Six sandstone statues discovered at Angkor Archaeological Park

As per the latest update from the APSARA National Authority, archaeologists have found six sandstone statues from Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park near the Ta Prohm temple complex in the process of restoration works.

Ta Prohm, also known as Rajavihara, is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap. This temple was established by Jayavarman VII, the Khmer Empire's first Buddhist-devoted king.

Jayavarman plans to initiate a construction program to erect monuments and a university. During his 37-year reign. This temple was built in the 12th and early 13th centuries AD.

In the 15th century AD, the Khmer Empire fell in the area, and the temple was abandoned and retrieved by nature. Today, the place is surrounded by a large number of trees.

Image Credit : APSARA National Authority

The archaeologists, while repairing the 800-year-old temple, discovered six sandstone statues founded at Ta Prohm’s south gateway near the platform.

Department of Preservation of Temples and Archaeology of the APSARA Authority member Neth Simon said: “The statues were found buried under the rubble of the southern gate of Ta Prohm.”

The find comprises two statues of the "Buddha Sheltering beside a Naga" as well as a statue of Avalokitevara, the earthly embodiment of the self-born eternal Buddha Amitabha. Two other Buddha statues with damaged heads and hands, as well as one pediment with a carving of Buddha, were also discovered.

UNESCO marked the Ta Prohm site on the World Heritage List in 1992.