Restoration Team Shows Commitment to Restoring Ancient Temples Using Traditional Techniques

AKP Phnom Penh, September 05, 2023 --

The restoration team shows commitment to restoring ancient temples using traditional techniques, said the APSAR National Authority in a news release today.

According to the source, the restoration team at the southwest corner of Bayon Temple in Siem Reap province is busy preparing the stone that was removed due to tearing and reassembling it one by one with great care and patience.

Sometimes the team also has to rearrange the stones many times to make them strong, and not torn again in the way of restoring ancient temples, following the correct rules and techniques to maintain the original value of the temple and abide by the Angkor Charter.

Mr. Chhom Prunh, a resident of Tapang village, Ambel commune, Prasat Bakong district, who first joined the APSARA National Authority in 2002 as a tourism agent at Angkor Wat and later changed to a temple repairer, said the restoration work in the southwest corner of Bayon Temple is in a narrow courtyard which must always be careful to avoid any danger to the team and the stones. He added that after the work of removing the torn stone and compacting the foundation, the stones had to be re-arranged. He also works to prepare the stones, and helps to pull the stones.

The work of repairing this ancient temple, in addition to using skills and techniques, giving advice, finding solutions to problems, and listening to all the opinions to get a smooth work progress, he said.

Mr. Chhom Prun never thought that he could become a temple restorer. But when preparing the stone, working directly with the temple gave him a lot of skills and knowledge to continue from the work of the ancestors.

Mr. Phi Phan, a resident of Sras Srang Khang Tbong village, Kravan commune, Nokor Thom district, has been repairing another ancient temple in the Angkor site for more than 20 years. He says what is difficult for the sandstone repair team is that the assembly of the stone requires time, patience, and solidarity. Sometimes he is upset with himself for not preparing the stones properly.

Although the restoration work of ancient temples is difficult, the skilled workers who are working together to restore many temples do not show any tiredness, they always show their happiness in participating in the restoration of ancient temples because those things do not belong to the repair team alone, but to everyone who can be preserved in various ways.