Conservation work. Photo by: Dan Thompson Banteay Chhmar, Birthplace of Famous Khmer Face Towers

Site Significance developing tourism to the site and preparing for the increased impact on infrastructure; The temple complex of Banteay Chhmar was (4) to assist the Cambodian government in the commissioned by the 12th Century Khmer UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination and King Jayavarman VII (AD 1181-1219) in honor inscription process and (5) to train a team of of four army generals and his son, the Crown professionals and craftsmen and to create a Prince Indravarman, and is most notable for the conservation unit for the Ministry of Culture extensive bas-reliefs documenting the period’s and Fine Arts. contemporary history. In the 1990s, the site became a favored target of looters, resulting in Preservation by Design® 25 square meters of bas-reliefs and countless pieces of statuary being stolen from the Planning temple site of the bas-reliefs approximately GHF’s Master Conservation Planning will Threats 1800-2000 square meters remain. provide Banteay Chhmar the means to Climate establish an appropriate, long-term balance Vegetation Project Goals between the needs of conservation, access, Vandalism and Looting Following the tenets of Preservation by Design, sustainable economic development and the Unplanned Uncontrolled GHF’s holistic approach to long-term site interests of the local community. Additionally, Development sustainability, the primary conservation and the government has recommended that development goals at Banteay Chhmar are the Master Plan will be prepared and will be Start Date five-fold: (1) to prepare and implement a used by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts 2008 site Master Conservation Plan, including (MCFA) to establish the future Zoning and expanded site protection; (2) to preserve the development of Banteay Chhmar as a means bas- galleries and stabilize the central for dealing with all of the issues affecting temple complex; (3) to aid the community in complex archaeological sites.

Global Heritage Fund, Current Projects Project Partnerships . Visitors will instead experience a newly Recent Accomplishments uncovered site previously hidden in the jungle • GHF has signed a multi-year agreement • Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MCFA) for centuries and an accurate interpretation with the Ministry of Culture and Fine • Community Based Tourism (CBT), Banteay of a site with all its mystery intact and amidst Arts for the master planning, conserva- Chhmar natural features. tion and protection of Banteay Chhmar following GHF’s Preservation by Design • Friends of Khmer Culture (FoKCI) methodology, which will take the site The Department of Applied Mathematics (IWR) • University of Heidelberg, Interdisciplinary through a structured process of planning Heidelberg University, will contribute their Centre for Scientific Computing (IWR) and design, threat mitigation, scientific expertise to the virtual reconstruction of both site conservation, training and commu- • South Asia Conservation and Restoration the Khmer structures and the famous bas nity development and stewardship. Agency (SACRA) reliefs of Banteay Chhmar. Their highly refined • Complete clearing of fallen stone from technology will greatly assist those in the the South Sector East Elevation, with field with the enormous challenges of piecing all removed stones numbered and Conservation Science together the bas reliefs and the unique Face recorded in drawings prior to removal.

GHF is funding a two-year program to test Towers. • Emergency propping for critical sections materials, develop methods and train a local of the temple complex. team to carry out the conservation of the In addition, GHF is training a Conservation • Removal of trees causing structural sandstone bas-reliefs of Banteay Chhmar. team for the MCFA which will eventually look problems in the Southeast Sector. Led by the South Asian Conservation and after the northern regions of Cambodia. Restoration Agency (SACRA) Conservation • Completed detailed elevation of the Southeast Sector bas-reliefs, both front Team under GHF’s supervision, the preliminary Community and back. training will be done, for the first time, in the While conservation initiatives can deliver the by Khmers for Khmers, • Completed plan of the Southeast Sector necessary financial and technical capacities which will be a landmark in the sustainable stone-paved platform, including column to conserve cultural heritage assets, locations. conservation process for Cambodia. successful long-term sustainability ultimately • Successful reassembly of approximately depends on community engagement and Additionally, there are numerous monumental 70% of the vertical sections, Southeast stewardship. To that end, GHF is supporting structures which will need to be scientifically Sector. the local community to organize and manage preserved and stabilized as Banteay Chhmar • Construction of a secure storage depot quality sustainable tourism activities such as is a massive temple complex. GHF’s vision for materials and equipment homestays, local food and rural area discovery is to conserve the site largely as a ruin with activities in advance of the expected increase • Training of local workers in excavation low-impact, safe visitor access via suspended techniques, conservation and drafting in visitation. Close collaboration is also cable platforms over the fallen structures, maintained with the village commune council • Commencement of training for local along with selective interventions for high- on issues affecting the village such as access workers in stone conservation and repair risk structures, bas-reliefs and towers. This to water, the alignment of roads and ways that unique vision of conserving Banteay Chhmar • Forging of close collaborative links with the project can aid in addressing those issues. the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts as a partial ruin will be a radical change from the standard concept of restoration favored in • Development of proposals for water management in the moat

• Successful day long workshop of national and international scholars to discuss the Banteay Chhmar Conservation Project and provide guidelines

• Temporarily re-assembled about 25% of the South east Sector ready for re-erec- tion once the foundations have been consolidated

• Built in Traditional style a Visitor Centre which will be managed by CBT along with a workshop for the Stone Conservation Unit and a General work- shop with a traditional forge.

Detail of Bas-Relief. Photo by John Sanday

Much of the historic knowledge of Banteay Chhmar is based on inscriptions...found in most Khmer temples, carved on sandstone door and window frames, Buddha statues, and stele. 625 Emerson Street, Suite 200 Palo Alto, CA 94301

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