Angkor Wat’s water moats are being restored using traditional methods, with the concrete used in a 1962 repair becoming dilapidated, the Apsara National Authority (ANA) said on October 26.
ANA deputy director-general Long Kosal said the restoration of Angkor Wat’s west, north and south moats is an ongoing project set to take many years to complete.
“The best way to carry out the repairs is with the traditional techniques that we have used in the past, and this work is in accordance with such methods.
“The source of expenditure is from the national budget provided by the Ministry of Economy and Finance,” Kosal said.
He added that the nature of the repair work meant he was unable to give a completion date.
“The restoration is continuous work from one year to another and is ongoing,” he said.
Sim Dany, a technical officer for conservation and rehabilitation at Angkor Wat, said the repairs were necessary as the concrete used in the French-aided restoration in 1962 had deteriorated.
This was to be replaced with mortar, which was a traditional technique.
The work was the third phase of the Angkor Wat water moat restoration, which began in August, she added. When this is completed, work will continue to Phases IV and V.
“The purpose of Phase III is to restore the banks of the moat to their original condition because the concrete and rock are no longer remaining together, while the tamped-earth bed of the moat has eroded, causing the bank and steps to collapse.
“There are particular challenges in repairing the bank related to the weather, with water needing to be continuously pumped out,” Dany said.
She added that after the completion of the third phase, the Angkor Wat east moat would likely be the next area for restoration as it had suffered a significant collapse.
