Hidden among the sprawling roots and ruins of Ta Prohm, one of Angkor’s most atmospheric temples, lies a carving that has sparked fascination, debate, and a good deal of sensationalism. The temple, commissioned in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, is famous for its massive silk-cotton trees entwined with stone walls. Yet for many modern visitors, one small relief steals the spotlight: a curious animal motif that some claim depicts a dinosaur.
The carving in question is found on a doorway pilaster in Gopura III, east of the central sanctuary. It is one of a vertical series of medallions, each encircling an animal. Within one of these roundels appears a squat, four-legged creature in profile with a row of lobe-like forms on its arched back. At first glance, these lobes resemble the distinctive plates of a Stegosaurus, a dinosaur that lived some 150 million years ago.
A dinosaur carving on a 12th century temple. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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