A Fragmented Work Facing Rigorous Scientific Methodology
When the EFEO teams intervened on the site of Koh Ker, the statue was reduced to thousands of scattered fragments. More than 10,000 pieces were collected, including about 2,750 identified and documented sculptural elements.
Facing this extreme state of fragmentation, the EFEO embarked on an in-depth preparatory work phase between 2012 and 2019. The goal was clear: to transform a set of unstable remains into a structured scientific corpus.
“These investigations transformed thousands of vulnerable fragments into a documented and exploitable corpus,” emphasizes the EFEO.
The EFEO, Pillar of Scientific Coordination
The EFEO did not limit itself to intervening on the field. It ensured the scientific direction of the project by structuring the data, coordinating the partners, and defining the methodological choices.
Under the direction of Éric Bourdonneau, the institution set up a comprehensive database integrating surveys, photographs, and digital modeling. This work made it possible to identify nearly 700 connections between fragments, paving the way for a partial reconstruction of the work.
This coordination role also extended to the establishment of a scientific and technical committee, responsible for validating the directions of the project.
The Decisive Contribution of Digital Technologies
One of the major contributions of the EFEO resided in the integration of digital tools into the restoration process.
Each fragment was scanned in three dimensions, allowing virtual testing of assemblies. This approach limited physical manipulations and allowed hypotheses to be verified before any intervention.
Thanks to these analyses, between 70 and 75% of the torso’s surface could be repositioned, making the operation technically feasible.
Mastered Engineering in the Service of Stability
The operational phase, carried out from 2019 at Angkor Conservation, is based on precise technical choices.
The EFEO supervised the design of an internal metal structure, organized around a central core anchored in a steel base. This device ensures the stability of the whole while remaining discreet.
The fragments are consolidated using metal rods and assembled with suitable mortars, composed of powder of stones and lime. Specific work is carried out on the integration of shades to preserve the visual coherence of the whole.
An Ethical Approach Claimed
The EFEO adopted a clear line: to intervene without artificially reconstructing the work.
Restitutions were only made when the data was reliable enough. Otherwise, the gaps were preserved to make visible the transformations and destruction suffered over time.
“The objective is to restore the readability and monumentality of the work while leaving visible traces of its history.”
Transmission, Means, and Mobilization
Beyond restoration, the EFEO inscribes its action in a logic of transmission.
More than twenty trainee restorers participated in the project through five dedicated sessions on the conservation of sculptures. This educational dimension helps strengthen local skills and perpetuate know-how over time.
The project had a budget of approximately 480,000 euros, mobilized with the support of international partners.
Under the coordination of the EFEO, 11 different trades were involved, bringing together restorers, archaeologists, engineers, historians, curators, and geologists. The restoration required 600 days of work, in addition to 215 days dedicated to the design of the structure.
This diversity of skills illustrates the scope of the work coordinated by the institution.
An Intervention Inscribed in Duration
Through this project, the EFEO confirms its historical role in the study, preservation, and transmission of heritage in Southeast Asia.
The restoration of the Shiva of Koh Ker is thus part of a continuity: that of an ancient scientific presence, which combines field research, methodological innovation, and cooperation with Cambodian institutions.
