Sema Peam Kre is a very unique site in the context of the early Angkor located atop Kulen mountain near to and believed to be contemporaneous to the Banteay (Royal Palace) of Mahendraparvata around the 8-9th century. It is a very early Buddhist site featuring upright large carved stone slabs (sema stones) arranged to demarcate a sacred Buddhist space for ritual practice. It is very reminiscent of the Theravadan Buddhist Vihara from the later (13th c on) Angkor era.
Many of the sema stones are still in situ and are quite beautiful. Varying in size, the larger are approx. around 1m high and .7 m wide.
Originally the sema stones (16 in total) were arranged in pairs surrounding the 12 m x 16 m site with only a mound remaining at the center when recorded by Boulbet/Dagens in 1973.
The sema were decorated with either stupa-kumbha or dharmacakra motifs. This style of development and sema stone style and art is believed to have strong connections to the Dvaravati period and what is prevalent across the Khorat Plateau 7-9th century. Beautiful renditions by Boulbet/Dagens provide a clearer picture of the unique artwork
Historical photos from 1973 (Boulbet/Dagens )
In recent times a small shrine has been added on the eastern side of the site
References
- Sema Stones and Mountain Palaces from the Dawn of Angkor, Stephen A Murphy/D. Kyle Latinis 2017
- The Buddhist Boundary Markers of Northeast Thailand and Central Laos, 7-12th Centuries CE, Stephen A Murphy 2010
- Boulbet Jean, Dagens Bruno. Les sites archéologiques de la région du Bhnaṃ Gūlen (Phnom Kulen). In: Arts asiatiques, tome 27, 1973. pp. 3-130. DOI : https://doi.org/10.3406/arasi.1973.1069 www.persee.fr/doc/arasi_0004-3958_1973_num_27_1
Map
Site Info
- Reference ID: HA12984 | Last Update: January 7th, 2026
- Site Name: Sema Peam Krê | Khmer: សីមាពាមគ្រែ
- Other Names: Bam Gre, Seima 8 Tis, សីមា៨ទិស, Sema Peam Krë, សីមា, sīmā, seima
- Location: Siem Reap Province > Svay Leu District > Khnang Phnum Commune > Anlong Thom Village
- Inventaire Khmer IK: 556.14
- MoCFA/EFEO Inventory - CISARK: 1959
- Jean Boulbet Inventaire - JB: 308
- Boulbet-Dagens Inventaire - BD: 59
- Tags/Group: BD, c, JB, Kulen, Phnom Kulen, Temples
Historical Inventories of Sema Peam Krê
- 1973, Boulbert, Dagens, Les sites archéologiques de la région du Bhnaṃ Gūlen (Phnom Kulen), p. 12, 13 sq. 51. (BD #: 59 Site Name: sīmā / seima / សីមា)
- 1979, Boulbet, Le Phnom Kulen et sa région carte et commentaire Jean Boulbet (JB#: 308 Site Name: Sema Peam Krê)
