Bringing the gods back TO CAMBODIA

Cambodia’s cultural and artistic heritage is vast, yet much of it was stolen and smuggled out of the country during years of conflict and instability, eventually finding its way into private collections and museums around the world. Today, a growing international effort is underway to bring these artefacts home.

At the end of 2021, I followed the team working alongside the Cambodian Ministry of Culture to recover looted antiquities. The resulting photographs and videos were featured in articles by The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Denver Post.

More discoveries at Koh Ker

November 17, 2021 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Aerial view of Prasat Thom, the main temple of Koh Ker located in northern Cambodia.

Former looter "Lion"

October 28, 2021 - Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Former looter "Lion" with the statue of Shiva and Skanda that he looted in the 90' within the Koh Ker complex. The piece has recently been returned by Douglas Latchford's daughter to the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples (Copy)

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples

November 2nd, 2021 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). “Lion” at Tmor Bay Kream’s temple where years ago he looted two females statues, one of them is believed to be at the MET.

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples (Copy)

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples

November 2nd, 2021 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). "Lion" imitates the lion statue that he looted years ago inside Prasat Thom, Koh Ker.

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples (Copy)

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples

November 2nd, 2021 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). "Lion" touches the pedestal of a missing statue that he looted years ago inside Prasat Thom, Koh Ker. This may be the base of the Standing Female Deity from Nancy Wiener at the MET.

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples (Copy)

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples

November 2nd, 2021 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Former looter Lion" walks towards Prasat Thom, the main temple of Koh Ker.

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples (Copy)

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples

November 3rd, 2021 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). “Lion” overlooks a team of archeologists from the Cambodian Ministry of Culture during an excavation at Tmor Bay Kream’s temple to locate the pedestal bases of statues he looted years previously. Lion looted two females statues from this site, one of them is believed to be at the MET.

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples (Copy)

Former looter "Lions" visit Koh Ker temples

November 3rd, 2021 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). A team of archeologists from the Cambodian Ministry of Culture during an excavation at Tmor Bay Kream’s temple to locate the pedestal bases of statues “Lion” looted years previously. Lion looted two females statues from this site, one of them is believed to be at the MET.