Sandstone Quarrying at Phnom Kulen

Following Jayavarman II's establishment of the Khmer Empire at Phnom Kulen in 802 CE, engineers began systematic quarrying of sandstone from the mountain's Jurassic-era geological formations. Archaeological surveys have documented over 50 quarry sites along the southeastern foothills, bearing chisel marks, wedge holes, and step-cut surfaces. Workers extracted gray to yellowish-brown sandstone blocks using pickaxes and long chisels, then transported them via wooden rollers, sledges, and canal networks to construction sites, supplying material for centuries of Khmer temple construction.