| ■Tokyo National Research
Institute for Cultural Properties |
■Center for Conservation
Science |
| ■Department of Art Research,
Archives and Information Systems |
■Japan Center for
International Cooperation in Conservation |
| ■Department of Intangible
Cultural Heritage |
|
The terraces in front of the Central Complex (Cruciform Terrace is highlighted in red)
Excavation at the Cruciform Terrace
Conservation of the Central Tower's original stone members
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.
West entrance of the Central Tower before and after restoration (3D model created by Photogrammetry)
Stone conservation
Located in the northeastern area of the Angkor Monuments, one of the World Heritage Sites in Cambodia, Ta Nei is a Buddhist temple thought to have been built in the late 12th to early 13th century. Its Central Tower, about 15 meters high, is partly collapsed, but still has pediments with carved Buddhist motifs on all sides and a pedestal inside on which the main Buddha image is thought to have been placed.
The entrance frames on each side are made of sandstone, but the upper frames on both the east and west sides are broken and deformed, and they had been supported by wooden supports. During this visit, we carried out partial restoration work on the entrance components to structurally stabilize the east-west entrance of the Central Tower and to remove the wooden supports so that visitors can safely walk along the central axis of the temple while viewing the temple as its original appearance.
Prior to the restoration work, the restoration plan was proposed and approved at the international meeting of ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk in March 2024 (see previous article here). Subsequently, the work began in June under the leadership of the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA). As part of its technical cooperation for this restoration project, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) dispatched two staff members (XVI field survey) from June 15 to July 2, 2024, and one staff member (XVII field survey) from August 7 to 11, 2024, for collaborative work with the APSARA staff. Specifically, the following procedures were followed: (1) dismantling and recording the sand stones composing the entrance and scattered stones in the surrounding area, (2) partial dismantling of the doorframes, (3) stone restoration, (4) reassembling, and (5) recording after restoration, which was successfully completed when the staff was dispatched in August.
Examination of structural members by master carpenters and staff from both Japan and Bhutan
The Lham Pelzom house
Since 2012, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been continuously engaged in research on vernacular houses in Bhutan, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD), Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. The DCDD promotes a policy of preserving and utilizing vernacular houses by integrating them into the legal protecting framework of cultural heritage, while TOBUNKEN supports the initiative from academic and technical aspects.
The Lham Pelzom house, located in Kabesa near the capital of Thimphu, is considered the oldest among about eighty vernacular houses that we have surveyed across Bhutan. This house is enclosed with rammed-earth outer walls that have few openings. Because it has very different characteristics from the current ordinary houses in Bhutan, we assume that it was built at the latest in the 18th century or earlier.
At the time of our initial survey in 2013, this house was already dilapidated. In 2017, the wooden parts, including the roof and floor of the upstairs, completely collapsed. Coping with this situation, the structural members scattered in the house were collected and stored, and a temporary roof was constructed to preserve the remaining structure of the outer walls. During the COVID-19 pandemic we could not conduct on-site activities, and the Bhutan side continued with the procedures to obtain cultural heritage status designation of this building. As a result of those efforts this house was successfully designated as a cultural heritage site in 2023, the first time for a vernacular house.
We dispatched four people, including two TOBUNKEN staff and two external experts from Japan, from August 12 to 23, 2024. The team surveyed the structural members as part of the restoration planning for this vernacular house with local staff, including DCDD officials. Dr. Alejandro Martinez, Associate Professor of Kyoto Institute of Technology, who had previously taken part in storing the members, worked to identify where each member was originally used. Mr. TOBASE Koji, master carpenter and Chairperson of the Japanese Association for the Conservation of Techniques for Traditional Architecture who experienced many restorations of traditional Japanese wooden buildings, examined each member for its reusability and discussed its restoration methodology. Nine Bhutanese master carpenters who are engaged in restoring historical buildings joined the activities. During the surveys, we were visited by H.E Mr. Tshering, Home Minister of Bhutan, and interviewed by the national TV station and a newspaper. This project attracts strong interest in Bhutan. We are continuing to carefully work on the overall restoration plan, considering the maximum conservation of its authenticity, and to support the tasks including the restoration cost calculation for securing the production budget on the DCDD side.
The surveys were conducted with the support of a JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) “Vernacular Stone Masonry Houses of Bhutan: A Study on the Architectural Characteristics and the Suitable Approach for Protection as Cultural Heritage” (Principal Researcher: TOMODA Masahiko).
Comprehensive survey to create a list of heritage houses in Old Kirtipur
Located about 4 km southwest of the capital Kathmandu, Kirtipur is listed on the tentative list of World Heritage Sites as a medieval Newari settlement with well-preserved monuments within its core area. However, due to the rapid urbanization and the demolishing and reconstruction of historic houses after the Gorkha earthquake in 2015, the historic townscape of Kirtipur has been drastically changing. A major challenge is that, while public monuments such as Royal Palaces, Temples, and Shrines are protected under the laws in Nepal, there is no effective regulatory framework for protecting historic houses.
To tackle this issue, a joint research project between Kirtipur Municipality and Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) on the preservation and utilization of historic houses in Kirtipur was launched in October 2023.
During the dispatch of two staff members of TOBUNKEN from July 16 to July 23, 2024, an additional architectural survey was conducted on a house that had been selected as a pilot case study. In collaboration with engineers of the municipality and other Nepalese experts, a detailed measurement survey, 3D digital documentation, and survey on the traces indicating the building’s transitional history were carried out. In addition, with the cooperation of Dr. Lata Shakya, Project Researcher of Ritsumeikan University, interview surveys were carried out with house owners and a local historian, and a comprehensive survey to create a list of the privately owned historic houses in Kirtipur was also conducted under the direction of Dr. Bijaya Shrestha, an expert on the conservation of historic settlements.
These surveys gradually unveiled history of the house; the target house is assumed to have been used as an administrative office of the ancient Kirtipur Palace and retains significant importance with a well-preserved original façade among the existing historic houses that constitute the townscape of Kirtipur.
The house faces an urgent need of repairs due to termite damage and rainwater leakage. For historic houses facing difficulties regarding various practical factors such as lack of repair budget and ownership issues, clarifying the historic value and promoting wider recognition as a cultural heritage site could be an important step towards the preservation and the conservation.
Through trials and dialogues with relevant people, including house owners, administrative officers, and various experts, we would like to explore ways of safeguarding private historic houses that not only carry on the cultural richness of the town, but also present a link towards its sustainable development.
Survey at Sakteng village
Devastating remains of a manor house (Phongmey Nagtshang)
Since 2012, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been continuously engaged in research on vernacular houses in Bhutan, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD), Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. The DCDD promotes a policy of preserving and utilizing vernacular houses by integrating them into the legal protecting framework of cultural heritage, while TOBUNKEN supports the initiative from academic and technical aspects.
We conducted the first field survey for FY 2024 from May 11 to 23. For this purpose, three staff members of TOBUNKEN and two external experts from Japan were dispatched. Together with two DCDD officials, we surveyed mainly stone masonry houses in two eastern Dzongkhags (provinces): Trashigang and Trashiyangtse.
The current survey area included three villages that we had visited from April to May 2023 for the supplemental survey, in addition to three villages that were new for us.
In the Kheni village of Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag, where we visited first, we completed a detailed survey on all of five houses considered as very old in the village, including measurement taking and interviews with the residents of the houses. For three of the houses that had been surveyed last year, supplemental surveys were conducted. The other houses were also fully surveyed.
Next, at Merak and Gengo villages in Merak Gewog of Trashigang Dzongkhag, we conducted a supplemental survey on one house and new surveys on six other houses. All of these houses are single-story buildings with main entrances on the gable side. Many of them have a living room with partial wooden outer walls at the front side of the attic level. This building type is peculiar to these areas in which transhumant ethnic minorities live. In the survey on such regionally-unique-style houses, we identified 67 houses across Merak village, and revealed that around half of the houses, especially those in the center of the village, were in this style.
We then visited Sakteng Gewog of Trashigang Dzongkhag for the first time, where the same ethnic group lives. We confirmed that a similar style of houses to that of Merak existed there. However, as some of those houses were surrounded by stone fences with gates, the scenery inside the village was very different. We conducted detailed surveys of five houses in total in both adjacent Sakteng and Tengma villages. We managed to collect valuable examples, including small houses built totally of wood and water mills for producing flour. The living area of the same ethnic group expands to the neighboring Northeastern region of India. We are informed that houses of similar styles exist there, in which we are very much interested.
Additionally, we surveyed two old houses of feudal lords in Phongmey village in the same Dzongkhag. Both of them were no longer in use. One of them was severely damaged with largely deformed stone walls and in a risky condition. There is concern that such case can rapidly increase due to the depopulation in countryside. Even though it is difficult to take immediate conservation measures, it is at least required to grasp and document the locations and current situations of these old houses.
The surveys were conducted with the support of a JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) “Vernacular Stone Masonry Houses of Bhutan: A Study on the Architectural Characteristics and the Suitable Approach for Protection as Cultural Heritage” (Principal Researcher: TOMODA Masahiko).
Protection work of the Terrace on the West Embankment of the East Baray
Site inspection by the ad-hoc experts
The excavation of the Terrace on the Embankment at the easternmost end of Ta Nei Temple was reported in a previous article. As a continuation of that report, here we summarize the protection work on the terrace that was carried out from March 8 to 29, 2024.
This terrace was built from the top to the east slope of the west embankment of the “East Baray,” one of the huge reservoirs that characterize the Angkor Monuments. Therefore, it was an urgent task to protect the laterite stones from being washed away during the rainy season, especially those that were situated on the sloping terrain. First, four stones that had been moved from their original position and were structurally unstable were re-positioned. The perimeter of the stones on the slope was also reinforced with a compacted lime-mixed earth mortar, known as ‘lime mortar.’ The excavated area on the top of the embankment was also backfilled, particularly around the perimeter of the terrace, where there is concern about movement due to rainwater. Further work will be carried out in the future to cut down trees around the terrace, which is one of the factors causing the collapse of the structure.
From March 14 to 15, an international meeting of ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk was held, at which each team reported on their restoration projects. The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) and the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA) jointly reported on the progress and future plan for the conservation of Ta Nei Temple. Prior to this meeting, on March 8, ICC ad hoc experts responsible for providing technical recommendations on each restoration project visited the site. The future restoration and maintenance policy, including the restoration of the east and west entrances to the Central Tower, which is scheduled to be carried out in 2024, was explained at the site, and the plan was approved.
Visiting the Historic Sites: Korokan Historical Museum
Under a cooperative project between the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA) and Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN), restoration work of the East Gate of Ta Nei Temple in Angkor in Cambodia was completed in November 2022.
To commemorate the completion of the restoration, a technical exchange program* was organized by TOBUNKEN, including the invitation of three experts from Cambodia to Japan: Mr. Kim Sothin (Deputy Director General, APSARA), Mr. Som Sopharath (Director of Department of Conservation of Monuments and Archeology, APSARA), and Mr. Sea Sophearun (Technical Officer, National Authority for Sambor Prei Kuk).
Following an open seminar, “Seminar commemorating the completion of the Restoration of the East Gate of Ta Nei Temple,” held on February 14 at TOBUNKEN, a study tour was conducted from February 15 to 18, in which the following conservation sites of the nationally designated Important Cultural Properties and Historic Sites were visited: the former Alt residence, the former British council, Shofukuji-Temple in Nagasaki city, and Korokan Historical Museum in Fukuoka city.
Experts from both countries who are engaged in heritage conservation research and fieldwork participated in enthusiastic discussions during the seminar and study tour. This proved to be a valuable opportunity for deepening mutual understanding of various areas, including heritage value, preservation techniques, presentation methods, and more.
*This program was partially funded by the Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research, Japan.
Survey scene at an old house
A vernacular house in which rammed earth and stone masonry structures coexist.
Since 2012, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been continuously engaged in research on vernacular houses in Bhutan, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD), Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. The DCDD promotes a policy of preserving and utilizing vernacular houses by integrating them into the legal protection framework of cultural heritage, while TOBUNKEN supports the initiative from academic and technical aspects.
Following the previous survey conducted in the eastern region from April to May 2023, the second field survey mission of this year was implemented from October 29 to November 4. Four staff members of TOBUNKEN, one from Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (NABUNKEN), and two external experts were dispatched, and the team was joined by two staff members from DCDD. We jointly carried out a field survey in the two provinces of the central region, namely Bumthang and Wangdue Phodrang.
Most of the target houses had been identified in our preparative survey conducted in 2022. Eleven houses in total, including those newly found, were investigated this time in a detailed manner that included taking measurements and interviewing the residents. Two houses among them were rammed earth houses commonly seen in the western area of the country, and six were stone masonry houses widely located in the eastern area, while both construction techniques were combined in the other three houses. Especially in the eastern part of Wangdue Phodrang province, a tendency had been observed that the rammed earth technique was exclusively used further in the past, and stone masonry has gradually become dominant over time. However, our analysis of the transitional history of each house suggests that things were not so simple, and present more complex pictures.
On the other hand, although we had been focusing on such aspects as building type, construction technique, and transitional history of the houses, this time during the interviews we started to pay more attention to ethnographic factors such as oral traditions about houses and how each room is used. By adding information about villager’s lifestyles, which reflected on the transition and locality of the housing type, into our consideration, hopefully diverse values of the Bhutanese traditional houses as cultural heritage will become clarified.
The survey was implemented with the financial support of a JSPS Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (B), “Vernacular stone masonry houses of Bhutan: study on the architectural characteristics and the suitable approach for protection as cultural heritage” with TOMODA Masahiko as the principal researcher.
Excavation of the Terrace on the West Embankment of the East Baray
The newly installed (left) and the existing (right) supports at hazardous spots inside the East Tower of the Central Complex
Ta Nei Temple is located facing the East Baray, one of the huge reservoirs that used to supply water for the Angkor capital. The terrace at the eastern end of Ta Nei Temple was built on top of the West Embankment of the East Baray, being not only significant as the main entrance of the temple, but also connected to the other temples through the Embankment. However, due to the extremely poor condition of the terrace, its construction period and structural features have remained uncertain.
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has so far conducted excavation of the terrace in three periods: November 2017, March 2018, and August to October 2018, aiming to delineate the plan of the terrace and consider the intention of construction. These previous surveys revealed plans of the terrace, especially the structure of the west wing. In this term, four staff members were dispatched from November 5 to 30, 2023 to carry out archaeological and architectural studies to understand the northern and the southern sections of the terrace as well as the construction process, in cooperation with Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA).
Although traces of the stone masonry structure at the northern and southern sections of the terrace were scarcely identified, the excavation provided some clues to enable estimation of the original construction process of the terrace based on stratigraphical analysis of the mound structure. Additionally, a structure made of stones and bricks, which appears to be the foundation of a wooden pillar, was discovered on the surface of the terrace. Those remains indicate that a wooden structure was presumably built on the terrace at a certain time of its history. A level directly below where many roof tile fragments were unearthed by this excavation is thought to be the ground surface at the time when the wooden structure was built on the terrace. The details of the structure of the terrace still have not been ascertained, requiring further investigation.
In addition to the above-described investigation of the terrace, we conducted minor repair work on the East Gate that had been completed last year, and continued its documentation. Moreover, we installed additional supports at hazardous spots inside the East Tower of the Central Complex, and held on-site meetings to discuss future collaborative activities at the temple.
Remarks of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia
Reporting on the conservation and sustainable development project of Ta Nei Temple
On November 15, 2023 Ms. KUROIWA Chihiro, Associate Fellow of the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, attended the “4th Intergovernmental Conference for the Safeguarding and the Development of Angkor” held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
In 1992 following the end of the Cambodian Civil War, Angkor Monuments were inscribed on the World Heritage List, but at the same time, they were also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. At the first intergovernmental conference held in Tokyo in 1993, co-chaired by Japan and France and attended by 30 countries and 7 international organizations, the “Tokyo Declaration” was adopted calling for international cooperation towards safeguarding the monuments and sustainable development of the surrounding area. In the same year, the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Sites of Angkor (ICC-Angkor) was established to formulate technical guidelines and evaluate the activities of international conservation teams.
The Intergovernmental Conference takes place every 10 years to review and evaluate the ICC-Angkor and to discuss the policies for future conservation and sustainable development. The second conference was held in 2003 (France), the third in 2013 (Cambodia), and the fourth was held this time in Paris. In the past 30 years, numerous international projects for restoration and conservation have been implemented at the Angkor Monuments and Sambor Prei Kuk, another World Heritage Site.
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, H.E. Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO, H.E. Ms. Rima Abdul-Malak, Minister of Culture of the French Republic, Mr. KOMURA Masahiro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and other international members attended the conference. During the technical session, presentations were made by teams from various countries involved in the conservation of Angkor and Sambor Prei Kuk monuments. We also reported on the collaboration with APSARA for the conservation and sustainable development of Ta Nei Temple.
The historic house under investigation in the medieval settlement of Kirtipur
Almost 8 years have passed since the Gorkha earthquake in 2015 that caused devasting damage in Kathmandu valley. Many historic buildings are undergoing reconstruction, including those with “Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site” status. While the rehabilitation of these recognized heritage sites is being carried out with public attention, the historic buildings that are not legally protected, especially privately owned properties, are decreasing in number due to reconstruction or demolition without any recognition of their heritage value.
Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been working to support the establishment of a network for conservation of historic settlements of Kathmandu valley, in collaboration with experts and governmental officers in Nepal, since just after the Gorkha earthquake and continuously during the pandemic. This series of dialogues led us to launch a new project for the conservation of a damaged historic house in Kirtipur as a cooperative project between Kirtipur municipality and TOBUNKEN.
Built in traditional Newar style, the target house, a historical landmark of the town, is located within the area of the World heritage tentative listing, “Medieval settlement of Kirtipur.” Although the building is currently being used for residential purpose, it is said that it used to be a part of the former royal palace complex of Kirtipur in old times. A square with a historic pond surrounded by this house and a nearby medieval temple together comprise one of the symbolic historical landmarks of the old town of Kirtipur.
In the first joint survey, conducted from October 11 to 16, 2023 with the aim of collecting basic information on the building, the project team carried out a measurement survey, investigation on the transition of the building, and interview surveys with residents on the ownership relationship, lifestyle of residents, family history, and intentions for future utilization of the building. Further discussions will be held with related stakeholders regarding the possibilities of the future utilization of the house and issues to be solved to enable its realization.
Many countries, including Japan, share common challenges on the conservation of historic buildings that are not legally protected. Through this project, together with Nepalese experts, we will exchange knowledge through dialogue with the aim of establishing a process for conservation and utilization of historic buildings that would be compatible with the Nepalese cultural context.
Kheni village in Trashiyangtse province, composed of vernacular stone masonry houses
A house of typology unique to Merak district in Trashigang province
Measurement survey of a timber hut
Since 2012, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been continuously engaged in research on vernacular houses in Bhutan, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD, formerly the Department of Culture, renamed recently upon restructuring), Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. The DCDD promotes a policy of preserving and utilizing vernacular houses by integrating them into the legal protection framework of cultural heritage, while TOBUNKEN supports the initiative from academic and technical aspects.
Previously, our study focused on rammed earth houses commonly seen in the western area of the country. This year, we began a survey on stone masonry houses widely located in central and eastern areas, with the financial support of a JSPS Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research. The first survey mission under this scheme was implemented from April 25 to May 5, 2023.
Our group, comprising four dispatched staff members of TOBUNKEN and two from DCDD, jointly carried out a field survey in the five provinces spanning from Trashigang in the east to Bumthang in the central region. We observed stone masonry houses that appeared to have been built during earlier periods than other traditional houses in the target area, based on prior information collected by DCDD, and surveyed 14 houses in a detailed manner including taking measurements and interviewing the residents. Other than three cases of large-scale, three-storied residences of the ruling class, all were originally very small houses of one or two stories. In the Merak district of Trashigang, where a nomadic ethnic group lives, a unique typology of one-story houses without cattle sheds was widely observed.
Based on knowledge and information obtained during this survey mission, we plan to extend the target area and conduct more detailed investigations of the old houses we had already identified. In addition, since transition and locality of the housing type reflects change and difference of lifestyles, we feel a need to put more focus on these areas in the future. We will continue in our effort to further accelerate cooperation to prevent the loss of precious heritage against the trend that the numbers of vacant and degraded houses are increasing.
The East Gate after completion (photo taken by drone)
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) continues to support the conservation and sustainable development project of Ta Nei Temple by the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA) in Cambodia. In November 2022, the two parties completed a three-year collaborative restoration project to dismantle and restore the East Gate of the temple. From May 6 to 18, 2023, TOBUNKEN dispatched our group, consisting of two staff members, to the site to record the completion status of the restoration and conduct additional research for the preparation of a final report on the restoration work to be published this year.
For documentation of the completion status, in addition to (1) architectural photography, (2) architectural drawings and (3) a digital 3D model of the East Gate were created. The digital 3D model with dimensional information was generated from some 1,000 images of the building taken from all directions with a single-lens reflex camera and two drones (Mavic mini), using a technique known as “3D photogrammetry.”
Supplementary survey work for preparing the final report included (1) partial revision of the temple layout drawings, (2) photographic documentation of pediment decorations, and (3) a comparative study to analyze the architectural features of the East Gate. For the comparative survey, we visited 10 other temples among the Angkor Monuments that were constructed during the same period as Ta Nei Temple to examine their architectural styles and decorations.
In addition, on-site discussions were held with APSARA representatives regarding the future implementation plan of the Ta Nei Temple conservation project.
We plan to conduct archaeological excavation and architectural survey of the Entrance Terrace to the Causeway, publish a final report, and organize a symposium to commemorate the completion of the East Gate restoration work in the second half of this fiscal year. We will keep you posted on the progress of our project!
Please also see the past activity reports on the Ta Nei project.
Field Activities (Part I)
Field Activities (Part II)
Field Activities (Part III)
Field Activities (Part IV)
Field Activities (Part V)
Field Activities (Part VI)
Field Activities (Part VII)
Field Activities (Part VIII)
Activities during the COVID-19
Field Activities (Part IX)
Field Activities (Part X-1)
Field Activities (Part X-2)
Field Activities (Part X-3)
Field Activities (Part XI)
