Japan, Cambodia to join hands in conserving ancient temple complex

UPDATED: 08:18, January 26, 2007
Japan, Cambodia to join hands in conserving ancient temple complex



Cambodian and Japanese students studying archeology will excavate,
restore and conserve the old sites at the Sambo Prey Kok temple complex
in Kompong Thom province from 2007 to 2012, local press reported on
Thursday.

An agreement for restoring the temple complex was signed by Hem Cheim,
acting minister of Culture and Fine Arts, and Mr. Nakaga Watakesi, head
of Washida Japan Organization on Tuesday, the Raksmey Kampuchea Daily
reported.

Nakaga said that the Preah Vihear temple in northern Cambodia will be
counted in the World Cultural Heritage this year, and the Sambo Prey
Kok temple will copy the model from Preah Vihear temple too.

According to statistics, there are about 288 temples in Sambo Prey Kok
temple complex, Nakaga added.

"Sambo Prey Kok temple represented the old history of southeast Asian
countries before Angkor Wat period," he said.

Cambodian and Japanese students have already found that Sambo Prey Kok
temple is as big as 10 square km and it was built in the 6th-7th
century, said the report.

Source: Xinhua

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