Terrace Group 5 – (ATV030) Angkor Thom

The remains here are part of a group that was surveyed in the early 1900s and labelled “Groupe n° 5”. The site has been surveyed in recent times under the Angkor Vihara Project and given the identifier ATV030. Further to the east are two more sites that make up Group 5, which are ATV028 and ATV027.

Images 2021

Site Characteristics and Architecture

The site underwent clearance and excavations in 2019 under the Angkor Vihara Project where the site was noted as being in extremely poor condition, making the structure’s original architectural layout difficult to discern. It consists largely of a “lateral cascade of blocks”. The research noted that the site is enclosed by a raised earthen embankment on its north, west, and south sides, covering an area of approximately 48 x 20m.

The structure was built entirely from laterite, though molded sandstone blocks were identified at its eastern extremity. The site was also noted to feature a single slender sandstone altar (measuring 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.45m), which is located in the approximate center of the structure.

Sima (Boundary Stones)

Research noted that the site is demarcated by four pairs (4×2) of sandstone sīmā that mark its subcardinal boundaries. These are simple rectangular slabs (0.7 x 0.4 x 0.1m) with tipped crowns that resemble inscription steles.

Stupa Remains

Excavations and surveys identified stupa remains on the south side of the monument, including objects referred to as stupa “rings”.

Coffin Discovery

Notably, an archaeological coffin was discovered 10m north of the ATV030 structure.

For further details, see: 2019, Harris, Soeng, Angkor Vihara Project, Activity Report, 2019 Field Season.

Images Nov 2022

Historical Notes

The first one encountered when coming from the Bayon, located barely a hundred meters from the road, is a very low-lying platform (0.60m high) oriented East-West, measuring 14 meters by 7 meters. On the southern side, one can still see the base of the laterite wall that enclosed the lateral aisle reserved for the monks (bonzes). Access to the platform is marked on the East by the remains of a stairway, of which only a laterite stringboard base survives. At the western end, a hollowed-out remnant of an altar base indicates the bàlàn upon which the Buddha was once enshrined.

Ten meters to the East, though not aligned on the main axis, are the remains of a cetdëi (stupa). Only a portion of its square laterite base remains in place, measuring 3 meters per side and 1.30m in height. Nearby, most of the carved sandstone blocks that formed the tip of the crowning piece lie on the ground, along with a sema (boundary stone) of the same material. Standing 1.60m tall, its body is intact, but its face has been destroyed.

1918, Marchal, Monuments Secondaires et Terrasses Bouddhiques d’Angkor Thom

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..