A video showing the excavation of a Buddha statue is circulating alongside a claim that it’s a 1200-year-old statue unearthed in Nepal (here & here). In this article, let’s verify the accuracy of this claim.
Claim: Visuals showing excavation of a 1200-year-old Buddha statue unearthed in Nepal.
Fact: The visuals show a Buddha statue unearthed along the Mekong River in Laos. The statue’s age and origin remain uncertain, though some experts believe it looks too new to be over a century old. Additionally, there are no recent reports of any Buddha statue excavations in Nepal. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The visuals show the excavation of a Buddha statue; however, it was found in Laos, not Nepal. Furthermore, contrary to the viral claim, the age and origin of the statue are still unknown. A reverse image search of the viral video screenshots led to news reports featuring similar visuals. According to a May 2024 report, a Buddha statue at least two meters tall was unearthed along the Mekong River in the Tonpheung district, Bokeo Province, Laos. The statue was discovered during a search for ancient artefacts in the area, which began in March 2024.
In addition to this large statue, nine other Buddha statues were also unearthed. According to these reports, the age and origin of the statues remain unclear. Some experts believe the statues appear too new to be over a hundred years old.
Several other news reports have identified the visuals as depicting a statue unearthed in Laos, which can be viewed here and here. These reports confirm that the statue is not related to Nepal. Additionally, we found no recent reports of any Buddha statue excavations in Nepal.
To sum up, these visuals show the excavation of a Buddha statue in Laos, not Nepal
