Ta Prohm’s Southern Gate Restoration Begins in Siem Reap

via Khmer Times, 28 June 2023: The APSARA National Authority is set to restore the southern gate of the Ta Prohm Temple. In collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India, the project involves excavating the gate’s foundation to study its condition and ancient construction techniques. The restoration, using the anastylosis technique, is part of a larger effort to preserve the 800-year-old temple, renowned for its integration with nature.

The purpose of the excavation is to study the condition of the ancient structure.

The Authority is working with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the project, and work will take three months from mid-December 2023 to February 2024, according to ANA.

An archaeologist from the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology Neth Simon said excavation at the southern gate is primarily aimed at finding and identifying the stones of the lost structure. Second, study the condition of the gate’s foundation; third, learn about ancient construction techniques.

“In the first phase, the team dug a pit to a depth of 80 centimetres and found eight sculpted sandstones identified as stones from the pediment and other parts of the gate,” she explained. “The excavation started after the team removed the pile of sandstone of the upper gate, which collapsed to cover the entire gate structure to find the original location.”

Source: ANA to begin restoring Ta Prohm southern gate – Khmer Times