Field Activities for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of Ta Nei Temple in Angkor, Cambodia (Part XX) – Preliminary Investigation for Conservation and Restoration of the Cruciform Terrace in front of the Central Complex (part 3)
In the collaborative project with the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA National Authority) at Ta Nei Temple, a preliminary investigation aimed at the conservation and restoration of the Cruciform Terrace has been on-going since 2024. Located at the front of the Central Complex, the Cruciform Terrace is an important architectural component in terms of the temple landscape. This Terrace is currently in a state of severe deformation and many areas of the pavement and side walls are in a state of collapse due to factors such as tree growth and the loss of inner soil layer. In addition, investigations to date have revealed that some structural elements—particularly from the middle layer of the side walls of the Terrace—were intentionally removed, a factor that is also considered to have caused the deterioration.
Excavation of the scattered stones around this Terrace has resulted in the identification of a total of 152 stone elements. Classification based on form and decoration indicates that approximately half of these are components of the Naga balustrade that originally bordered the outer edge of the Terrace surface. From November 16 to December 4, 2025, two staff members from the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation were dispatched, and these Naga balustrade elements were relocated and arranged to a temporary storage area in collaboration with staff members from APSARA National Authority. In parallel with the documentation of each element, trial assembling, together with investigation regarding their construction techniques, were conducted. As a result, four balustrade elements were successfully recomposed from multiple fragments, and new insights were gained into the techniques used to build up the stone members.
Progress of the investigations to date is reported in the activity reports listed below.
– Preliminary Investigation (part 1)
（URL：https://www.tobunken.go.jp/materials/ekatudo/2385461.html）
– Preliminary Investigation (part 2)
（URL：https://www.tobunken.go.jp/materials/ekatudo/2403881.html）