Cambodia Unveils Ancient Dancing Shiva Statue Restored From 10,000 Fragmented Pieces

Cambodia has successfully restored and unveiled a massive, 1,000-year-old “Dancing Shiva” statue that was painstakingly reconstructed from over 10,000 fragmented pieces. Carved from a single block of sandstone in the 10th century, the seven-ton sculpture stands over 16 feet tall and features ten arms and five faces, representing a monumental achievement of the ancient Khmer Empire.

The artifact was originally located at the Koh Ker temple site—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—but was found in a severely damaged state, having suffered significant destruction and looting during centuries of civil unrest and conflict. The restoration process was a collaborative effort between Cambodian experts and the French School of the Far East, involving over a decade of archaeological research and six years of meticulous physical reconstruction beginning in 2020. Currently housed at the Angkor Conservation Center in Siem Reap, the statue is eventually slated to return to its original home at Koh Ker to serve as a major cultural and historical attraction.