SIEM REAP: Experts from the Department of Temple Preservation and Archeology of the APSARA Authority are working hard to save the Naga balustrade on the ground floor at Angkor Wat’s Ta Pich Gate entrance.

Archaeologist and Angkor Wat Conservation Agent of the Department of Temple Preservation and Archaeology, Soy Sophearin, said that the Naga balustrade and sandstone pedestals of Angkor Wat at the southern staircase are nearly a thousand years old. At about 10 meters long, the integrity of the foundation has been compromised from rain that erodes the sandstone over time, causing rocks to break and separate putting the Naga head at great risk.

 The Naga is an important ancient symbol for Cambodians and can be seen frequently in sculpture, advertisement and even official documents. In a Cambodian legend, the Naga were a reptilian race of beings who possessed a large empire in the Pacific Ocean region. The Naga King's daughter married the king of Ancient Cambodia, and thus gave rise to the Cambodian people. This is why, still, today, Cambodians say that they are "Born from the Naga” The seven-headed serpent represents power, water, and fertility in many Hindu texts.

In early July, the archaeology team temporarily dismantled the balustrade while the nearby staircase was taken apart earlier this month. The team is now in the process of replacing cracked stones, clearing the rubble and reassembling the structure anew. The repair team undertook detailed tasks such as removing salt from stone, reassembling the Naga sculpture and carving new stones to replace missing parts of the serpent demi-god.

Soy Sophearin said that the process, which is completely done by hand, could It takes about 3 months. He noted that there a several Naga balustrades throughout the temple complex in need of repairing and reinforcement and that his team will go on to address their issues next.