Brief News, Restoration and Research Project of International Institute in Angkor

Living Angkor Road Project
A Khmer-Thai Joint Research Project

Living Angkor Road Project
A Khmer-Thai Joint Research Project

The Living Angkor Road project started in September 2005 aimed at conducting researches into the background of an ancient road and the settlement of the people then and now all the way from Angkor to Phimay. Researches are to be done within each side’s own territory and are broken into different stages, each of which is 18 months long.

The Cambodian side represented by the APSARA Authority has so far completed its first stage of research and data collection on a piece of 180- kilometer road from Angkor Thom City to the Khmer-Thai border. To put it in a nutshell, we have discovered the 17 ruins of rest houses which were inscribed at Preah Khan. Nine of them are in the Thai territory and the rest in Cambodia. Ancient bridges, big and small temples and pre-historic sites have also been found.

The second stage involves data analysis, for instance, the analysis of the road structure, irrigation system, pre-historic sites and ancient industry. Website development and a data-keeping system are also included in this stage. The stage began in April 2007 and is scheduled to end in September 2008.

Discovering of a new drainage system along the road to Ta Kaov Gate, Angkor Thom

Archaeological Research Cooperation at Roluos

Christophe POTTIER, Ecole Française d'Extrême Orient

In January and February 2006, the Franco-Khmère Archaeological Mission on the Angkorian Regional planning (Mafkata) carried out a new excavation campaign in Bakong. This mission, directed by C Pottier (EFEO) and initiated in 1999, is financed by the archaeological Commission of the French Foreign Affairs Ministry with the support of the EFEO, and the participation of APSARA. It relates to the study of the genesis of town planning and territorial installation in the area of Angkor.
The mission was devoted since 2004 to the study of two characteristic sites in the area of Roluos (Bakong and Trapéang Phong). The mission of 2006 focuses on the study of the occupations located in the external enclosure of Bakong, in complement of previous work, which had related to its south-western quarter. A series of long trenchs was done this year in the east of the temple, as well in the external enclosure as beyond, along the Eastern axial chaussée/platform. Work attempts to specify the ways of installation around this temple, the densities and the distribution of the habitats and the appearance of new elements of the Angkorian material culture (ceramic imported, sandstone, system of cover...). The team consisted of A. Bolle (Inrap), C Socheat and H. Komsan (Apsara), D. Soutif (doctorand Paris III) and S. Sang (URBA).

Excavation at Prasat Bakong

Archaeological Research Cooperation at Prasat Ta Muong

Christophe POTTIER, Ecole Française d'Extrême Orient

In February and March 2006, the first excavation campaign of a new research project was carried out relating to the hospitals of Jayavarman VII. Placed under the High Patronage of its Majesty King NORODOM SIHAMONI, this project is co-directed by Professor R.K. Chhem (Univ. Western Ontario, member of the Academy of Medicine of the Kingdom of Kampuchea) and C Pottier (EFEO), with the assistance of Professor A. Kolata (Univ. of Chicago) on financing of Women' S Board of Univ. from Chicago. It's a pilot project on the new subject which constitutes the research, the identification and the study of the old hospital installations near the temples considered as chapels of hospital. The excavation campaign consisted in the realization of a score of diagnostic pit test on the chapel of Angkor Thom's western hospital, Prasat Ta Muong. The team consisted of P. Bâty (Inrap), E Swenson (Univ. of Chicago), Kosal (Apsara), D. Soutif and J.B. Chevance (doctorands Paris III) and C Somala (URBA).

Excavation at Prasat Ta Muong

JAPAN – APSARA Safeguarding Angkor (JASA) Project 2005-2010

The Project had been established in July 2004 focused o the need of restoration of three identified parts of Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom. They are Southern Library, Bas-reliefs in the inner and outer galleries of the temple, and the Central Tower Complex. It is a five years project (2005-2010) which is under the cooperation of three parties: UNESCO, JSA, and APSARA Authority.
Its aims and objectives are as following:
-To increase ownership of the local community and their authority through a conservation
project based on extensive scientific research.
-To promote international and local understanding on cultural diversity.
-To control deterioration of the temple structures.
-To carry out conservation work on identified parts of the temple and research and record all data necessary to be conserved for the current and future interventions.
-To trains Cambodian specialists and technicians in conservation and restoration of Angkor Monuments.
-To publicize the information on activities and scientific achievements of the project nationally and internationally.

This project is designed based on "The Master Plan for the Conservation and Restoration of the Bayon Complex. All the activities will be don under the approval of three parties and two annual progress reports focusing on the scientific research outputs and restoration and conservation activities will be produced by JASA.

Living Angkor Road Project

The joint research between APSARA Authority and Silpakorn University of Thailand on the historical, archaeological, settlement of local resident in the past until now and cultural communication network from Angkor to Phimai began in 2004 by using the basic database from remote sensing, GIS and archaeological research.
This so-called "LIVING ANGKOR ROAD PROJECT" was officially approved by ICC meeting on December 2004. The main point of this project is to conduct researches into all kinds of road infrastructure (ancient bridges and reservoirs), ancient structure (rest houses, hospitals and capital cities) and human communities settled along the royal road in order to evaluate and preserve of cultural heritage in term of tourist development.

The ancient road from Angkor to Phimai in Khmer side

Stone Cleaning at Ta Nei temple (Joint research project between APSARA Authority and National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, “NRICPT/TOBUNKEN”)

We chose Ta Nei Temple for doing stone cleaning, micro climate measurement, lichen and moss research because of its relative absence of tourist activity and the lack of investigation projects until now dealing with this temple. It will be a perfect school for training the APSARA Authority technical staff.

Measuring mocro climate data

Conservation and Restoration Project of Ta Prohm Temple

Archaeological Survey of India has been entrusted with the most challenging task of conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm Temple complex. This project was formally launched in February 2004 and cooperating with APSARA Authority.
The conservation strategy revolves around the basic concept of conserving both the natural and the built heritage of this temple. Preserving the authenticity and the integrity of the site forms the basis of all conservation works undertaken here. The project aims to conserve the unique coexistence of the trees and the built form and pass on this legacy to the future generations. This temple is extremely significant as a “Tree temple” and the local community has an age-old association with the numerous trees in the complex, hence there is a need to protect this component of intangible heritage of the temple and ensure its sustainability.
A multidisciplinary approach has been adopted for the conservation and restoration of this temple complex. The following technical studies and investigations were conducted during the initial months of the year 2006:
1- Arboriculture studies/Forest studies: To study the life span and conservation of trees
2- Hydrological studies: Studies to address the issue of water stagnation in the temple complex
3- Studies on structural stability of the temple complex

In order to conduct these studies experts from various fields visited the site.
Arboriculture studies are being conducted by scientists from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. To address the issue of water stagnation in the temple complex, the officials from Water and Power Consultancy services Limited, Delhi (WAPCOS) are conducting hydro-metrological studies and drainage studies for the Ta Prohm temple complex. They are also conducting Ground Penetrating Radar Studies to understand the movement of the roots below the surface of the soil and structures.
Extensive technical studies have been undertaken by engineers from Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, to understand the complexities and resolve the issues of structural stability of the various portions of the temple complex, particularly where the trees are growing over the structures.
In addition, Archaeological Survey of India has been undertaking detail stone-by-stone documentation of various components of the temple. Activities such as providing and erecting wooden stairs, dwarf walking platforms at six different locations to facilitate tourist movement/accessibility are also in progress.
A meeting was held in Phnom Penh on 30th March 2006, at the main office of Apsara National Authority (ANA) office, to discuss the "Project Implementation Plan" submitted by the Archaeological Survey of India. The meeting was attended by the Joint Committee comprising the officials from Apsara National Authority (ANA), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Indian Mission in Phnom Penh, Ministry of External Affairs Government of India and International Coordination Committee (ICC) Permanent Secretariat. This meeting was followed by a field visit to the Ta Prohm temple on 31st March 2006. The committee has recommended guide lines for the implementation of Phase I and Phase II of the preservation, conservation and restoration program of Ta Prohm Temple (2006-2008).

Nara National Research Institute for
Cultural Properties

Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties was started its projects firstly cooperated with the Sophia Center for Research and Training, and also with the APSARA Authority, in Angkor Region. First research project was focused on kiln site excavation in Tani village, from 1994 to 2003. After the Tani kiln site project was finished, in 2003 the institute stared a new research at Western Top temple. The aim of this research is want to study about the processes of constructions of the temple, history and the structure of eastern Buddhist terrace of the temple. This project has been being conducted. In December 2004, the institute began another project to research the kiln site in Sar Sei village.
Beside the research works in Angkor Region, in 2005, the institute has cooperated with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts to study a Japanese village in Ponheua Leuo area.
Every year, the institute selects some students from the Faculty of Archaeology, Royal University of fine Arts, to visit and train in Japan.

Excavation at Western Top temple, 2005

Sophia Angkor Mission

Sophia Angkor International Mission (Sophia Mission) began its activities in Cambodia in 1989 based on the principle, entitled “Restoration and conservation of Cultural Heritages, by the Cambodian, and for the sake of the Cambodian”. Recently, we are doing the projects as follow:
- Restoration work at the Western Causeway of Angkor Wat: we have launched the installing of the sandstone pavement scheduled to finish Phase 1 in 2008.
- Human resource development: we provide training course every year to Khmer archaeologists, architects and Stonemasons and especially to the students from Faculty of Archaeology, Royal University of Fine Arts.

Other works in the future are:
- ISO14001-Environmental management project, certificated in May 2006, is a co-operation project with APSARA Authority and Sophia University.
- The construction of the “Shihanouk-Aeon Museum” for 274-Buddha statues, excavated at Banteay Kdei temple, will be completed in 2007.

Restoration work at the Western Causeway of Angkor Wat

World Monuments Fund (WMF) Conservation Program in Angkor

The cooperation between APSARA and WMF on conservation and maintenance in Angkor began in the following temples:
- Ta Som: we conducted a survey to find the exact high and low points then placed sand bags and filled with soil at the Gopura III West, in order to facilitate the tourists and protect it from damp during the rainy season. In addition, we improved landscape surrounding the temple terrace by planting grasses at the Gopura III West, which gives a better appearance to the temple entrance, and protects this feature from rains in the monsoon season. We’re also clearing small grass that grows on the temple and clearing the drainage at the exterior of North-west of laterite enclosure wall.

- Preah Khan: we are continuing restoring the Garuda along the wall around the temple, emergency shoring at the Gopura IV East, drew the plan and section of side view of Gopura IV East before submitting a proposal to restore this section and cleaning up at the three main entrances and the temple compound.

- Phnom Bakheng: the stone work group has removed fallen stones at three different places and rearranged them according to their original placement and the spoiled have been kept on plastic sheets. We replaced the old with the new at the NE section, where the broken wall had been stabilized with wooden props and steel pins and painted with wood preservative in order to protect the timber from water and insect damage.
The research team has carried out the work of surveying and has been drawing the uneven stones on top level floor of the main complex, drawing the floor of the base of the main complex and surveying and drawing the plan and sections of the Eastern causeway at the base of the hill, and the highly eroded East stairway.

Greater Angkor Project

The Greater Angkor Project is an international collaboration between the APSARA Authority (Cambodia), the University of Sydney (Australia) and EFEO (France).Since 2002 the Greater Angkor Project has carried out an extensive research on the extent and residential pattern of the city, the water management system and their role in the demise of Angkor. The project combines remote sensing, field archaeology and the palaeo-environmental research and is focused on key water management features e.g. the Thvea Dei Chhnang canal junction, outside the north gate of Angkor Thom; the Bam Penh Reach spillway at the Puok-Siem Reap river junction; the West Mebon; and occupation sites along the former Siem Reap.
The current research is funded by the Australian Research Council from 2005 to the end of 2009.

Cooperation work between APSARA Authority and Chinese Government Team for Safeguarding Angkor (CSA)

May 8th the head of State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Mr. Shan Qixiang signed an agreement with Director General of APSARA Authority on Second Phase of Chinese Angkor restoration activity.
1.The first layer of cornice and second layer of tower body of Central Sanctuary are being restored. Because most of original components that support upper structure are missing, new components must be added. The progress is relatively slow.
2. The second layer of cornice and east entrance of mandapa is being restored. Both of these two parts are recently found, but there still are many original components missing. Besides, the damaged components need to be fixed.
3. The second layer and pediments of North Library are being restored. The reassembly of main hall structure is about to finish in the end of this month.
4. The restoration of top tower, North Gopura is still underway. Because its platform needs relatively more new components, the progress is slow.
5. The restoration on the north antechamber of Central Sanctuary is still underway.
6. The restoration of closure wall is underway.

Restoration work at the North Library

Restoration work at the North Gopura