APSARA National Authority (ANA) has invited the public to see how excavated archaeological artefacts are cleaned and processed, at an exhibition featuring 1,055 such items set to be on display at Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum from May 18-28.
ANA experts will be cleaning and processing the items in front of museum visitors, according to a May 18 social media post by the ANA, the governmental body in charge of the Angkor Archaeological Park.
The artefacts were excavated around the southwestern dam of the Srah Srang water reservoir, it noted.
Be Sinuon, a technical expert at the ANA’s Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said most of the thousand-odd artefacts are linked to Buddhism and dated to between the 12th century and post-Angkor period.
The post-Angkor period is also referred to the Middle Period, or sometimes the “Dark Age” due to a distinct lack of primary sources of the era, and is generally regarded as the historical era between the early 15th century and 1863, when the French Protectorate of Cambodia was established.
She stressed that the experts would be working with great care, noting that many of the metal artefacts are in a very fragile condition.
“We invite the public to stop by and see the artefacts in person to better understand the cleaning process, at Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum in Boeung Don Pa village, Slakram commune, Siem Reap town,” ANA said.
Regular visiting hours for the museum are 8:30am-4:30pm, from Tuesday to Sunday.
