Kroes Don Ev – Ancient Village

Located northeast of Lolei Temple in Prasat Bakong District, it’s a forested area revered as a place of ancient spirit. In Khmer, it is recorded as គោកដូនអែវ – Kouk Don Aev.

It’s a peaceful place to stroll through, entered from the east side. In the centre, there are two contemporary shrines, one with a statue of Grandma Mao, and some seating. Several temple remnants can be seen, which likely originated from the cluster of sites nearby, above the Indratataka Baray of Lolei Temple. On the west side of the site is a peaceful water body, making for a nice place to relax.

In contemporary research, it appears in a study by Elizabeth Moore in 1997 and 1998, noted under the village name of Phum Stung. At that time, she recorded an exterior earthwork being faintly visible on aerial photographs, and after visiting the site several times, moat remnants were confirmed on the ground on the east and west sides of the mound. She also notes the mound was largely uninhabited, with parts given over to upland crops. A stone tool was recovered from a cornfield, along with a few pottery sherds.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..