Archaeologists uncover 12 ancient "door guardians" at Angkor

Archaeologists in Cambodia have made a remarkable discovery at the Angkor World Heritage Site near Siem Reap, unearthing a dozen centuries-old sandstone statues. The statues, depicting so-called "door guardians," were discovered last week near the north gate leading to the 11th-century Royal Palace at Angkor Thom, as confirmed by Long Kosal, spokesman for the Apsara National Authority.

The discovery was described as a "remarkable discovery" by authorities on Wednesday, October 28. Long Kosal confirmed that the statues were uncovered while teams were assessing the ancient gate's structure and searching for fallen stones around the portal on the north side of Angkor Thom. The archaeological dig was a collaborative project between the Apsara National Authority and the China-Cambodia Government Team for Safeguarding Angkor, as stated by Apsara.

The statues depict guardians standing at attention and vary in size from about 1 meter to 110 centimeters, or about 39 to 43 inches, with some in surprisingly good shape. Each statue features unique facial hair ornaments, adding to their distinctiveness. The statues were found buried at depths of up to 1.4 meters (4.5 feet), with the 12th statue notably found at a depth of 140 cm.

Experts believe these door guardian statues exemplify the Khleang style, aligning with the construction period of the 11th-century Royal Palace. "Each statue features unique facial hair ornaments that add to their distinctiveness," explained Sorn Chanthorn. Following the discovery, the archaeological team carefully documented their positions before removing them for cleaning and restoration. Authorities said the statues will eventually be returned to their original locations.

Angkor Thom, established between the end of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century under King Jayavarman VII, was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. The ancient Royal Palace is a large rectangularly walled area located within Angkor Thom in the Angkor Archaeological Park. The north side of Angkor Thom is one of four entrances to the Angkor complex, which includes the impressive temple complex Angkor Wat and is popular with tourists. Angkor Thom is considered one of the most interesting attractions in the region, popular with tourists from all over the world, alongside Angkor Wat.

The Angkor Archaeological Park contains the ruins of Khmer Empire capitals from the 9th to 15th centuries, including the temple of Angkor Wat. The park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and is one of Southeast Asia's most popular tourist destinations. The site, near Siem Reap, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Phnom Penh, drew more than 500,000 international visitors in the first half of 2024, according to Cambodia's Tourism Ministry.

The Apsara National Authority is the government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding, and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park. The archaeological dig was a collaborative project between the Apsara National Authority and the China-Cambodia Government Team for Safeguarding Angkor. The Apsara National Authority said, "Experts believe these door guardian statues exemplify the Khneang Style, aligning with the construction period of the 11th-century palace."

Cambodia has benefited from a trend in recent decades that has seen the repatriation of art and archaeological treasures taken from their homelands. In August, Cambodia celebrated the return of dozens of artifacts from museums and private collections abroad. However, Cambodia has come under criticism for efforts to clean up the Angkor site, which have involved relocating thousands of families. Amnesty International has condemned the relocations as a "gross violation of international human rights law." At its meeting in July, the U.N.'s World Heritage Committee recommended that Cambodia invite a new team of experts to monitor the situation.

Despite these challenges, the discovery of the 12 ancient door guardian statues at Angkor Thom's Royal Palace adds significant value to Cambodia's rich cultural heritage. The statues will eventually be returned to their original locations, allowing visitors to appreciate these remarkable artifacts in their historical context.

Sources: Asharq Al-Awsat English, The Independent, Homepage, ABC News, The Star, AP NEWS, Beaumont Enterprise, Washington Post

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq