Field Activities for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of Ta Nei Temple in Angkor, Cambodia (Part XVIII) – Preliminary Investigation for Conservation and Restoration of Cruciform Terrace in front of the Central Complex
Ta Nei Temple is a Bundist temple estimated to have been built during the period from the end of the 12th to early 13th century. A large rectangular terrace and a Cruciform Terrace are aligned at the eastern side of the Central Complex, which is the front side of the Temple. While a large terrace is often set in front of the building complex in the other temples of the same period, the style connecting a cruciform terrace in front of a rectangular terrace is unique. Therefore, these are considered important remains, when we think about the characteristics of Ta Nei Temple. However, as tree roots had grown on the terraces and the soil infill layer inside the terraces had unevenly subsided, the terraces had largely collapsed, especially the Cruciform Terrace.
Therefore, the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation dispatched four staff members from the end of November to late December 2024 and started an excavation of the Cruciform Terrace as a preliminary investigation for future discussion on the conservation and restoration methods, working with the archeological staff of the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA) of the Cambodian government. At the same time, surveys on internal structures, damage, and remaining status of fallen stone materials were conducted and fundamental discussions related to the direction of future restoration were held.
As a result of the excavation, many scattered stone materials that could be considered to have formed the Cruciform Terrace were detected under the accumulated soil around the Terrace. Furthermore, some parts of the foundation work layer and the internal structure of the Terrace were revealed. When we investigated the current level of the Terrace foundation, some subsidence was observed toward the ends of southern and northern wings, but the foundation itself remained in relatively good condition. On the contrary, it was confirmed that the side walls and floor materials were lost in many areas and that, as a result, an inner infill mainly consisting of sand had flowed out at the southern and northern sides of the eastern wing and around the southern wing of the Terrace. Almost no materials that can be estimated to have been used for the middle layer of the side walls of the Terrace were found, which could suggest that these stone materials were taken away intentionally during some past era(s). Based on these observations, we discussed the restoration methods of the Cruciform Terrace with APSARA staffs and mostly agreed on a basic direction and future plan for the restoration.
Simultaneously, we conducted some additional conservation work of stone materials at the eastern and western entrances of the Central Tower. Partial restoration of these areas had been ongoing until August 2024 (Field Activities Parts XVI to XVII). In addition, during the mission, meetings of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk) were held in Siem Reap City from December 11 to 13. We reported on the completion of restoration of the entranceway of the Central Tower and the investigation on the Cruciform Terrace in front of the Central Complex.