Cambodian archaeologists have discovered a dozen centuries-old sandstone statues at Angkor, a UNESCO site.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Archaeologists in Cambodia have discovered a dozen centuries-old sandstone statues in a “remarkable find” in Angkor, World Heritage Site near the city of Siem Reap, authorities said Wednesday.

Statues depicting so-called “door guards” were discovered last week near the northern gate leading to the 11th-century Royal Palace at Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire, said Long Kosal, a spokesman for the National Apsara Authority. , the government agency that oversees the archaeological park.

When the discovery was made, teams were assessing the structure of the ancient gate and searching for fallen stones around a portal on the north side of Angkor Thom, one of four entrances to the complex.

The statues depict guards standing at attention and range in size from 1 meter to 110 centimeters or 39 to 43 inches. According to archaeologist Sorn Chanthorn, they were found buried up to 1.4 meters (4.5 ft) deep, and some are in surprisingly good shape, with each having unique facial hair ornaments that add to their originality.

“Experts believe that these door guardian statues embody the Kneang style and correspond to the construction period of the 11th century palace.” This was reported by the National Apsara Authority.

Angkor Thom is part of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a complex covering approximately 400 square kilometers (155 sq mi), designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist destinations.

It contains the ruins of the capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th centuries, including the temple of Angkor Wat.

Playground, nearby Siem Reap, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of the capital.More than 500,000 foreign tourists visited Phnom Penh in the first half of 2024, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism.

According to Apsara, the archaeological excavation was a joint project between Apsara and the Chinese and Cambodian government team for the conservation of Angkor.

After discovering the statues, the archaeological team carefully documented their position before removing them for cleaning and restoration. They will eventually be returned to their original locations, authorities said.

Much Khmer cultural property was looted during the long period of civil war and instability when Cambodia was ruled by a brutal communist regime. Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

Cambodia has benefited from a trend in recent decades that has seen art and archaeological treasures repatriated from their homelands. IN August, the return of dozens of artifacts was celebrated here from museums and private collections abroad.

He also has be criticized for efforts to clean up the Angkor site, which involved the displacement of thousands of families, which Amnesty International condemned as a “gross violation of international human rights law.”

At its meeting in July, the UN World Heritage Committee recommended that Cambodia invite a new group of experts to monitor the situation.