FILE PHOTO: This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows restoration site of the ninth dilapidated brick tower of Bakong temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. - ANA/Handout via Xinhua
PHNOM PENH: Archaeologists have been undertaking the restoration of the ruined brick tower No. 5 of centuries-old Bakong temple in Cambodia's renowned Angkor Archaeological Park, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Tuesday (Feb 3).
Saray Kimhual, head of the ANA's conservation team for the Roluos Area, said the tower's structure was in a severely deteriorated condition, requiring urgent restoration from its platform to the top.
The restoration, scheduled for 2026, has been focused on the east and north sides of the temple, including the platform and stairways, covering approximately 90 square metres, he said, adding that the total wall surface area up to the top of the temple is about 160 square meters.
"During the restoration, the team is removing decayed bricks and replacing them with new ones, reinforcing the brick structure, cleaning accumulated soil, sealing holes with mortar and implementing measures to prevent water infiltration," Kimhual said.
"Additional efforts include controlling plant growth and insects to prevent further damage and ensure long-term stability of the monument," he added.
Built in the late ninth century by King Indravarman I, the Bakong temple, made of sandstone and laterite, was the first major mountain temple built in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province.
The Bakong temple complex is home to a total of 22 brick towers, many of which are in varying states of disrepair, according to the ANA. - Xinhua
