The more they dig, the more they find. Another priceless statue was discovered by archaeologists from the Apsara National Authority (ANA), as they carried out a dig at the northeast pond of Bayon Temple on June 3.
The Heritage Protection Police announced on June 3 that the sandstone statue was identified as a four-armed Lokesvara, possibly taken from the temple.
The statue was taken to the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum for preservation on the same day.
Phouy Savoeut, acting director of the museum, said the statue has been registered at the museum and is being stored indoors as it waits for cleaning. Once ready, it will be put on display for the public to enjoy.
He explained that the statue is around 87 centimetres high and 30 wide but noted that it is missing its head and hands.
Archaeologists from the Apsara National Authority (ANA) continue to unearth sculptures in and around the Angkor complex. Heritage Protection Police ANA
A day early, ANA archaeologists found three heads of tug-of-war demons at the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, as well the upper part of a Lokesvara at Ta Nei Temple.
On May 31, four demon’s heads were uncovered at the Victory Gate.
Many Khmer artefacts were stolen during the conflicts of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pieces ended up abroad, either in museums or private collections. In recent years, hundreds of pieces have been returned to the Kingdom, mostly from the US.