Restoration work on platform structure of West Top temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor underway-Xinhua

Restoration work on platform structure of West Top temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor underway

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2024-02-06 19:57:16

This undated photo shows the restoration site of the platform structure of West Top temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia.

Archeologists have begun to restore a damaged platform structure of centuries-old West Top temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the Authority for the Protection and Safeguarding of Angkor and the Region of Angkor (APSARA), or the APSARA National Authority (ANA), said in a news release on Tuesday. (APSARA National Authority/Handout via Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Archeologists have begun to restore a damaged platform structure of centuries-old West Top temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Tuesday.

Lam Sopheak, an expert in charge of the restoration work, said the platform structure is 7.5 meters wide and 17.5 meters long.

He said the West Top temple was a monument dedicated to Buddhism since the post-Angkor era.

"In this restoration project, we will remove the whole structure to strengthen the foundation and the lower structure before reassembling the platform to its original state," he said. "The restoration work is scheduled to be completed in the next three months."

According to Sopheak, the work is being carried out by ANA's archeologists in collaboration with their counterparts from the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties of Japan.

Built in the late 10th century, the West Top temple, made of laterite and sandstone, is a small ruined tower situated in the tranquil western part of Angkor Thom temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province.

The 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

This undated photo shows the West Top temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia.

Archeologists have begun to restore a damaged platform structure of centuries-old West Top temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the Authority for the Protection and Safeguarding of Angkor and the Region of Angkor (APSARA), or the APSARA National Authority (ANA), said in a news release on Tuesday. (APSARA National Authority/Handout via Xinhua)

This undated photo shows staff members working at the restoration site of the platform structure of West Top temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia.

Archeologists have begun to restore a damaged platform structure of centuries-old West Top temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the Authority for the Protection and Safeguarding of Angkor and the Region of Angkor (APSARA), or the APSARA National Authority (ANA), said in a news release on Tuesday. (APSARA National Authority/Handout via Xinhua)

This undated photo shows staff members working at the restoration site of the platform structure of West Top temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia.

Archeologists have begun to restore a damaged platform structure of centuries-old West Top temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the Authority for the Protection and Safeguarding of Angkor and the Region of Angkor (APSARA), or the APSARA National Authority (ANA), said in a news release on Tuesday. (APSARA National Authority/Handout via Xinhua)