Dating from the late 12th to the 13th century, Ta Prohm was an important temple monastery whose construction began during the reign of Jayavarman VII, later enlarged during the reign of Indravarman II. The French authority initially responsible for the restoration of the temples of Siem Reap elected to leave Ta Prohm in an essentially unrestored state as an example of how most of the temples of Angkor appeared at the time of their discovery in the 19th century. Some of the carvings that appear in niches along the walls and elsewhere at Ta Prohm are fine examples of the skill of the Khmer craftsmen.