Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Parts of deity statue unearthed at Angkor Thom, reassembled

Parts of deity statue unearthed at Angkor Thom, reassembled

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Archaeologists from the Apsara National Authority (ANA) have unearthed the partial head and shoulders of a statue of a deity near Angkor Thom’s Ta Kav gate in Siem Reap province. INFORMATION MINISTRY

Parts of deity statue unearthed at Angkor Thom, reassembled

Archaeologists from the Apsara National Authority (ANA), a body tasked with managing the Angkor Archaeological Park, have unearthed the partial head and shoulders of a statue of a deity near Angkor Thom’s Ta Kav gate in Siem Reap province, and have reassembled the sculpture for display at the temple.

ANA spokesman Long Kosal told The Post on September 20 that while the team was excavating and repairing the Ta Kav gate, they discovered the buried pieces of what must originally have been a very large statue.

“We are preparing to put the statue back in its original location, which means that it will be reassembled as a sculpture with the head on its body,” he said.

He said that at present, the team is also busy repairing the Ta Kav gate and the statues of angels and giants that were in generally poor condition at all of the main gates in the Angkor area.

“In the past, this area was badly damaged by overgrowth of trees and jungle foliage and now we have repaired about 30 per cent of it. It is difficult work but so far it has gone smoothly.

“This discovery is important because it shows that sometimes what we think is lost is actually just hidden. When we dig and find these sculptures it is a joy for those of us who work to preserve ancient artefacts. Restoring them increases the cultural value of the temples,” he said.

Regarding the risks posed by trees in the Angkor area or the effect they have on the condition of some of the temples, Yit Chanda – the ANA’s deputy director-general in charge of forest management, landscape, culture and environment – said the park’s trees and natural beauty are also tourist attractions at Angkor resort.

In order to save the temples as well as ensure the safety of visitors, the ANA has a group of tree experts to regularly monitor the conditions around the temples and remove any that may cause harm.

“Apart from the main task of preserving the temples, promoting sustainable development and preserving and upgrading the cultural landscape, the work of forest conservation and increasing green cover around Angkor is also considered a priority of the ANA,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans