Cambodia Preserves 1,095 Heritage Sites, Repatriates Over 1,100 Khmer Artifacts in 2025

PHNOM PENH, Feb 6, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia strengthened its cultural preservation efforts in 2025, conserving 1,095 heritage structures and sites and repatriating 1,158 Khmer artifacts from abroad, according to a year end report by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

Of the total, 939 sites underwent conservation beyond routine repairs, reflecting expanded efforts to safeguard historical structures. The ministry also restored and conserved 5,061 artifacts, artworks and ethnographic objects, including 4,937 items preserved through specialized measures.

The report said the ministry carried out 6,621 activities in 2025 — 1,398 planned and 5,223 unplanned. Although overall activities declined by 26.8 percent compared with 2024, key indicators in heritage preservation, human resource training, cultural events and film production exceeded annual targets.

In archaeological documentation, the ministry measured 18,530 sites, achieving 96.6 percent nationwide coverage. Of these, 3,162 sites now have official ownership records, while 657 remain unmeasured.

A highlight of the year was the return of 1,158 Khmer artifacts from overseas, including 40 items from institutions and 1,118 returned by individuals between January and November 2025.