A high-tech LiDAR survey conducted in the dense jungles of Koh Kong Province has identified a previously unknown Khmer temple complex dating back to the 10th or 11th century. Dedicated to the 'Lord of the Clouds' (a local manifestation of Shiva), the brick sanctuary is elevated on a massive artificial terrace and features intact jade-inlaid altars within its central tower.
The remote location suggests that the site functioned as a strategic high-altitude ritual center, possibly linked to the spiritual management of the monsoon and water resources in the surrounding valley. The discovery expands the known extent of the Khmer Empire's architectural footprint into the coastal mountain ranges of Cambodia, where fewer structural remains have traditionally been found. Ground teams have already recovered several small bronze statues of celestial guardians from the site.