APSARA National Authority Excavating Western Area of Angkor Wat

APSARA National Authority and the University of Hawaii have collaborated to study the evolution of "Theravada Buddhism", focusing on the evolution of the local community from the pre-Angkor to the post-Angkor period when the "pagoda" replaced the Angkorian temple, becoming the core of the community, said in a news release of the authority on Jan. 18.

According to LiDAR data, settlements in the northwestern area of Angkor Wat in the 12th century were demolished around the post-Angkor period.

Mr. Tin Tina, Deputy Director of the Department of Research, Training, and Communication of APSARA National Authority said that APSARA National Authority has cooperated with the University of Hawaii to excavate to find out the reasons for the changes in urban structure and population in the Angkor area from the 13th century onwards.

Therefore, in response to the above objectives, the research team opened 20 excavation pits measuring 1x2m at the mounds and ponds in the Angkor Wat Temple complex. In addition, to obtain more data, researchers have dug another 104 pits. This research project started on Nov. 21, 2022 to Jan. 20, 2023, he added.

Mr. Tina explained that the data obtained from this excavation allows us to understand the human community in Angkor, which may respond to several major historical factors, such as the transition to Buddhism, the decline of Angkor civilisation, and the move of the capital to the south (around Phnom Penh) and the short time return of the kingdom power in the 16th century.

He added that in 2019-2020, the research team of both institutions also conducted excavations in Daun Pok, Kork Bak, and Kork Kong in the area of Wat Athvea, Kork Roka, and Kork Prey Ampil in the area of Wat Chetdei as well as Kork Prey Ampil Lech in the area of Wat Prey Pdao. The purpose of this excavation was to collect data from communities living in rural areas of Angkor.

Dr. Heng Pipal, Archeologist at the University of Hawaii and head of the research project, said the excavation was aimed at exploring the changing structure of the city. This scientific change was related to the landscape (general landscape), and how the topography that people used to live has changed. In terms of major histories, such as the conversion of Hinduism to Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism in the 13th century, what impact did it have on the people who once lived in the Angkor site and the countryside around Angkor? On the other hand, the historical event that we have known for a long time was the change of Angkor, whether it was the abandonment of Angkor or not.

From Nov. 21, 2022 to Jan. 17, 2023, researchers from the APSARA National Authority and experts from the University of Hawaii in the United States excavated 20 archeological pits. In the excavation pits, the laterite foundations of the Theravada Buddhism pagoda were found, with sandstone boundary stones (Bai Sema) encircling them in eight directions, as well as pottery fragments and charcoal fragments used by ancient people. These samples can be used to experiment to get the answers in the future.

Since 2013, researchers have been digging in the eastern mounds of Angkor Wat, finding grapefruit peels, rice, and cotton seeds left over from ancient times.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press