Archaeologists from the Apsara National Authority (ANA) have unearthed a centuries-old sandstone statue of a gate guardian, known as a Dvarapala, at the Banteay Prei temple in Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park.
This discovery was made near the second gate of the temple, which dates back to the late 12th or early 13th century and was built by King Jayavarman VII. The Banteay Prei temple is one of the many historical sites in the 401-square-kilometer UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, located in Siem Reap province.
According to a news release from the ANA, the statue was found approximately 80 centimeters underground on the eastern side of the temple’s second gate. It was likely buried when the upper structure of the gate collapsed. Archaeologist Chea Sarith of the ANA’s Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology explained that the Dvarapala statue, which was crafted in the Bayon style, stands about 1.6 meters tall but was discovered in a damaged state.
“The statue remains in relatively good condition despite being dislodged,” Sarith said. “However, it was found head down, facing west, with its body broken into six pieces. There is damage to the neck, forearm, left side, waist, and below the knees of both legs. A part of its staff is also missing.”
Banteay Prei is a lesser-known temple near Prasat Prei, with Preah Khan being the closest major temple. While the temple is not often visited by tourists, it holds historical significance as one of the many Buddhist temples commissioned by King Jayavarman VII.
In recent years, Angkor Archaeological Park has attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists, generating substantial revenue for the country. According to Xinhua, rduring the first seven months of 2024 alone, the park welcomed 584,375 international visitors, generating approximately $27.2 million from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.
