Bringing the gods back TO CAMBODIA

Cambodia has a long and rich history, with a wealth of cultural and artistic treasures. Unfortunately, many of these treasures have been stolen and smuggled out of the country, ending up in private collections or museums around the world. In recent years, there have been efforts to bring these stolen antiquities back to Cambodia.

At the end of 2021 I had the extraordinary opportunity to follow the team that is helping the Cambodian Ministry of Culture to recover some of these artefacts and the photos and videos I produced were featured on several articles on The New York Times, Bloomberg and The Denver Post.

More discoveries at Koh Ker

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 7, 2022 - Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Phoeurng Sackona - Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts - poses for a portrait inside The National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 6, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Workers at an excavation site at Prasat Krachap’s temple (Koh Ker).

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 6, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Brad J. Gordon talks with Thach Phanit, one of the archeologist working at the excavation site at Prasat Krachap’s temple (Koh Ker).

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 7, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Former looter “Blue Tiger” walks through the remnants of Prasat Khnar temple.

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 6, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Former looter “Blue Tiger” poses for a portrait at Prasat Thom, Koh Ker.

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 6, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Former looter “Blue Tiger” poses for a portrait at Prasat Thom, Koh Ker.

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 7, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Brad J. Gordon’s assistants chat about a bas-relief of Prasat Khnar temple.

Cambodian stolen artifacts

Cambodian stolen artifacts

April 7, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). Brad J. Gordon’s assistants chat with a villager regarding the looting of statues and artifacts from Prasat Khnar temple.

Koh Ker Temples

Koh Ker Temples

August 10, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). View of the stunning Prasat Pram in Koh Ker. Photo by Thomas Cristofoletti / Special to The Denver Post

Prasat Tadong

August 10, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). View of the jungle and rice fields that surround the remote Prasat Tadong temple built in the 9th century at the feet of Kulen mountains. Photo by Thomas Cristofoletti / Special to The Denver Post

Prasat Tadong

August 10, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). View of the broken pedestal of a statue at remote Prasat Tadong temple built in the 9th century at the feet of Kulen mountains. Photo by Thomas Cristofoletti / Special to The Denver Post

Prasat Tadong

August 10, 2022 - Preah Vihear (Cambodia). View of the remote Prasat Tadong temple built in the 9th century at the feet of Kulen mountains. Photo by Thomas Cristofoletti / Special to The Denver Post

Antiquites Handover Event at the Natioanl Museum

Antiquites Handover Event at the Natioanl Museum

July 13, 2022 - Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Assistant Secretary Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy and H.E Minister Phoeurng Sackona preside a handover ceremony of a batch of antiquities stolen from Cambodia and recently returned to the National Museum of Phnom Penh.

Antiquites Handover Event at the Natioanl Museum

Antiquites Handover Event at the Natioanl Museum

July 13, 2022 - Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Assistant Secretary Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy and H.E Minister Phoeurng Sackona preside a handover ceremony of a batch of antiquities stolen from Cambodia and recently returned to the National Museum of Phnom Penh.

The New York Times

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BLOOMBERG

The Denver Post

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