Khmer Architecture and Art of the Angkor period
Wood: served as a model for the early monuments of the Angkor period. This influence is visible on the lintels and the pediment of Bonteay Srei and layout of some wooden structure of Bayon Temple.
These main types of building materials were use in Khmer architecture of Angkor period. The earliest monuments were built of brick.
Each layer was secured with vegetables base mater rather than mortar, and later was not used in Khmer architecture.
Sometimes the brick were caved after being put in place. The interiors of 2 towers of Prasat Kravan are particularly fine examples of this method.
At other time the brick was caved with plaster or stucco to provide a base for the delicate and details decorations.
Sandstone: began to replaced brick as the main building materials during 10th to 12th centuries on the monuments of the early Angkor period.
Sandstone was used for the doorframe s that were often cut from a single large block of stone. The door which would otherwise reveals a joint.
Besides it's suitability for carvings and it used for roofing pilasters lintels of the doorway by the 11th centuries sandstone was used for construction entire temples.
