via Phnom Penh Post, 03 March 2024: A collaborative effort between Cambodian and French conservators is bringing a 10th-century statue of a dancing Shiva back to life, after its discovery in fragments at Koh Ker’s Prasat Krahorm. Led by Chhan Chamroeun and Eric Bourdonneau, the team has painstakingly pieced together over 2,500 pieces since 2019, achieving 65% completion.
It is a process that is unfolding like an archaeological detective story, with the conservators from the National Authority for Preah Vihear (NAPV) and the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) piecing together a cultural puzzle that has waited centuries to be solved.
“The process of assembling the sculpture is being carried out by a joint Cambodian and French team, and is approximately 65 per cent complete,” says Chhan Chamroeun, deputy director at the Department of Conservation of Monuments.
Chamroeun, leader of the Dancing Shiva statue team, explains that the statue was excavated from Prasat Krahorm (Red Temple), at the Koh Ker archaeological site in Preah Vihear province in 2012.
The 5m-tall figure had been broken into over 10,000 pieces, both large and small.
Source: Shiva reborn: 10th century statue takes shape | Phnom Penh Post
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This is an excellent addition of SEAarch. As ever, a wonderful thread of current ideas and discoveries around the region. Continue the great work.!