Cambodia Launches First Scientific Restoration Study for Bakong Temple's Ancient Causeway

Cambodia has embarked on its first archaeological investigation of the western causeway at Bakong Temple, a significant step towards restoring the 1,000-year-old structure using scientific evidence and international conservation standards, officials announced Wednesday. Experts from the APSARA National Authority are conducting excavations to assess the causeway's condition, recover buried architectural elements, and document its original construction methods. The causeway measures approximately 70 meters in length, 12 meters in width, and stands about 4 meters high. Saray Kimhual, head of the restoration team, explained that the excavation will help determine how the causeway was built and facilitate the recovery of collapsed sandstone blocks and naga balustrade fragments from the moat. The structure has suffered centuries of deterioration, with laterite retaining walls collapsing and balustrades displaced due to vegetation growth and erosion. Lead archaeologist Chea Socheat emphasized the project's vital importance for gathering archaeological and engineering data in line with ICC-Angkor recommendations, noting that the causeway has never undergone excavation or restoration prior to this initiative. The work will proceed in phases, commencing at the corners before moving to the central section and the western end. The study aims to ascertain the original foundation and construction techniques, examine links with surrounding structures, and identify the original paving materials, whether sandstone, laterite, or compacted earth. Recovered stones, naga fragments, and two sandstone sculptures that once stood at the eastern entrance will be conserved and reinstated where feasible. Officials stated that this project supports the long-term preservation of Bakong, one of Cambodia's earliest and most significant Angkorian monuments, ensuring its legacy endures for future generations. Source: Kampuchea Thmey English