Cambodia : Restoration Triumph, Koh Ker's Dancing Shiva Revived

Under the high patronage of His Excellency Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia, a ceremony today marks the completion of the restoration of the Dancing Shiva statue from the Koh Ker site.

This major project, led by the French School of the Far East (EFEO) under the authority of the National Authority for Preah Vihear (NAPV) and supported by ALIPH, unveils a masterpiece of Khmer heritage

Restoration and Renaissance

The colossal Dancing Shiva statue, dating from the 10th century and originating from Koh Ker, stands nearly 5 meters tall and weighs about 7 tons. Toppled in the 14th century and shattered into more than 10,000 fragments by looters during the civil war, its meticulous restoration spanned from 2020 to 2026, building on archaeological research initiated in 2012.

Directed by Éric Bourdonneau (EFEO) with Benoît Lafay heading the restoration team, this operation brought together experienced restorers and specialized art assemblers to piece together a monumental three-dimensional puzzle. One of the most complex restoration projects in partnership with Cambodian institutions, it trained 20 professionals in stone conservation techniques.

"This restoration bears witness to efforts to ensure that looters do not have the last word. We are proud to have brought back to life an exceptional masterpiece of Khmer heritage, while strengthening local skills and future partnerships," declares Valéry Freland, Executive Director of ALIPH.

A Masterpiece of Khmer Heritage

Erected in the first half of the 10th century at the royal sanctuary of Prasat Thom, founded by King Jayavarman IV (r. 921-941) at Koh Ker – an ephemeral Khmer capital that eclipsed Angkor for nearly two decades – the statue forms the center of an ensemble illustrating Shiva's victorious dance over death.

Surrounded by graceful Umā, fierce Kālī-Camundā, Mahākāla, and Nandiśvara beating the drum, it is carved from a single block of sandstone, with its five heads and ten arms in a dynamic pose.

Beyond its sculptural virtuosity, it establishes a major iconographic model of Shiva as Lord of the Worlds, protector of Khmer royalty, reprised in the bas-reliefs of Banteay Srei, Vat Phu, and the Preah Vihear sanctuary.

The Project in Figures

Element	Details
Statue	5 heads and 10 arms; ~5 m tall, 7 tons
Conservation	600 man-days
Structural Engineering	215 man-days
Fragments	2,750 with sculpted surfaces; >700 joints
Torso	70% repositioned
Training	5 sessions; 11 professions involved

Institutional Partnerships

• Ministry of Culture and Fine ArtsNational Authority for Preah Vihear (NAPV)

• APSARA National AuthorityAngkor Conservation

• National Museum of Cambodia

• Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum

Scientific and Technical Committee chaired by His Excellency Mr. Kong Puthikar, Director General of the NAPV. Main team: Éric Bourdonneau (EFEO), Benoît Lafay (lead restorer), Nathalie Bruhier, Violaine Pillard, in collaboration with Chhan Chamroeun, Mok Doueng, Thach Phanith (NAPV), and Emmanuel Bougenaux, Laurent Laly (assembly).