Early Angkor Era Temples Discovered Recently in Ratanakiri

PHNOM PENH – The Ministry of Environment have discovered two ancient temples, which are thought to be built during the early Angkor era.

Lim Vanchan, the Ministry of Environment’s information, education and dissemination Office Deputy Director said, “We are recently exploring two ancient sites, the Ou Preah and Yak Nang temples, which could have been constructed during the early Angkor era in Ratanakiri province, Cambodia”.

Ou Preah temple, located in the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary, and it supposed to be built in the 10^th or 11^th century.

Another temple is Yak Nang, made of clay and facing east. This temple was found heavily damaged in O’Yaday National Park.

“Two broken pedestals were also found. Each of them has two holes on each side to set a statue, and jar fragments, are found. We are now in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts to protect and preserve these two ancient temples”, he added.

Early Angkor era temples have been found recently in Cambodia

According to the ethnic minorities in the area, “wine jars were then considered as the richly valued items used to exchange against cattle when a family member died. They then buried the body, placed the jar above its head, and planted a tree.”

In accordance with Deputy Director of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, H.E. Heng Sophady noted that the Yak Nang temple was actually discovered in 2013, yet the information was kept hidden because of the fear of looters or artefacts robbers.

“The Yak Nang temple we have seen already, but we did not know about the Ou Preah temple,” he said. “We will contact the Ratanakkiri Provincial Department of Culture first, because we have also found a temple, Preah Puth temple, in Veun Sai district.”

“It may be the same temple; we need to investigate if that is the case”, he added.

Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Culture will thoroughly cooperate to protect and preserve these two ancient temples