The fallen face of an apsara carving at Angkor Archaeological Park’s Ta Prohm temple was reattached during a spell of good weather.
A temple official reported on September 30 that a stone carving’s face had cracked and fallen off at Ta Prohm, a historical temple famous for the trees and roots growing in and around the grounds. Officials said roots had grown behind the face, causing cracks to widen.
The unusual sight had caused some alarm among visitors, who feared the carving may have been stolen. But temple authorities said the face had simply fallen and was safely in their hands.
On Friday, experts from the Apsara Authority, with cooperation from experts from India, restored the apsara statue in Ta Prohm after the stone surface was able to dry.
Apsara Authority spokesman Long Kosal said on Monday that the fallen face had been reattached with a special adhesive applied to undamaged surfaces.
“This is a technical restoration using a type of special glue with a core to make it stronger to prevent future falls,” Kosal said.
It was the first time that an apsara’s face had fallen in the temple areas, he added.
