Angkor Borei and Phnom Da Archaeological Site

Angkor Borei and Phnom Da form an archaeological complex in Takéo province, southern Cambodia, representing an early urban center and a nearby hilltop temple dating to the first millennium CE. The area is associated with pre-Angkorian state-level societies in the region.

The low-lying Angkor Borei site preserves earthworks, mounds and occupation layers interpreted as remains of a fortified settlement or administrative center, while Phnom Da is a nearby small hill with early medieval masonry and carved stone fragments. Modern visitors typically move between the two short sites rather than encountering large temple complexes.

Archaeologists link the site to activity in the first half of the first millennium CE and to the wider network of riverine trade and polity formation in the Mekong delta region. Excavations and survey work by Cambodian and international teams have taken place intermittently since the mid-20th century.

The complex lies in southern Cambodia’s lowlands within Takéo province, on waterways connected to the Mekong/Bassac system and close to local villages named Angkor Borei. The setting is flat and riverine, with access by small roads and by boat in some seasons.

• Access: Many visits include short boat trips or drives along tidal waterways - local travel logistics are often dominated by small roads and river transport.
• Site character: Archaeological investigations are ongoing and much of the site consists of low mounds and earthworks rather than large standing monuments, so interpretation is aided by on-site signage or a guide.

What to See#

• Angkor Borei site: The archaeological site consisting of mounded earthworks, occupation layers and scattered ruins representing an early urban center associated with state-level activity in the first millennium CE.
• Phnom Da hill-temple: A small hilltop temple complex dating to the early medieval period (commonly assigned to the 6th century) located a short distance from the low-lying settlement remains, with visible masonry and carved stone fragments on the hill.

The now-quiet town of Angkor Borei once lay at the heart of the pre-Angkorian kingdoms of Funan and Water Chenla. Temples and statuary found in the area date from the 5th to 7th centuries, while excavations have unearthed human remains reaching back to the 2nd century BC. Important religious and trading centres, Angkor Borei and neighbouring Phnom Da were linked to the Mekong delta, in what is now southern Vietnam, by man-made canals crossing the flat, flooded terrain. More recent channels connect the area to Takeo, and the speedboat ride between them is an exhilarating way to spot exotic birds and even snakes slipping through the water.

The town’s small museum holds a modest but remarkable collection of Buddhist and Hindu statuary in the Phnom Da style, including stone tablets bearing some of the earliest known use of the Khmer language; the finest three towering black sandstone images are displayed at the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Rarely visited, the museum rewards the effort, and the sleepy riverside town is a pleasure to wander afterwards.