A massive, 1,000-year-old “Dancing Shiva” statue which was broken into more than 10,000 fragments decades ago, has been successfully restored in Cambodia, the culture ministry said.
The 5m and seven-ton sculpture was carved from a single block of sandstone – with 10 arms and five faces – dates back to the 10th century from the site of an ancient capital of the Khmer empire, Koh Ker. The temple ruins of Koh Ker in northern Cambodia were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
The statue was officially unveiled, on 18 March 18 at its temporary home at the Angkor Conservation Centre in Siem Reap, home of the renowned Angkor Wat heritage site. The ministry said the statue represents an extraordinary artistic and technical achievement, and it will be eventually returned to its original location at Koh Ker Temple, where it can help to attract more visitors to the historic site.
The statue was discovered in a severely damaged state, having been broken into more than 10,000 fragments in the 14th century, largely due to looting during the civil war, the ministry stated.
Shiva, one of main deities in Hinduism, is also known as the lord of dance and dramatic arts. Hinduism was introduced to Cambodia as early as the 1st century by Indian traders and maritime explorers who travelled across Southeast Asia. During the Khmer Empire (9th-15th Century), Hinduism was the state religion.
An exceptional masterpiece of Khmer heritage
Cambodian experts in cooperation with the French School of the Far East (EFEO) spent five years restoring the immense artwork. Its meticulous restoration spanned from 2020 to 2026, building on archaeological research initiated in 2012.
The project brought together highly-experienced sculpture restorers and specialist art mounters to reassemble a monumental three-dimensional puzzle, considered one of the most complex undertaken in partnership with Cambodian heritage institutions.
The project required 600 person-days for conservation and restoration, dedicating 215 person-days to structural design and fabrication. Specialised training in stone conservation was also provided to 20 professionals so they could gain essential skills for future work, thus strengthening local conservation skills.
