A temple mystery in Sambor Prei Kuk

[geovalin]

Rinith Taing

 

At an ancient Chenla site, a series of carvings depict men who appear to be foreigners. Their identity has confounded, and divided, archaeologists and historians and raises questions about the interactions of the Khmer empires with the outside world.

 

Leading off of the main highway 10 minutes north of Kampong Thom city, the road to Sambor Prei Kuk is seldom travelled by tourists. But after 16 kilometres, the road reaches an ancient temple at the site of the former capital of the Chenla Empire.

 

The ruins provide not only a glimpse of the Pre-Angkorian period, but of a mystery that has confounded researchers – one that, if solved, could shed light on the people and cultures that interacted with ancient Khmer civilisation.

 

Amid the dense tropical rainforest and bomb craters left by American attacks in the 1970s lie 150 ancient sandstone temples, all pre-dating the Angkorian era. Constructed on an area of 4 square kilometres, the temples are divided into three clusters: the North Group, South Group and Central Group.

 

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/temple-mystery-sambor-prei-kuk

 

 

-- © Copyright Phenom Pen Post 09/06

[phycokiller]

damned foreigners with their curly hair and mustaches

[Dumbastheycome]

Indonesia  has  some  confusing  structural  relics  too. 

[UdeBoCM]

Almost Gandharan/Kushan faces

Edited June 11, 2017 by UdeBoCM