This is a sandstone lintel, which originated from Svay Chrum District, Svay Rieng Province, in eastern Cambodia. It is housed in the collection of the National Museum of Cambodia. According to the carving style, this lintel belongs to the early 7th century CE.
Generally, lintels created at that time feature an oval cartouche with the deity image in the middle. Different from this, instead this lintel features an image of triad Brahmanism deities. They are rather eroded, but we are still able to identify the central image of Shiva sitting on the bull, Nandin.
On his right is Vishnu, who identified by four arms and four attributes: a Conch and a Chakra in the two left arms, a stick and a round object in other two on the right. On Shiva’s left is Brahma, who identified by one face in the center and two on each side. Usually, the heads of a mythical Makara would feature with an image of a deity sitting on it.
But due to erosion, it’s impossible to tell exactly what characters on top these heads. However, on the right is what appears to be a monkey holding an object, and on the left is what look like a human posing a similar gesture.
Researchers who studying the evolution of Khmer art believe this lintel predates the Sambo Prey Kuk temples, and could even be the ancestor of the Sambo Prey Kuk style, that was concentrated in the region of Stung Treng and Kratie provinces. Although this lintel was found in Svay Rieng Province, which is further to southeast in Cambodia. This has led researchers to establish a separate period for Khmer art, which could be called the Taraboriwat style.
However, this new style is still under discussion among the art experts. This style is generally characterized by images of a mythical creature, Makara, at both ends of the lintel, which face inward with the mouth biting or spitting out a bow which is part of the decoration on the lintel. The space below the bow feature carving a floral festoon. Above it, there is an oval carving with deity image in the center, which is different from the Sambo Prey Kuk style, that has instead three oval shapes.