A joint Laotian-French archaeological team has announced the discovery of a 7th-century brick temple complex in the remote jungles of Champasak Province. The structure is identified as belonging to the Chenla period, a precursor to the Khmer Empire, and contains a remarkably preserved stone statue of Harihara—a syncretic deity representing both Shiva and Vishnu.
The temple's architecture features high-relief brickwork with floral motifs that differ significantly from the later Angkorian styles found at nearby Vat Phou. The presence of the Harihara icon suggest strong cultural links with early maritime trade routes that connected the Mekong delta with the Indian subcontinent. Researchers believe this site may have been a vital administrative and religious center for the southern Chenla principalities.