22 November 2017
- The Ministry of Environment is exploring two ancient temples likely constructed during the early Angkor era in Ratanakkiri province. Lim Vanchan, the Ministry of Environment’s information, education and dissemination office deputy director, said the ministry recently explored the ancient sites, which include the Ou Preah and Yak Nang temples.


Ou Preah temple, located in the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary, could have been built in the 10th or 11th century, he said. Constructed with laterite and brick pieces, facing east, it is located on the west bank of Srepok River.

“We found two broken pedestals, each one with two holes on each side to set a statue. We also found jar fragments,” Mr Vanchan said. “According to ethnic minorities in the area, wine jars were richly valued items in the past, which were exchanged against cattle when a family member died.”
“They then buried the body, placed the jar above its head, and planted a tree.”

The Yak Nang temple, discovered in O’Yaday National Park, is likely to be older. Made of clay and facing east, it has suffered a lot of damage...

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5091737/ang ... les-found/

More ancient temples have been discovered in Prey Lang forest, Kampong Thom province. The Minister of the Environment has said that the temples, along with the rest of Prey Lang forest, will be protected for eco-tourism projects and for the good of future generations.

It is reported that the temples are pre-Angkorian, dating from the late Chenla period, somewhere around 800 AD.
[Chenla period 550 A.D. - 8th Century http://www.cambodia-travel.com/khmer/chenla.htm]



https://kohsantepheapdaily.com.kh/article/564665.html

The Minister of the Environment has said that the temples, along with the rest of Prey Lang forest, will be protected for eco-tourism projects and for the good of future generations.


I wonder if he meant before or after all the big trees have been cut down.

Call to protect ancient temple in Prey Lang
5 December 2017
- The Ministry of Environment has appealed to authorities and the community to protect a temple discovered in Prey Lang forest in Kampong Thom province’s Sandan district. Minister of Environment Say Sam Al lead a delegation to visit Trapaing Prers temple in Prey Lang forest last week.

A ministry statement said Trapaing Prers temple was likely built in the late eighth century in the Kampong Preah style, which is the same style as the Kampong Preah temple in Kratie province.

Mr Sam Al said local authorities and the community must care for the temple so that the next generation can learn from it. “Even though it is deep in the forest, tourists will want to visit it to study it and people will also want to pray there,” he said.

Ministry of Environment officials also found two ancient temples in Ratanakkiri province last month, Ou Preah and Yak Nang temple, which were built during the early Angkor era.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5093920/cal ... prey-lang/

That's funny, because the community has been trying to protect Prey Lang from both government-backed and non-governmental mass deforestation for the past decade. There's even a Facebook group dedicated to it...