Plain bedrock chamber with circular designs found under Angkor Borei and Phnom Da. An underground vault was found carved directly into solid bedrock inside a remote cliff at Angkor Borei and Phnom Da, Cambodia The chamber is completely plain, with no statues, carvings, or relief work, unlike other sacred sites in Cambodia which typically feature intricate carvings, gods, and inscriptions The wall features a distinct design: a small circle at the top, a large circle in the middle, and a small circle below

Deep inside a remote cliff at Mahendra Parvata in Cambodia, researchers discovered an underground vault carved directly into solid bedrock. What makes it unusual? It's completely plain — no statues, carvings, or inscriptions unlike most sacred sites in the region. The only decoration is a wall marking: a small circle above a large circle and another small one below. Wide enough for several people to sit, its purpose remains a mystery, though some think it served as an acoustic or spiritual chamber. 🏛️

Key Facts

  • An underground vault was found carved directly into solid bedrock inside a remote cliff at Angkor Borei and Phnom Da, Cambodia
  • The chamber is completely plain, with no statues, carvings, or relief work, unlike other sacred sites in Cambodia which typically feature intricate carvings, gods, and inscriptions
  • The wall features a distinct design: a small circle at the top, a large circle in the middle, and a small circle below
  • The vault is wide enough for several people to sit inside and is hypothesized to be an acoustic or spiritual chamber
  • Previously documented tiny hidden cavities inside Naga and elephant statues across Cambodia were too small for a human to enter

Related site: Angkor Borei and Phnom Da — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.