NASA technology developed for use on the Mars rovers has been used to reveal over 200 centuries-old paintings on the walls of one of the world's most famous Buddhist temples.
Angkor Wat, with its impressive carved stone centerpiece, is the symbol of Cambodia and is visited by well over a million people every year.
The ancient graffiti detailed in a recent study has laid there unnoticed for hundreds of years, hidden in plain sight behind the natural coloration of the walls.
NASA "decor-relation stretch analysis," previously used to distinguish variations in color on the predominantly red planet Mars, revealed drawings of elephants, lions and boats among many other images that amazed archaeologists.
"While some of these paintings have been interpreted as acts of vandalism, the placement and elaboration ... of some suggest that they were purposefully drawn as artistic adornment," said the study published in the world archaeological journal, Antiquity.
Researcher Noel Tan first photographed the walls on a visit to the temple in 2010, but it was only later that he discovered what he had captured.
"The paintings ... seem to belong to a specific phase of the temple's history in 16th century AD when it was converted from Vishnavaite Hindu use to Theravada Buddhist," the study says.
Images of 20 different paintings have been released showing beautiful etching of animals, including one of a pair of elephants facing each other that has gone unnoticed in the south entrance chamber as thousands passed by every day.
Many feel the previously lost images could give archaeologists new insight into this little-known period in Cambodia's history.a
Credit content: Chron
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