“Ancient Buddha Statue Torso Unearthed at Cambodia’s Angkor Temple Complex”
"Archaeologists Reunite Buddha Statue’s Head and Torso at Angkor’s Ta Prohm Temple After Nearly a Century"
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Archaeologists in Cambodia made a historic archaeological find when they discovered the torso of a 12th- or 13th-century Buddha statue at the Angkor temple complex—complementing a head discovered almost a century ago at the same location.
The stunning discovery was made last month at Ta Prohm temple during excavations by a Cambodian-Indian team of archaeologists. In addition to the torso, 29 other fragments thought to belong to the same statue were also discovered.
A Historic Match After 97 Years
The recently unearthed 1.16-meter (3 ¾-foot) torso, made in the Bayon art style, was discovered approximately 50 meters (yards) from where the head was excavated in 1927 during the French colonial era. An optical electronic scan proved that the two fragments belong to the same statue, and near-complete reconstruction is now feasible.
“It was a surprise of epic proportion when we excavated this statue because we’d only been turning up tiny fragments up until then,” said archaeologist Neth Simon, who participated in the excavation. She characterized the statue as heavily decorated with jewelry, a robe, and a sash, with a distinctive left-hand gesture across the chest—an unusual representation in Khmer art.
Plans for Restoration and Display
Now, the right hand of the statue is missing. Simon’s crew will look to get permission from Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Art to reunite the head and torso, enabling the sculpture to be seen in its near-original condition.
“As an archaeologist, I would be really happy to see the pieces reunited after a century apart,” Simon said.
Angkor: A Treasure Trove of History
Angkor, the largest 400 square kilometer (155 square miles) archaeological complex in Southeast Asia, is deemed to be among Southeast Asia’s greatest historical marvels. An epicenter during some of Cambodian history’s greatest empires, from the 9th through the 15th century, Angkor continues to unfold more secrets on the Khmers’ past.
Ta Prohm, famous for its enormous tree roots wrapped around ancient ruins, is one of the site’s main attractions. Angkor drew around a million foreign visitors in 2024 alone, Cambodia’s Tourism Ministry said.
The Ta Prohm excavation is part of a continuous process by the Apsara Authority to restore and organize fragmented historical artifacts so that Cambodia’s rich heritage is preserved for generations to come.
Stay tuned for more updates on this incredible restoration project!
