Determining the construction sequence of the Preah Vihear monument in Cambodia from its sandstone block characteristics

Researchers have determined the construction sequence of the Preah Vihear monument in Cambodia, revealing that it spans from the Bakheng style period to the Angkor Wat style period (9th to 12th century). The study identified five distinct construction stages by analyzing the chemical composition, magnetic susceptibility, and size of sandstone blocks, as well as pediment end styles and tympana reliefs. Notably, the Western Annex Hall (N2) was found to be the oldest structure. Additionally, the research clarified that during Preah Vihear's construction, the style of pediment ends evolved from single-block scrolls to two-block scrolls, culminating in five-headed nagas, while sandstone block sizes increased significantly over time.

Uchida, E., Mizoguchi, A., Sato, H., Shimoda, I., & Watanabe, R. (2017). Determining the construction sequence of the Preah Vihear monument in Cambodia from its sandstone block characteristics. Heritage Science, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-017-0155-0