PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA.- Cambodian soldiers discovered 154 miniature Buddhas in the Stung Treng province. The Buddhas are coated with gold, silver and brass. They were buried in a plot owned by a relative of one of the soldiers, according to The Cambodia Daily. Ten of the Buddhas are plated with gold, 93 with brass and 51 with silver. The height of the Buddhas range from the size of a human thumbprint to 10 cm.

An official stated, "It is the second time we received Buddhist statues from local people in my province," official said.

Fifteen artifacts were found in 1997. Next week officials from the Ministry of Culture in Phnom Penh will evaluate the artifacts and then they will be sent to the National Museum in Phnom Penh.