Parmentier

Henri Parmentier (1871-1949) continued on the earlier inventory works of ancient Cambodia by Aymonier and Lajonquiere, comprehensively documenting numerous temples and archaeological ruins. This inventory work was published within Complément à l’inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge (1913), L’Art Khmer Primitif (1929), and L’Art Khmer Classique (1939). The map below presents the sites documented in those three works.

Prei Prasat (Trapeang Prei)

Prasat Prei, also known as Prasat Trapeang Prei, is a square laterite temple with a basin on the north and south. The temple, unusually, opens to the south and features a sandstone doorframe that is flanked by decorated door columns that are notable for their style. It has a tiered laterite base with steps on … Read more

Wat Kraom

Monastery built upon the site of an ancient temple, also where an inscribed stele was found believed to have originated from Wat Lo

Wat Leu

Also recorded as Vat Lo, Chean Chum, Pothivong Leu Pagoda, Can Cum, and Vat Pothivon Leu… It’s a contemporary monastery that is built upon a base of laterite likely originating from an ancient temple site. It is also the origin of inscriptions recorded under

Srah Damrei (Elephant Pond) of Phnom Kulen

Located atop Phnom Kulen, about 5.5 km southwest of the village of Anlong Thom, Srah Damrei is a group of large animal monoliths carved from the naturally formed sandstone. They include an elephant, two lions, and an unknown figure (some call it a frog), which are all fronted by a bull (Nandin) carved in the … Read more

Preah Srei Temple

Originally a group of temples, today, only one remains standing but, it is one of the most ornate of the big brick temples that are still with us. It rises up on a high base and opens to the east with a sandstone doorframe topped by a sandstone lintel supported by decorated round columns with … Read more

Toch Temple

Remnants of an ancient brick temple that was located atop a natural rise. Only the very base of the temple remains to be seen which does feature decorative carving around its edges. On one side of the rise, remnants of the sandstone doorframe which carries an inscription can be seen (K 138). On the other … Read more

Prasat Pros (Sa Khla Temple)

The tall brick temple is also known as Prasat Pros, Prasat Soklor, Prasat Kalo, and signposted as Brasath Bros/Brasath Soklor. The temple is located on a large mound in the plains to the north of Kampong Leang’s beautiful cluster of mountains. It is quite ornate featuring rich carvings and decoration crafted into its elaborate brickwork … Read more

Wat Preah Put Nipean

Today the site of a contemporary monastery and pagoda, it was built on the site of an ancient 7th-century temple whose remains are still visible. The monastery itself has a heritage dating to the Post-Angkorian period with an inscription discovered at the site dated to the 17th century. The Post-Angkorian inscription and a 7th-century inscription … Read more

Phnom Hu Phnov

Monastery built on the site of a ruined ancient square brick temple. Lieu of provenance of a recorded entry in the K 76 which was deposited in the National Museum of Angkor.

Wat Baray

Monastery built on the site of an ancient temple. Several remnants are collected on the western side of the pagoda including an ornate pediment fragment, chaitya/bollard, a very decayed lintel and other pieces. The pediment fragment is the most artistically intersting, featuring a depiction of Brahma (sadly beheaded) flanked by two “angels”. The contemporary pagoda … Read more

Tnaot Chum Khang Cheung Temple

Also recorded as Prasat Kambot/Kombot and Ta Hem. This fascinating small temple hidden away in the back blocks of a farming area features impressive carvings of a standing Buddha on its north, west, and south walls. The towering relief carvings are quite decayed but still clear in their outline. The carvings break a double cornice … Read more

Phnom Santuk

Phnom Santuk is a large area featuring a monastery with old and new pagodas and a large array of Buddhist carvings depicting the Buddha in the many ritual positions. It has a heritage in the 15th century and perhaps earlier, as a sacred mountain which it remains to this day. The bas-reliefs are numerous and … Read more

Phum Prasat Temple (Kampong Thom)

Also recorded as Prasat Phoum and Prasat Pagoda (on Google Maps), it is a tall rectangular brick temple of the 8th century located on the grounds of a contemporary monastery. The ancient temple was restored in 2007 and still preserves much of the beautiful artwork of that time which is attributed to “Kampong Preah style” … Read more

Phnom Barieng Temple

Located atop a hill about 15km to the northwest of Prasat Sambour Prei Kuk, Prasat Phnom Barieng features the remnants of very ancient brick temple group. A staircase on the northern side and road on the eastern side provide access up the hill where the remains of the temple are seen including two partially standing … Read more

Tamon Temple (Sambor Prei Kuk)

Located east of the main temple cluster of Sambor Prei Kuk, it’s also recorded as Prasat Russey Roliek. It’s a large rectangular brick temple opening to the east featuring an antechamber preceding the central chamber, only a handful of sites in Sambor Prei Kuk feature such. It also features stunning reliefs on its sidewalls depicting … Read more

Wat Mohar

Also recorded as Brasat Mohr Pagoda, a contemporary monastery featuring the remains of a gopura and causeway on the east side of its pagoda, with the pagoda itself built upon a base of laterite likely belonging to the ancient site. Inside the pagoda, monks care for a range of ancient decorated bollards. Remnants of an … Read more

Wat Kampong Thom

Also known as Wat Indry Samvorak or Entri Sam Voreak Pagoda, it houses a collection of remains from an ancient site/s. The monastery is quite large and well established, apparently dating to the 17th century by some reports. On the monastery grounds, a special area has been created to present some of the ancient remains, … Read more

Boeng Temple

Partially standing remains of a laterite and sandstone temple

Preah Khan of Kampong Svay – A Remote Wonder of the Ancient Khmer Empire

Located almost 100 km directly east of Angkor Wat in the southwest corner of Preah Vihear Province, Preah Khan of Kampong Svay is a vast complex of sandstone and laterite constructions dating primarily from the 9th to 13th century with the majority of the site’s development and activity attributed to Suryavarman I (reign 1006–1050 AD), … Read more

Svay Leu Temple

Prasat Svay Leu is an interesting site for many reasons. It is located on the contemporary monastery grounds and features an outer walled enclosure with an entrance on the east opening to a small courtyard with “library” buildings followed by another entrance gopura and walled enclosure occupied by the central shrine that has been replaced/covered … Read more