Siem Reap: A dedicated working team from the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology of the APSARA National Authority is undertaking the intricate task of removing thousands of stone blocks that had fallen into the ponds in the east of the Bayon temple.
Ms. Tim Thida, a technical staff member from the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, stated that the removal of these stone blocks from the ancient ponds serves two main purposes. Firstly, it is to organize and transport the stones to appropriate storage facilities. Secondly, it aims to enhance the value of the Bayon temple and restore the two ponds to their original identity and architectural form.
Ms. Thida elaborated that a portion of the stone pile within the temple's premises was previously collected in the third compound and the first gallery of the Bayon temple by French curators between 1919 and 1930. Among the fallen stones in the northeast ponds of the temple, about 50% are roof stones, while others include pediment stones, beams, pillars, platforms, and intricately carved small stones that once adorned the temple's facade. Prior to the removal process, the stones were scattered, but their overall quality is mostly intact.
The team's initial approach involved moving the stones to the front of the temple, and they will subsequently categorize them according to type, such as roof stones and pillars. These categorized stones will be placed on the north side of the Bayon temple. So far, the APSARA National Authority's working team has successfully relocated approximately 4,000 stone blocks to the designated area north of the temple.
The team's estimation suggests that there are approximately 20,000 ancient stones that need to be removed from the ponds.
The endeavor to remove the stone blocks from the ponds in the east of the Bayon temple commenced in early 2023, with the first phase encompassing a detailed study of documents and the photographing of the stone's condition before the relocation process began. The overall project is expected to be completed by August or September, bringing about the restoration and preservation of these significant ancient artifacts.
