PHNOM PENH — A southern library on the second terrace of the Angkor Wat temple and which is around 1,000 years old has been restored.

The APSARA National Authority has handled the major damages to the structure, which required urgent intervention, completing the task after five months of extensive work.

The southern library was in a severe state of deterioration prior to restoration, with its stone pillars on the southeast side cracked. The weakened walls had caused instability in the roof and the supporting beams above the structure.

As Khem Mony, who headed the restoration project, explained, the walls, floors, foundations and pillars all had to be repaired.

“New stones were integrated…to strengthen the overall structure and prevent further sagging of the floor,” Mony said.

“Around a quarter of the decayed stones in the older eastern pillars were replaced, while half of the deteriorated stones in the interior pillars were replaced with new materials,” he said.

The restoration project, which began in early July 2024, was done in accordance with the guidelines set by the ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk, which conducted an extensive inspection of the site.

ICC stands for International Coordinating Committee of Angkor that oversees the Angkor Archeological Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.