Latest news with #NethSimon
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experts Just Completed an Ancient Buddha Statue
An archaeological excavation team was shocked to find a fully intact Buddha torso statue from the 12th or 13th century measuring 3.75 feet tall. The torso find at a Cambodian temple matches a Buddha head discovered at the same location... in 1927. The two discoveries were made about 164 feet and almost 100 years apart. While excavating the Ta Prohm temple in Angkor in 1927, a team of archaeologists discovered the head (and only the head) of a Buddha statue. They then brought their find—which has been dated to the 12th or 13th century—to Cambodia's National Museum in Phnom Penh, where it has sat by itself for nearly 100 years. Ninety-eight years after their early-20th-century peers, another group of archaeologists were working at the temple complex when they made a discovery of their own. While sifting through 29 statue fragments, they discovered something far larger than a fragment: a 3.75-foot-tall Buddha torso statue in the Bayon art style, dated to the 12th or 13th centuries and curiously missing its head. You can see where this is going, right? If it seems too good to be true, an optical electronic scan confirmed the separate pieces were a match, according archaeologist Neth Simon (as reported by the Associated Press). 'It was a big surprise when we unearthed this sculpture because all we'd found so far were small pieces,' Simon said. The statue's torso was crafted with a robe and sash, carved jewelry, and a left hand crossing the chest—'an uncommon representation in Khmer (Cambodian) art.' As fascinating as the find would have been on its own, it stands a head taller thanks to the reunification possibilities with the 1927 discovery. The recently discovered torso was found just 164 feet from where the statue's head was found 98 years before. Naturally, the archaeological team plans to seek approval from the Minister of Culture and Fine Art to reunite the two pieces. Angkor, a 154-square-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered one of the most important archaeological locations in southeast Asia, and is the largest religious monument in the world, according to Angkor Enterprise. The Angkor Archaeological Park features the remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire—which stretched from the ninth century to the 15th century—as well as the famed Temple of Angkor Wat and a host of other temples. The entire site comes with sculptures aplenty (many of them with bodies intact). Angkor Wat was constructed as a Hindu temple and dedicated to the god Vishnu, but it gradually shifted to become a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century. The best-preserved temple at the site, it has remained a significant religious center since its foundation, and the high classical style of Khmer architecture gives it a distinct design—one that even adorns the Cambodian national flag. But Angkor Wat isn't the only temple attracting attention, even as it serves as the flagship to the other sites at the complex. The Ta Prohm temple is believed to have been built in the late 12th and early 13th century, according to Tourism Cambodia. Known as the 'jungle temple' because of the trees and roots growing out of its walls, the temple was founded as a Buddhist monastery and university. The site has been largely left in its original condition, thanks to the trees intertwining with the ruins. Fans of the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider might know it as the filming location at which Croft, played by Angelina Jolie, picks a jasmine flower growing from the temple wall before a chasm in the earth opens, pulling her into the temple (that part was, for the sake of Ta Prohm, shot on a soundstage). The Angkor complex attracts roughly one million international tourists annually as the most sought-after tourist spot in Cambodia. The nature of the area as a population center filled with temples makes it especially alluring for archaeologists. Making a 1927 discovery new again with the possibility of connecting the two pieces? Well, that's a special treat. 'As an archaeologist,' Simon said, 'I would be really happy.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Euronews
13-03-2025
- General
- Euronews
Missing torso of Buddha statue found at Cambodia's Angkor temple complex
By Euronews with AP According to archaeologists, the head of the same statue was dug up in 1927 and is now in Cambodia's National museum in the capital Phnom Penh. The two parts may be reattached for display. ADVERTISEMENT Archaeologists in Cambodia are celebrating an unexpected find at the country's centuries-old Angkor temple complex: the torso of a statue of Buddha that matches a head found nearly a century ago at the same site. The torso, believed to be from the 12th or 13th century, stands at 1.16 meters tall and is in the Bayon art style, associated with Angkor's Bayon temple. It was found along with 29 fragments that appeared to be part of the same statue, archaeologist Neth Simon said this week. Headless statue excavated by archaeologists at the Angkor temple complex in Cambodia's Siem Reap province Apsara National Authority via AP 'It was a big surprise when we unearthed this sculpture because all we'd found so far were small pieces,' Neth Simon told AP. She described the statue's design as displaying carved jewelry and robe and sash, with a unique left-hand gesture across the chest — 'an uncommon representation in Khmer (Cambodian) art.' The head of the same statue was dug up in 1927 and is now in Cambodia's National museum in the capital Phnom Penh Apsara National Authority via AP The statue's presumed head was discovered at the same temple in 1927 during the French colonial era, and is currently kept at Cambodia's main National Museum in the capital Phnom Penh. Neth Simon said the torso was found about 50 meters away from the site where the head was discovered, and that an optical electronic scan confirmed they were a match. A near-complete reconstruction of the status is possible, Neth Simon added, now that only the right hand of the statue remains missing. Her team will ask the Minister of Culture and Fine Art for approval to reattach the head and body of the sculpture to make it whole for public display. The Angkor site sprawls across some 400 square kilometers, containing the ruins of capitals of various Cambodian empires from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Scholars consider it to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The site is Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction and in 2024 attracted about a million international tourists, according to Cambodia's Tourism Ministry.
Washington Post
12-03-2025
- Washington Post
The torso of a Buddha statue has been found at Cambodia's Angkor temple complex
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Archaeologists in Cambodia are celebrating an unexpected find at the country's centuries-old Angkor temple complex: the torso of a statue of Buddha that matches a head found nearly a century ago at the same site. The torso, believed to be from the 12th or 13th century, was discovered during a dig by a team of Cambodian and Indian experts last month at Angkor's Ta Prohm temple. It was found along with 29 fragments that appeared to be part of the same statue, archaeologist Neth Simon said this week. It stands at 1.16 meters (3 3/4 feet) tall and is in the Bayon art style, associated with Angkor's Bayon temple. 'It was a big surprise when we unearthed this sculpture because all we'd found so far were small pieces,' Neth Simon told The Associated Press by phone from Siem Reap province. She described the statue's design as displaying carved jewelry and robe and sash, with a unique left-hand gesture across the chest — 'an uncommon representation in Khmer (Cambodian) art.' The statue's presumed head was discovered at the same temple in 1927 during the French colonial era, and is currently kept at Cambodia's main National Museum in the capital Phnom Penh. Neth Simon said the torso was found about 50 meters (yards) away from the site where the head was discovered, and that an optical electronic scan confirmed they were a match. A near-complete reconstruction of the status is possible, Neth Simon added, now that only the right hand of the statue remains missing. Her team will ask the Minister of Culture and Fine Art for approval to reattach the head and body of the sculpture to make it whole for public display. The Angkor site sprawls across some 400 square kilometers (155 square miles), containing the ruins of capitals of various Cambodian empires from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Scholars consider it to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The site is Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction and in 2024 attracted about a million international tourists, according to Cambodia's Tourism Ministry. The excavations aim to organize and preserve the numerous art objects scattered throughout the Ta Prohm complex, highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect and understand Cambodia's rich cultural heritage, the Apsara Authority says. Neth Simon said she would be delighted if the statue's pieces could be reassembled after being far apart from each other for a century. 'As an archaeologist, I would be really happy,' she said.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
‘Surprise' as archaeologists find centuries-old statue in Cambodia's Angkor temple
Archaeologists in Cambodia have unearthed the torso of a Buddha statue at the ancient Angkor temple complex, a discovery hailed as a significant find. The torso, believed to date back to the 12th or 13th century, remarkably matches a head discovered at the same site nearly a century ago. The discovery was made last month during an excavation at Ta Prohm temple by a joint team of Cambodian and Indian archaeologists. The team unearthed the torso, standing at 1.16 metres (3 3/4 feet) tall, along with 29 other fragments believed to be part of the same statue. The statue is crafted in the Bayon art style, characteristic of the renowned Bayon temple within the Angkor complex. Archaeologist Neth Simon, speaking from Siem Reap province, expressed surprise at the discovery. "It was a big surprise when we unearthed this sculpture because all we'd found so far were small pieces," she said. She described the statue's design as displaying carved jewellery and robe and sash, with a unique left-hand gesture across the chest — 'an uncommon representation in Khmer (Cambodian) art.' The statue's presumed head was discovered at the same temple in 1927 during the French colonial era, and is currently kept at Cambodia's main National Museum in the capital Phnom Penh. Neth Simon said the torso was found about 50 metres away from the site where the head was discovered, and that an optical electronic scan confirmed they were a match. A near-complete reconstruction of the statue is possible, Neth Simon added, now that only the right hand of the statue remains missing. Her team will ask the Minister of Culture and Fine Art for approval to reattach the head and body of the sculpture to make it whole for public display. The Angkor site sprawls across some 155 square miles, containing the ruins of capitals of various Cambodian empires from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Scholars consider it to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The site is Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction and in 2024 attracted about a million international tourists, according to Cambodia's Tourism Ministry. The excavations aim to organise and preserve the numerous art objects scattered throughout the Ta Prohm complex, highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect and understand Cambodia's rich cultural heritage, the Apsara Authority says. Neth Simon said she would be delighted if the statue's pieces could be reassembled after being far apart from each other for a century. 'As an archaeologist, I would be really happy," she said.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
The torso of a Buddha statue has been found at Cambodia's Angkor temple complex
Archaeologists in Cambodia are celebrating an unexpected find at the country's centuries-old Angkor temple complex: the torso of a statue of Buddha that matches a head found nearly a century ago at the same site. The torso, believed to be from the 12th or 13th century, was discovered during a dig by a team of Cambodian and Indian experts last month at Angkor's Ta Prohm temple. It was found along with 29 fragments that appeared to be part of the same statue, archaeologist Neth Simon said this week. It stands at 1.16 meters (3 3/4 feet) tall and is in the Bayon art style, associated with Angkor's Bayon temple. 'It was a big surprise when we unearthed this sculpture because all we'd found so far were small pieces,' Neth Simon told The Associated Press by phone from Siem Reap province. She described the statue's design as displaying carved jewelry and robe and sash, with a unique left-hand gesture across the chest — 'an uncommon representation in Khmer (Cambodian) art.' The statue's presumed head was discovered at the same temple in 1927 during the French colonial era, and is currently kept at Cambodia's main National Museum in the capital Phnom Penh. Neth Simon said the torso was found about 50 meters (yards) away from the site where the head was discovered, and that an optical electronic scan confirmed they were a match. A near-complete reconstruction of the status is possible, Neth Simon added, now that only the right hand of the statue remains missing. Her team will ask the Minister of Culture and Fine Art for approval to reattach the head and body of the sculpture to make it whole for public display. The Angkor site sprawls across some 400 square kilometers (155 square miles), containing the ruins of capitals of various Cambodian empires from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Scholars consider it to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The site is Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction and in 2024 attracted about a million international tourists, according to Cambodia's Tourism Ministry. The excavations aim to organize and preserve the numerous art objects scattered throughout the Ta Prohm complex, highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect and understand Cambodia's rich cultural heritage, the Apsara Authority says. Neth Simon said she would be delighted if the statue's pieces could be reassembled after being far apart from each other for a century. 'As an archaeologist, I would be really happy," she said.
