The head of a Deva statue at the excavation site of Angkor Thom's Victory Gate in the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap. - ANA/Handout via Xinhua
PHNOM PENH: Archaeologists have unearthed a centuries-old head of a Deva (guardian god) statue during an excavation at Angkor Thom's Victory Gate in Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park, the Apsara National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Wednesday (May 15).
The ANA is the government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park, a Unesco-listed world heritage site, situated in northwest Siem Reap province.
Archaeological excavation team leader An Sopheap said the head of a Deva statue was found on May 8 while his team members were conducting the excavation at the Victory Gate to assess the structure of the foundation of the balustrades in preparation for a restoration project.
"During the excavation, our team members discovered the well-preserved head of a Deva statue buried in the foundation pit," he said.
"Experts determined that the head belonged to the 23rd Deva statue from the front row."
Sopheap said the unearthed head was made of sandstone, measuring 20cm long and cm wide.
"The discovery of the Deva statue head adds to the rich archaeological heritage of Angkor Thom and provides valuable insights into the history and craftsmanship of the ancient Khmer civilization," he said.
Built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Angkor Thom is one of the key temples in the 401-sq km Angkor Archaeological Park, which is the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
The Angkor Archaeological Park attracted 421,379 international visitors during the first four months of 2024, earning a gross revenue of almost US$20 million from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. - Xinhua
