Archaeology & History

Enormous spiral structure found at Angkor Wat

By T.K. Randall
December 11, 2015

Image: Angkor Wat
Credit: Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) 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

Tags: Angkor Wat