Wat Moung-Botum Temple

Located in Srei Snam District of Siem Reap province, Wat Moung (Khmer: វត្តទុំមោង) is also recorded as being built atop an ancient temple site. Noting that it sits at the center of several archeological sites.

If you check the CISARK site here you can see photos from around the early 2000s of the vihara that preceded the pagoda that we see today. Also pictured are sema pedestals and other remnants. Near the monks quarters, at least one of those original sema stones is preserved and pictured further below.

The unique chedi that sits to the south east corner of pagoda has also been preserved and is in amazing condition. One can only guess its age, we asked, but no one there at the time knew too much. It’s likely to pre-date the French colonial era, to the time of the “Lord governor era” or Siamese colonial era. The chedi has some style cues which may be informative as to some sema styles seen at other older monasteries. There is a collection of interesting remnants in the neak ta shelters that also provide some info on art styles of the period along with a fragment of a seated Buddha.

To the north of the site is Prasat Mong, immediately to the east is Kok Balang, and immediately to the west is Prasat Lich, all seemingly brick temples that may have pre-dated, none featuring any substantial remains. An inscription was discovered at Prasat Lich that dated to the early 12th century.

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