Enchanted by Angkor Wat, Long Nary Becomes a Stone Doctor to Cure Temples
‘Stone doctor’ is what Long Nary is known for after he spent many years treating and restoring damaged stones in the temples of Angkor Archaeological Park. Photo: Chhorn Sophat
- By Sem Vanna
- January 23, 2024 11:05 AM
SIEM REAP – ‘Stone doctor’ is what Long Nary is known for after he spent many years treating and restoring damaged stones in the temples of Angkor Archaeological Park, in Siem Reap province.
Nary’s career dates back to 1988, a year after he realized his dream of seeing Angkor Wat with his own eyes.
Born in Kampong Cham, 200 kilometers away from Siem Reap, Nary learned about Angkor Wat in books. But instead of satiating him, his readings only reinforced his curiosity about the temples’ history and symbolism.
“I did not expect to be able to work and live at the temple since I came from afar,” he said. “I am very proud of my life, even though I did not get paid much.”
‘I might have been one of the builders’
Nary started his journey through the temples’ history with Indian specialists who allowed him to learn about the building techniques used by the builders centuries ago.
One of his first tasks was to clean algae on some of Angkor Wat's pillars.
He also worked with many foreign experts, most of whom were German.
Nary always has a book to write down job instructions. The meticulousness and thoroughness of his work gave him many opportunities to grow as a stone restorer.
Long Nary’s career dates back to 1988. Photo: Chhorn Sophat
Fond of the ancient temples, he took time to study their history to become a tour guide. The historical knowledge he gained was also of good use in restoring the stones, providing him with background and understanding of conservation work.
After 36 years of working in the temples, Nary has restored approximately 1,800 Apsara statues at Angkor Wat.
He said he spent most of his professional career feeling he was living the dream, and is convinced he might have been somewhat of a worker in the construction of temples in the past.
“I always thought that maybe in the past, during the reign of a king, I was part of the team building temples. I feel like I was destined to spend my life in temples,” he said.
Nary has spent more time in temples than in his home for almost half of his life.
Long Nary said that treating stones is more difficult than treating people. Photo: Chhorn Sophat
Treating temple stones like old people
Like humans, temples are also subject to many diseases. The older a temple is, the more attention, care and treatment it requires. Some temples in Angkor Park are more than a thousand years old.
Climate problems and stone aging attract many human-like skin diseases which gradually cause the outer stone to erode. Experts have to treat stones with scientific methods.
To cure temple stones, experts have to observe them regularly. Nary said that treating stones is more difficult than treating people because sick people can run to the doctor but stones can’t express what ails them.
“Stone treatment should be done as gently as treating old people. When the stone is old and rotten, we cannot touch it hard. We take care of it like old people,” he said.
“We can support the stone without breaking it.”
Training new generations of experts is key to ensuring that skills are passed on. Photo: Chhorn Sophat
Transfer the knowledge to the next generation
While preservation plays a central role in keeping temples standing longer, training new generations of experts is key to ensuring that skills are passed on.
Currently, Nary is training 20 students in stone conservation, including 6 women. He points out that stone conservation training has only had two generations of students so far, as all conservation works were suspended during the civil war in the 1970s-1980s.
Students in stone conservation are primarily asked to understand how to identify stone diseases, before being able to treat them.
After over 1,000 years of enduring rains, heat waves and climatic changes, the stones of Angkor’s temples present various problems that need to be treated scientifically.
“The conservation of stone works requires conservators to adopt a ‘medical’ approach because before treating, we have to study the disease of the stone,” Nary said.
“Stones have many diseases, so we have to check and examine them to find the right treatment.”
Despite his advanced age, Nary still visits the temple site to supervise conservation work and training. He trains students in stone conservation at Banteay Samre temple. He intends to work in temple preservation until he retires.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Torn Chanritheara for Cambodianess.
