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Archaeologists have found 12 ancient “door guardians” in Angkor.

Archaeologists have found 12 ancient “door guardians” in Angkor.

Archaeologists in Cambodia have made a surprising discovery in Angkor, near Siem Reap, unearthing a dozen sandstone statues that were centuries old. Statues depicting so-called “door guardians” were discovered last week at the northern gate leading to the 11th-century Royal Palace at Angkor Thom, confirmed Long Kosal, a spokesman for the National Apsara Authority.

On Wednesday, October 28, authorities described the discovery as a “remarkable discovery.” Long Kosal confirmed that the statues were discovered when teams were assessing the structure of the ancient gate and looking for fallen stones around the portal on the north side of Angkor Thom. The archeological dig was a joint project between the Apsara National Authority and the Chinese-Cambodian government group for the protection of Angkor, Apsara said.

The statues depict guardians standing still and vary in size from about 1 meter to 110 centimeters, or about 39 to 43 inches, with some in surprisingly good shape. Each statue has a unique facial hair ornament that adds to their distinction. The statues were found buried up to 1.4 meters (4.5 ft) deep, with the 12th statue found at a depth of 140 cm.

Experts believe that these door guardian statues are an example of the Kleang style, which corresponds to the period of construction of the Royal Palace in the 11th century. “Each statue has unique facial hair ornaments that make it different,” explained Sorn Chanthorn. Once discovered, the archaeological team carefully documented their location before removing them for cleaning and restoration. Authorities said the statues would eventually be returned to their original location.

Founded between the late 11th and early 12th century under King Jayavarman VII, Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. The ancient Royal Palace is a large rectangular area located in Angkor Thom in the Angkor Archaeological Park. The north side of Angkor Thom is one of four entrances to the Angkor complex, which includes the impressive Angkor Wat temple complex and is popular with tourists. Angkor Thom is considered one of the most interesting sights of the region, popular among tourists from all over the world, along with Angkor Wat.

Angkor Archaeological Park contains the ruins of the capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, including the temple of Angkor Wat. In 1992, the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. The site, located near Siem Reap, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of the capital Phnom Penh, attracted more than 500,000 foreign visitors in the first half of 2024, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism.

The National Apsara Authority is the government agency responsible for the management, protection and conservation of the Angkor Archaeological Park. The archaeological dig was a joint project of the National Apsara Authority and the Chinese-Cambodian government team to protect Angkor. The National Apsara Authority said: “Experts believe that these door guardian statues are an example of the Kneang style, corresponding to the 11th century palace construction period.”

Cambodia has benefited from a trend in recent decades that has seen the repatriation of art and archaeological treasures taken from their homelands. In August, Cambodia celebrated the return of dozens of exhibits from foreign museums and private collections. However, Cambodia has come under fire for efforts to clean up the Angkor site, which have displaced thousands of families. Amnesty International condemned the resettlement as a “gross violation of international human rights law.” At its meeting in July, the UN World Heritage Committee recommended that Cambodia invite a new panel of experts to monitor the situation.

Despite these challenges, the discovery of 12 ancient door guardian statues at Angkor Thom Royal Palace adds significant value to Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage. Eventually, the statues will be returned to their original locations, allowing visitors to appreciate these remarkable artifacts in their historical context.

Sources: Asharq Al-Awsat English, The Independent, Homepage, ABC News, The Star, AP NEWS, Beaumont Enterprise, Washington Post


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This article was written in collaboration with the generating company Alchemiq