These Newly Copied Sculptures Go Viral on Social Media
As images of Cambodia’s ancient sculptures are frequently circulated on social media, a claim said several pieces of sculptures from the Angkorian period were discovered after a pond was dried up. The claim has been viral since last weekend. After an interview with the original author of the photos, however, we found the claim is misleading.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A claim going viral on social media last weekend said several pieces of sculptures from the Angkorian period were recovered after a pond was dried up due to hot weather.
The claim was circulated with two images of several pieces of sculpture. Then, the claimant also called upon the preservation of the newly discovered sculptures.
The claim has been widely shared and commented on by a large number of Khmer-speaking social media users since last weekend.
Here is the capture of the claim posted on Facebook on May 06, 2023, saying “Breaking: Please bring them to a museum 06/05/2023. The hot weather dried up a pond, and then several pieces of sculptures from the Angkorian period were recovered. The location is not near to any archeological site.”
The same claim was also posted by another Facebook user and go a lot of shares and a mixture of comments from social media users. Below is the capture of the Facebook post.
The claim is more viral after a Facebook page ASEAN Society & Culture circulated last weekend before it was edited a few days ago. Below is the capture of the Facebook post after correction.
However, the post has been widely recirculated by other social media users and got a lot of shares and comments.
Below is the capture of the Facebook post saying “KHMER | Wow Amazing Cambodia. The hot weather dried up a pond, and then several pieces of sculptures from the Angkorian period were recovered. The location is not near any archeological site.”
The same claim has been posted by other Facebook pages and users. Please see them here 1 (archived), 2 (archived), 3 (archived), and 4 (archived).
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began checking the claim by running Google Reverse Image Search and interviewing the original author of the photos. Then, we found out the facts below.
By running a Google Reverse Image Search, we found the original author of the two photos showing several pieces of sculptures.
The original author of the photos is a Facebook user named Panharit Ky who posted the photo and its caption last week, saying they were newly copied from the Angkorian period.
Below is the capture of his Facebook post on May 06, 2023, saying “The sculptures are newly copied. The hot weather dried up a pond, and then several pieces of the sculptures from the Angkorian period were recovered. The location is not near any archeological site. New copy.”
Fact Crescendo Cambodia talked on the phone with Ky Panharit yesterday, and he clarified the sculptures are not from the ancient period, but they are newly sculpted by a local sculptor in Banteay Meanchey province.
Panharit added he took the photos when he was on a mission as a public official in the Svay Check district last week and that all pieces of the sculptures are newly sculpted. They are not from the Angkorian period at all.
Below is the interview with Ky Panharit who talked on the phone with Fact Crescendo Cambodia on May 11, 2023.
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found out the claim mentioned earlier is misleading. All pieces of the sculptures are not from the ancient Angkorian period. They are newly copied by local sculptors in Banteay Meanchey province.
Title:These Newly Copied Sculptures Go Viral on Social Media
Fact Check By: Jay UdomResult: Misleading
