Siem Reap: Mr. Dom Deng, a 63-year-old expert from North Srah Srang village in Nokor Thom commune, Siem Reap city, has dedicated his career to preserving the historical integrity of the Angkor site.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Mr. Dom Deng has been working with the APSARA National Authority in the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology since 2001, focusing on the critical task of removing vegetation from the temples.

In his role as a vegetation cleaner, Mr. Dom Deng has mastered the art of throwing ropes over temples that exceed 20 metres in height. This technique allows his team to safely ascend and clear away the plants that threaten the structural integrity of these ancient brick temples. ‘We use five types of ropes for this task. First, I throw a rope across the temple from one side to the other. Then, I connect this first rope to a second and finally to a fifth, which is sturdy enough for our team to climb,’ he described the process.

He emphasised the importance of assessing the condition of the temple bricks before throwing the rope to ensure that they are not rotten or damaged, which could lead to accidents. Additionally, he carefully considers wind direction to ensure an accurate throw; on calm days, he can often hit the target with a single throw.

Mr. Ngin Thy, the head of the vegetation cleaning team, highlights the specialised skills required for this work. Many brick temples within the Angkor site are too tall for scaffolding, necessitating expert rope-throwing techniques. Notable temples that require this method include Pre Rup, Mebon, Baksei Chamkrong, and various structures in the Roluos area. Some temples present unique challenges; for instance, Pre Rup and East Mebon have loose and broken tops that can trap ropes in their cracks, risking breakage during the cleaning process.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse