Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Prehistoric treasures found at Oddar Meanchey pagoda

Prehistoric treasures found at Oddar Meanchey pagoda

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Officials collects data and registers artifacts at Chey Udom Chongkal pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province. CULTURE MINISTRY

Prehistoric treasures found at Oddar Meanchey pagoda

Officials from the Oddar Meanchey provincial Department of Culture and Fine Arts joined forces with the heritage protection police force to inspect 68 ancient artifacts that were being kept at Chey Udom Chongkal Pagoda in Chongkal district and commune.

The artifacts will be catalogued for preservation as part of the nation’s cultural wealth, an official who joined the inspection said.

Yean Ya, an official from the culture department, told The Post that most of the artefacts in the pagoda, located in the commune’s Kork Wat village, were ceramic fragments of ancient temple statues.

He said that based on scientific data, most of the pottery dated back to pre-historic times.

“The pottery and temple fragments were already listed by our team for preservation as part of our cultural heritage. It turns out that some of the artifacts were placed in the pagoda but were not originally from there,” he added.

Provincial chief monk Luch Bun Laing told The Post that some of the items came from local laypeople who handed them to the pagoda committee.

“Neither I nor the authorities or laypeople throughout the district thought that any of these relics might be thousands of years old. After the officials inspected them and told us they are prehistoric, we were very pleased that we have contributed to the preservation of part of our heritage,” he said.

The pagoda committee has put the pottery and fragments in glass cabinets for display so that Buddhists from near and far can observe and learn more about them.

Kork Wat village chief Tat Kak told The Post that he and the villagers were excited to know the truth about the history of each of the artifacts as they – with the monks and the pagoda committee – had cared for them until now.

“I’m very happy because we had not realised the significance of these items. We knew that the clay jars, vases and incense holders were old, of course. But to hear their true age – and to understand the value they hold in preserving the culture of our people – is really quite something,” he said.

Say Keo, acting police chief of the district, congratulated the officials on their inspection. “This is a source of pride for our people. We know that all the ancient objects at this pagoda will be safe and they will enable the younger generation to conduct studies and research into the masterpieces of our Khmer forefathers.”

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Brawl marrs football final as Indonesian take gold in seven goal thriller

    The Indonesian men's U22 men national football team were crowned champions of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, defeating Thailand 5-2 in extra time on May 16 at Olympic National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The match was marred by an ugly incident that occured in the 91

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom