Restoration work underway at millennium-old brick tower in Cambodia’s Angkor complex

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — Cambodia’s APSARA National Authority (ANA) archaeologists have begun to restore the Phnom Bakheng temple’s G15 brick tower in the famed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province, said an ANA’s news release on Wednesday.
The ruined brick tower, situated south of the ancient Phnom Bakheng temple, is over 1,000 years old and currently faces significant structural issues, the news release said.
Chhun Ratana, an officer from the ANA Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said the restoration project was to prevent this historical monument from deteriorating further.
“The G15 tower has suffered extensive damage due to its age, a lack of long-term maintenance, and environmental factors,” she said. “The condition of the tower has worsened, with complete deterioration evident from the walls upwards.”
Ratana added that the main concerns include damage to the platform and cracks in the walls, which allow water to seep during the rainy season.
To ensure the stability of the temple, ANA experts are actively working on reinforcing both the inner and outer brick walls, she said, adding that the restoration efforts will focus on repairing and maintaining the pillars, as well as sealing cracks to prevent further water infiltration.
“These measures aim to strengthen the G15 tower and preserve its historical significance for future generations,” she said.
Built in the late ninth century, Phnom Bakheng temple is one of the key temples in the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1992. ■