Sok Keo Sovannara

Sok Keo Sovannara is an archaeologist and independent researcher who has taken part in several research missions with the Nara Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Japan) and the Apsara National Authority.

Specializing in ancient ceramics and kiln sites, Keo Sovannara was also involved in the determination of the true gesture in King Jayavarman VII’s famous statue with missing arms: in 2019, it has been clarified that the ruler was represented doing the sampeah (សំពះ), the traditional Cambodian salutation posture expressing respect and meditative state.