Archaeologists in Cambodia have made a significant discovery at the Angkor World Heritage Site near Siem Reap. A dozen centuries-old sandstone statues, depicting 'door guardians,' were unearthed near the north gate leading to the 11th-century Royal Palace at Angkor Thom, the former capital of the Khmer Empire. The statues, standing at attention, vary in size from about 1 meter to 110 centimeters and were found buried at depths of up to 1.4 meters.
Experts believe these statues exemplify the Khneang Style, dating back to the 11th-century palace construction period. The Angkor Archaeological Park, where the discovery was made, sprawls over 400 square kilometers and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, attracting over 500,000 international visitors in the first half of 2024.
