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Archaeology & History

Enormous spiral structure found at Angkor Wat

By T.K. Randall
December 11, 2015 · Comment icon 5 comments

Angkor Wat receives millions of visitors every year. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 2.0 Sam Garza
The huge mile-long structure was found alongside eight buried towers at the ancient site in Cambodia.
Originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire over 800 years ago, Angor Wat remains the single largest religious monument in the world.

In its center there lies a 213ft-tall central tower surrounded by four smaller towers - a layout that researchers believe was intended to have astronomical significance.

Now archaeologists working at the site have announced the discovery of a further eight towers as well as a huge mile-long spiral structure that dates back to the temple's original construction.
"This structure, which has dimensions of more than 1,500m × 600m (about 1 mile by 1,970 feet) is the most striking discovery associated with Angkor Wat to date," said Professor Roland Fletcher.

"Its function remains unknown and, as yet, it has no known equivalent in the Angkorian world."

Some researchers have suggested that the spiral may have been used as a garden however this function would have been short-lived as a canal was cut through it only a few decades later.

It is also likely that it would have had some sort of ritualistic or spiritual significance.

Source: Live Science | Comments (5)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by pallidin 8 years ago
That place never ceases to amaze.
Comment icon #2 Posted by Paranomali 8 years ago
Beautiful place for sure, amazing
Comment icon #3 Posted by DieChecker 8 years ago
I think a garden is very likely, as might be ritualistic walking paths.
Comment icon #4 Posted by fred_mc 8 years ago
The spiral shape seems to be a pretty common shape in the ancient world. It exists on stone carvings from the bronze age here in Scandinavia, and I remember having seen on TV about an ancient spiral-shaped "labyrinth" somewhere here in Sweden as well. Probably, it has some religious ritualistic purpose.
Comment icon #5 Posted by Captain Dumbass 8 years ago
Spiral + Humans / (Aliens(*space)+craft) = Galaxy


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