The APSARA National Authority plans to reattach the damaged apsara carving’s face when the weather is favourable, according to a news release of the APSARA National Authority this afternoon.

Mr. Som Bunthoeun, Deputy Chief of the Tourism Agent at Ta Prohm Temple, reported that the missing Apsara face had not been carved out or stolen. He recalled that in the morning of Sept. 30, 2022, the tourism agent spotted and reported to the relevant departments about the face of the Apsara carving that had cracked and fallen due to the tree’s roots near the tree, which tourists like to take pictures of.

Ms. Neth Simon, Technical Officer of the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology of the APSARA National Authority, said that she had received information about that case from the tourism agent. According to the assessment, the apsara’s face has an invisible long crack.

She explained that according to the observation, the stone surface attached to the wall was infiltrated by the roots of a tree, and there were already cracks, so the roots of the tree turned the face of the apsara carving to fall. Fortunately, she continued, the Apsara face had fallen on the roots of the tree, otherwise it could have been broken easily.

The official added that the fallen surface is now kept in a safe place and waiting for the right time to restore it back.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press