Preah Ang Thom (Khmer: ព្រះអង្គធំ) is an 8 metres (26 ft) tall statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana.

After initial reconnaissances by French scholars, the historical relevance of Phnom Kulen was pointed out by Philippe Stern, who visited it in 1936 and described Rong Chen[5] as the first temple-mountain.

[6][7] In 1973 and 1979 Jean Boulbet and Bruno Dagens published the fundamental archeological inventory and mapping of Phonm Kulen.

In June 2013, an archaeological team announced the discovery and mapping of the ancient city of Mahendraparvata on the slopes of Phnom Kulen.

The multi-year expedition was notable for its use of Lidar technology to reveal the layout of the city from beneath jungle and earth.