damage theheritage of the island.   

The islands and a vast coastal area of Binh Sondistrict are being considered as a site for a Global Geo-Park for approval byUNESCO.

The island, known as the "King ofGarlic" in Vietnam, is a tranquil destination with 21,000 inhabitants,most of whom make their living from farming garlic and spring onions andfishing.-VNA