Spean Thma Stone Bridge

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Spean Thma Stone Bridge

Cambodia

Siem Reap

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Overview

‘Spean Thma’ literally translates to 'Stone Bridge'. Spean Thma is the remnants of an ancient bridge over the Siem Reap River. The bridge has been reconstructed several times over the centuries. As it currently stands the bridge is of post-Angkorian construction, employing carved stone from earlier temples. It sits just to the side of the river, indicating how much the course has shifted over the years, possibly in part due to the build up of sediment and obstruction caused by the bridge. You will pass by it on your way between Angkor Thom and Ta Keo. It is located just a couple of feet off the road.

Spean Thma (Khmer: ស្ពានថ្ម) in Angkor, Cambodia is known as the bridge of stone and it is located west of Ta Keo. It is one of the few Khmer Empire era bridges to have survived to the modern day.

It was built on the former path of the Siem Reap River between Angkor Thom and the Eastern Baray and it was probably rebuilt after the Khmer period (around the 15th century), as it includes many reused sandstone blocks.

The 14 narrow arches are 1.10 m wide.

Several other bridges on the same model are visible: in the Angkor site (Spean Memai) and at several locations of the former empire. On the road from Angkor to Beng Mealea, the Spean Praptos is one of the longest with 25 arches.

Spean Thmar is located 200 meters (656 feet) east of Thommanon. It can be accessed by walk to the side of the road and down the path.

BACKGROUND

Spean Thma is a bridge constructed of reused blocks of sandstone of varying shapes and sizes, which suggests it was built to replace an earlier one.

Spean Thmar

The orientation of the bridge seems odd because the course of the river has changed. The river one flows along the right side of the bridge of under its arches.