Hermitages in the Orbit of Vat Phou: New Archaeological Data from Tham In Seua and Tham Lek

Jean‑Baptiste Chevance1*, Chloé Chollet2,3, NHOEM Sophorn1, Chanpenh Phommavandy3, and Amphai Butphachith4

Tham Hin Seua and Tham Lek, two rock hermitages located on the slopes of Mount Phou Kao, a few

hundred meters north of the Vat Phou sanctuary in the Lao PDR, were the subject of archaeological excavations in January and February 2026 as part of the CHAMPA project. Carried out with a view to future tourism development, this work revealed that these rock shelters, previously only briefly mentioned and poorly documented in the scientific literature, were the focus of a large-scale religious activity, with unexpected and original constructions, near one of the major sacred sites of the ancient Khmer territory. This presentation outlines the main characteristics of these two hermitages while linking them to the lineage of eremitic sites from the Angkorian period already studied, notably those of Phnom Kulen, in the Angkor region of present-day Cambodia. From the organization of the interior and exterior spaces of these rock shelters, to the multitude of remains attesting to wooden architecture or occasional occupation of surrounding rocks, as well as the structures associated with them, this presentation summarizes these initial findings, which allow us to re-examine the history of these sites and better characterise their occupation. More broadly, these results highlight the integration of these rock shelters into the massif's unique topography, the connections their occupants may have maintained with the sanctuary of Vat Phou and underscore the importance of hermitages located within the sphere of influence of the major Angkorian religious centres.