Thmar Puok, Cambodia12th centuryAt the conclusion of the civil war between the Khmer and Champa kingdoms in the twelfth century, King Jayavarman VII built a temple in the Cambodian jungle to honor five heroes who died in defense of their country, one of them being his son. A "Fine Citadel" of eight temples, situated on a nine-square-kilometer site and surrounded by a moat, was distinguished by expertly rendered bas-reliefs depicting the war between the kingdoms and the accession of the Khmer king. Because of its remoteness, Banteay Chhmar survived the Khmer Rouge period of the 1970s. But nature proved to be a ravaging force, and looting has occurred regularly since 1992. The scale of theft has increased dramatically in the last year. At the end of 1998, a bas relief 50 meters square was drilled away and brought to the black market. Ironically, some military guards employed to protect Banteay Chhmar have been the culprits. Special guards are needed and the local population must be educated about the site's national importance. The international art community must also be alerted that any site material surfacing on the market is stolen.
