Archaeologists Reunite Buddha Statue Fragments at Cambodia’s Angkor Site

A torso discovered at Ta Prohm temple matches a head found nearly a century ago, enabling a near-complete reconstruction of the 12th-century statue.

The torso of a Buddha statue was unearthed at Cambodia's Angkor temple complex by a team of Cambodian and Indian archaeologists last month.
The torso, standing 1.16 meters tall, is believed to date back to the 12th or 13th century and features unique Bayon art style characteristics.
An optical scan confirmed the torso matches a head discovered in 1927 at the same temple, which is currently housed in the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
The discovery includes 29 additional fragments believed to be part of the same statue, though its right hand remains missing.
Archaeologists plan to seek approval to reattach the head and torso for public display, underscoring efforts to preserve Cambodia’s cultural heritage.