A Kampong Thom provincial tractor driver unearthed an ancient bronze-based Buddha statue last week in Santuk district.
The Heritage Office team, in cooperation with the Santuk district police and local authorities, inspected the site of the statue on August 16, two days after it was discovered by a tractor driver. The driver also presented several metal fragments which he had found. They will be kept at the provincial museum for further study, according to an August 18 statement by the provincial Department of Culture and Fine Arts.
Hin Sophorn, director of the department, along with officials from the heritage office, the district Heritage Protection Police and the district Police, evaluated the discovered artefacts at the Santuk district police station on August 15.
The statue was discovered by tractor driver Kak Bunthan about 200 metres west of Wat Pongro during the restoration of a stream in Chimeakh village, Korkoh commune.
According to the culture department, the statue is made of copper and is likely to be a symbol of the deity in the Mahayana of Buddhism, also known as the bodhisattva avalokiteshvara, or perhaps the Bodhisattha Maitreya Shiyarami. This conclusion remains uncertain because of damage to the forehead and hair topknot — key identifying features of both deities.
“According to the shape of the face and skirt of this statue, it is likely that it was in the Bakheng style (893 to 925 AD, during the reign of King Yasovarman I). The statue is being kept at the provincial museum,” it stated.
The statue will be on display at the museum for one week from August 17 to 23 before being taken away for cleaning and repairs.
