PHNOM PENH, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's APSARA National Authority (ANA) archaeologists have started to restore the stairs and floors around the eastern, northern, and western shrines of Neak Poan (the entwined serpents) temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park, said an ANA's news release on Thursday.
Chea Sarith, an archaeologist of the ANA's Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said the project commenced in early May, aiming at addressing the deteriorating condition of the stairs and floors around the shrines.
"The restoration work focuses on repairing the damaged stairs and floors that have been affected by age, plant growth, erosion, and water damage," he said.
Sarith said the collapse of the stairs and the instability of the floors have been caused by various factors, including erosion of the foundation and water seepage.
"To restore the site, the team will repair the damaged areas and reassemble the stairs and floors to ensure stability and preservation of the historical structures," he said.
"By addressing these issues, the restoration project aims to maintain the integrity and beauty of Neak Poan Temple for future generations," he added.
Built in the second half of the 12th century, Neak Poan is a small temple that stands on an artificial island in the middle of the North Baray (reservoir) in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province.
The 401-square-km Angkor park is the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian country.
The ancient park attracted 472,258 international visitors in the first five months of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 37 percent, said a report from the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.
The site made 22.2 million U.S. dollars in revenue from ticket sales during the January-May period this year, also up 38 percent year-on-year, the report added. ■