Ancient Bridges
Ancient bridges of the Khmer Empire – an often forgotten feature of ancient Cambodia is the amazing stone bridges that were built during the height of the Angkor era. Part of the “Royal Road” network that ran from Angkor to Koh Ker and Wat Phu, Prasat Andet, Sambor Prei Kuk, Ta Muan and Phimai, and Phnom Srok and Sdok Kak Thom (note: still a growing list). Reference – Bruguier 2000, Hendrickson 2010.
Spean O Chamrea
Small laterite bridge, recorded as being located to the northeast of Prasat Trapeang Chambak
Spean Chares
Remains of a laterite bridge with 9 arches measuring 30 meters long and 9 meters wide (source: Cisark)
Spean
A laterite bridge (not in use) with 11 arches measuring approximately 30 m long, 10 m wide, and 2.5 m high. Located along the ancient Royal Road and just within the grounds of Phokeethra Country Club.
Spean Phneak Dai
An ancient laterite bridge measuring around 20+ m long and located on the ancient road just north of Prasat Seman Teng.
Spean Thma
An ancient laterite bridge, oriented Northwest – Southeast, with at least five arches. It measures 10 meters long and 5 meters wide.
Spean Khla Kon
Laterite bridge, oriented Northwest – Southeast, with at least 8 arches. It measures 20 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Trâpeang Spean
Laterite bridge, with at least 4 arches. It measures 15 meters long and 5 meters wide. It originally formed part of the ancient Royal Road from Angkor to Phimai.
Spean Thmâ
Laterite bridge with at least 4 arches. It measures 10 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Spean Châmbok
Laterite bridge with at least 7 arches. It measures 16 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Spean Thmâ
Laterite bridge that measures 40 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Spean Anlong La-âk
10 meters long and 7 meters wide length of overgrown sandstone blocks, for dam or bridge
Spean Popa
Laterite bridge (still in use) that appears to be around a few meters wide and 15 m or so meters long. Cisark notes that it is composed of 10 arches, measuring 20 meters long and 6 meters wide with a sandstone terminal 10 m to the north that bears an inscription of two lines and … Read more
Spean
Laterite bridge consists of 4 arches. It measures 15 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Spean
Laterite bridge measuring 15 meters long and 8 meters wide according to Cisark, what can be seen appears as 2-3 m wide and 10 m or so long but it is overgrown and possibly partly buried.
Spean
Laterite bridge recorded as measuring 30 meters long and 6 meters wide, as at 06/21, it is heavily overgrown but a path does cut through the shrub to where a section of the bridge appears to have collapsed.
Spean Thmâ
Laterite Bridge
Spean Khvav
Located on the east side of Khvav Village, on the present-day and ancient East Road that joined Angkor to Beng Mealea to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. It’s a medium sized laterite bridge that is in amazing condition, recorded as measuring 26 m long, 7 m wide and 3.2 m high. It still retains fragments … Read more
Spean Phum O
A small ancient laterite bridge that is no longer in use with the present-day road diverting slightly to the south. Note the beautiful arches. Recorded as being 10 m long and 5.5 m wide and 2.6 m high.
Spean Svay
Laterite bridge consists of 4 arches visible but that was to include 7. It measures 22.5 m long, 7.8 m wide and 3.45 m high (source: Cisark).
Spean Thnâl Dach
Laterite bridge consists of 4 arches visible but that was to include 7. It measures nearly 27 meters long, 7.5 to 8 m wide and 3 m high (Source: Cisark).
Spean
Laterite blocks indicating the presence of an ancient bridge (source: Cisark)
Spean Khmeng
Laterite bridge (not in use). It’s located 1100m east-northeast of Wat Preah Bat Buon Than and around 150m north of the present-day road.
Spean Khmeng
Small laterite bridge. Not seen, I believe the road/path diverts around what might be the location of the bridge.
Spean Khmeng (Svay Leu)
Very small laterite bridge located northeast of Wat Svay Leu. It features corbelled arches. By eye, it is around 4-5 m wide and 6 m or so long with three visible arches. Across the top, it has deep ruts that one assumes are from usage in recent times. It also has sandstone plinths that are … Read more
Spean Toch
A small laterite bridge with 4 arches with sandstone balustrade. It is recorded as measuring 12 m long, 8 m wide and 2.8 m high. Interestingly, it features very basic arches (post and lintel style construction) and is not typical of the beautiful corbelled arches seen on nearly all of the bridges along this route. … Read more
Spean Trung
30 m long and 10 m wide laterite bridge with partial balustrade.
Spean Dach
An ancient laterite bridge that is recorded as 89 m long. The bridge is still in use today by local traffic and has even been sealed over in bitumen while water no longer passes underneath with its arches completely buried. At the eastern end, a laterite naga end-piece still stands.