SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA—According to a Xinhua report, a sandstone door guardian statue, or Dvarapala, has been uncovered near the second gate at the Banteay Prei temple in northwestern Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park by researchers from the Apsara National Authority (ANA). The temple was constructed by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181–1218) in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century. When the second gate’s upper structure collapsed, the statue, which stood about five feet tall, was knocked over, said ANA archaeologist Chea Sarith. “Despite this, the statue remains in relatively good condition,” he said. “However, it was found head down facing west, with the body broken into six pieces, including damage to the neck, forearm, left side, waist, and below the knees of both legs,” he explained. “A part of its stick is also missing,” he added. To read about sandstone statues found beneath a gate of Angkor's Ta Prohm Temple, go to "Around the World: Cambodia."
