On October 28, the Apsara National Authority (ANA) of Cambodia announced that archaeologists have discovered 12 gatekeeper statues during a recent excavation at the North Gate of the ancient Royal Palace within Angkor Thom, part of the Angkor Archaeological Park.
View of the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province. (Photo credit: Vietjet Air).
Archaeologist Sorn Chanthorn from ANA stated that this discovery is part of a collaborative project between ANA and the China-Cambodia Government Team for the Protection of Angkor (CCSA). The sandstone statues were found while archaeologists were studying the structure of the gate and searching for fallen stones. Notably, the 12th statue was discovered at a depth of 140 cm.
Chanthorn further explained that these statues vary in size and shape, with some measuring 110 cm and others 100 cm tall. Each statue features different decorations on its face and hair. Immediately after the discovery, the research team recorded the original locations of the statues, took photographs, and prepared for cleaning and restoration before returning them to their original positions.
According to Chanthorn, experts believe that these gatekeeper statues are typical examples of the Khleang style, which corresponds to the period of the Royal Palace’s construction in the 11th century.
The ancient Royal Palace is a large rectangular area located within Angkor Thom, part of the Angkor Archaeological Park, the most famous tourist destination in Cambodia. According to the Angkor Enterprise ticket office, a state-owned entity, the Angkor Archaeological Park attracted nearly 700,000 international visitors from January to September 2024, generating ticket sales revenue of $32.5 million. In comparison, the ancient site welcomed nearly 800,000 international tourists last year, with ticket sales amounting to $37.1 million.
