Archaeologists working at a World Heritage site in Cambodia they unearthed 12 sandstones STATUESsome of which are over a thousand years old.

The discovery took place in Angkor, one of the three Cambodian ones UNESCO sites— near the city of Siem Reap, officials said Wednesday.

Researchers have confirmed that the statues were found buried near the northern gate of Angkor Thom, the 11th-century capital of the Khmer Empire.

Since then, the relics have been identified as “guardians of the door”.

Sorn Chanthorn, one of the leading archaeologists, says they were buried up to 4.5 feet below the surface. Despite this, some of the statues are in surprisingly good shape, according to Long Kosal, a spokesman for the National Apsara Authority, which oversees archaeological site.

What do Cambodian artifacts look like?

Each artifact is distinctive, measuring between 39 and 43 inches in height.

After documenting the precise positions of the statues, archaeologists removed them for cleaning and restoration. Authorities planned to eventually return the statues to their original locations around the temple gate.

Unique facial hair ornamentation allowed researcher to visually identify the works as the Khneang style, a hallmark of the Khmer period.

“Experts believe these gate guardian statues exemplify the Khneang style, aligning with the 11th century palace construction period.” said the National Apsara Authority.

Angkor Thom is located within the vast Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers approximately 154 square miles.

It is known as the last capital of the Khmer Empire.

This recent discovery was part of a larger collaboration between Apsara and China-Cambodia government team to safeguard the area.

The complex attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, especially to the Angkor Wat temple, an emblem of design and urban planning for centuries.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism reported that in the first half of 2024 alone, more than 500,000 international visitors visited historical located about 200 miles northwest of the capital Phnom Penh.

Possible violations of human rights law

UNESCO worked intensively with the Cambodian authorities at conservation of Angkor since reopening its office in Phnom Penh in 1991.

Angkor Wat received World Heritage status in 1992.

However, the site has been at the center of controversy over alleged forced evictions.

Cambodian authorities recently imposed relocations for thousands of residents living within the site’s boundaries in the name of protecting Angkor’s archaeological integrity.

An Amnesty International report of November 2023 condemned these actions, describing the relocation as a “serious violation of international human rights law”.

It detailed the hardships faced by families who were forced to leave their homes, including the lack of infrastructure and access to basic services in resettlement sites, including Run Ta Ek.

Residents reportedly took on unsustainable debt to rebuild their homes, with some resorting to using social securityy cards as collateral.

UNESCO’s proposed monitoring of Angkor relocations

Mass resettlement was sustained until thenPrime Minister Hun Senwho gave a speech warning that the site was at risk of losing the designation if it did not move residents away.

He confirmed those who failed to sacrifice house would receive no compensation.

The Amnesty report estimates that 10,000 families were displaced by the Cambodian authoritiesviolating international and national justice.

Subsequent reporting urged those responsible to protect the rights of resettled communities, calling for a “commitment to ensure that the conditions of resettled populations respect in all respects” human rights.

The united nations The World Heritage Committee has since expressed “concern about possible forced population movements” and called on Cambodia to invite a joint monitoring team to assess the relocation.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press