500-year-old Ketumati city restoration reaches 60% completion
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Hsu/Saw (NP News) - March 3
Restoration and conservation at the ancient city of Ketumati are roughly 60% complete for the year, according to U Kyaw Myo Win, Director of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, in an interview with The Statesman journal.
The city walls, moats, and ancient structures of Ketumati are vital cultural heritage sites. Backed by regional government funding, maintenance and excavation efforts are carried out annually.
Inter-departmental cooperation is currently focused on the restoration and conservation of the ancient city's landmark sites and historic gates.
"Generally speaking, they've been working for about a month and a half, and around 50 to 60 percent has been completed. The excavation work covers the palace site, Thityin Gate, and test pits at Kyarmon Gate. All of these are being carried out simultaneously, not one after the other," he said.
These restoration and conservation efforts are being conducted alongside ongoing research, supported by supplementary funding. The department aims to conclude the project by April.
"We cannot complete all four sides—the city is simply too large. We're mainly continuing work on the unfinished northern wall from last year. On the western wall, we're clearing bushes near the Dawai Gate and Thityin Gate. The city wall itself is very long," he added.
As part of the project, a test pit excavation is underway at the Kyarmon Gate on the southern wall to identify the original site of a historical bridge that once crossed the moat.
Ketumati, an ancient city with over five centuries of history, was established by King Min Gyi Nyo in present-day Taungoo Township, Bago Region.
In accordance with a directive from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, Ketumati’s city walls and moats were formally designated a protected cultural heritage zone on May 29, 2025. –