Sambor Prei Kuk
សំបូរព្រៃគុហ៍
Cambodia · Kampong Thom
In brief
Sambor Prei Kuk is a city and temple site identified with Ishanapura, the capital of Chenla. Excavations have also uncovered large buildings and infrastructure remains in the moated city west of the famous brick temples.
What was found?
- 1M.90 large terrace
Excavation uncovered a large terrace enclosed by laterite walls and extending along a north–south axis. Its design and scale differ from the temple structures common at the site.
- 2Remains of brick structures
Numerous remains of brick structures were identified in the urban area. They show that an extensive urban settlement existed around the temple clusters.
- 3Decorated sandstone lintels
The decorated stone beams spanning doorways are distinctive examples of the Sambor Prei Kuk style. They document pre-Angkorian stoneworking and approaches to ornamentation.
- 4Octagonal temples
The octagonal temples at the site are unique examples of their kind in Southeast Asia. They show the diversity of forms in early Khmer architecture.
- 5Canals, ponds, and embankments
Surveys also recorded water channels, ponds, and embankments alongside buildings. These show that extensive infrastructure works were carried out in the pre-Angkorian capital.
What does it point to?
Sambor Prei Kuk indicates that advanced urbanization and organized building activity existed before Angkor. Temple forms and stone decorations show that later Khmer art drew on the traditions developed here.
What did it teach us?
- It revealed that the pre-Angkorian capital had water infrastructure and roads alongside monumental buildings.
- It showed that the art of Sambor Prei Kuk laid the groundwork for the formation of the Khmer style of the Angkor period.
- The M.90 excavation documented a large terrace structure in the city that differed from customary temple plans.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
Research published in 2025 described the large terrace structure excavated at mound M.90 in the city center and discussed its possible public function.
Record
- Culture
- Chenla; early Khmer
- Team / historical
- Cambodian-Japanese joint research project; Ichita Shimoda
- Coordinates
- 12.8725°, 105.0431°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Koh Ker 115 km
- Angkor Archaeological Site 142 km
- Oc Eo–Ba The Archaeological Site 291 km
- Ban Non Wat Archaeological Site 401 km
- My Son Sanctuary 462 km
- Ancient Town of Si Thep 509 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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All excavation sites (395)
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