Two lion statues removed from the northern part of the central terrace of Angkor Wat’s causeway in 1997 have been returned to their original positions on November 4, following their restoration by the stone conservation team of Apsara National Authority.

Long Nary, head of the stone conservation team from the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said that the statues have been repaired since April, 2022. The statues were restored by filling in the damaged and missing areas such as their leg and feet.

Before repairing them, the lion statues were in a dilapidated condition. Parts of their legs, feet, chest and back were damaged. During the French colonial period, the statues were repaired with cement and steel to keep them stable, but even those repairs gradually disintegrated over time, Nary said.

On November 4, the statues were transported by 20 ANA stone conservation team members using a truck and installation took only around one hour.

After they were installed in their original positions after 25 years a religious ceremony was held for them.

ANA officials said that the two statues would improve the scenic and cultural value of the moat area and this project preserved an important piece of the site’s history.