Nom Penh, Cambodia – Archaeologists in Cambodia are celebrating an unexpected discovery at the centuries -old Angkor Temple Complex of the country: a statue of Buddha that matches the head found on the same site about a century ago.
The torso, believed to have been believed to be from the 12th or 13th century, was discovered last month during an excavation by a team of Cambodian and Indian experts at Angkor’s Ta Proham Temple. It was found with 29 pieces which were part of the same statue, archaeologist Nath Simon said that this week.
It is 1.16 meters (3 3/4 ft) long and is in the beeon art style, which is connected to the Beyon temple of Angkor.
“It was a great surprise when we revealed this sculpture because whatever we were found till now were small pieces,” Nath Simon told the associated press by phone from Seam Reap province.
He described the design of the idol as carved jewelry and rebellion and sash, with a unique left-handed gesture beyond the chest-“an unusual representation in Khmer (Cambodian) art.”
Statue’s prescribed head was discovered in the same temple during the French colonial era in 1927, and is currently placed in the main national museum of Cambodia in Capital Nom Penh. Nath Simon said the torso was found to be about 50 meters (yards) away from the site where the head was discovered, and an optical electronic scan confirmed that he was a match.
Nath Simon said that a complete reconstruction of the situation is possible, now only the right hand of the idol is missing. His team will ask the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts for approval for approval to complete the head and body of the sculpture for public performance.
The Angkor site spreads over some 400 square kilometers (155 sq mi), with ruins of the capitals of various Cambodian kingdoms from 9th to 15th century. Scholars consider it one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.
According to the Tourism Ministry of Cambodia, the site is the most popular tourist attraction in Cambodia and attracted about one million international tourists in 2024.
The Apsara Authority says the purpose of the excavation is to organize and preserve many art items scattered in the Ta Proham Complex, which highlight the ongoing efforts to protect and understand the rich cultural heritage of Cambodia.
Nath Simon said that if the pieces of the statue can be rebuilt after separation from each other for a century, it would be happy.
“As an archaeologist, I will really be happy,” he said.
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