DOCSLIB.ORG

The End of Angkor?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The End of Angkor? The End of Angkor? The Modification and Re-use of Angkor Wat David Brotherson 2011 A thesis submitted as partial requirement for the fulfilment of a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sydney, Australia. For my parents Abstract Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, was built in the mid 12th century AD and has been continuously occupied ever since. Angkor Wat was the jewel in the crown of Greater Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire. Over 800 years have passed since its construction and during this long period the context of Angkor Wat and Greater Angkor has changed significantly. Once the capital of the Khmer Empire, in the 15th and 16th centuries as the apparatus of the state moved to the Southeast, Greater Angkor came to be on the periphery of the Khmer world. In a similar manner, as Khmer society changed, the originally Vaisnavite temple Angkor Wat came to be hallowed by Theravada Buddhist monks. Throughout these political and social changes Angkor Wat itself has changed – the temple features modifications which postdate the original construction phase. The fourth enclosure wall is one such component which has undergone several modifications. The wall, which clearly demonstrates more than one construction phase, is covered in several thousand postholes. The postholes, which are located along the upper part of the inside face and on top of the wall, have never been studied before. This thesis seeks to answer two questions: 1) What was the purpose of the postholes?, and 2) When were the postholes made? To answer these questions the postholes were surveyed. The results of a detailed survey show that the distribution of and relationship between the postholes is consistent over a considerable distance. The relationship between the postholes and the construction phases of the wall establishes a relative chronology. The nature of the modifications to the wall and the location of the postholes indicate that they were supports for the framework of a defensive platform and palisade. The absolute date of these defensive works is as yet unknown, however the likely historical context suggests they were installed sometime between the late 16th century and the early 17th century AD. i Statement of Authorship The research described in this thesis, except where referenced, is the original work of the author and was a discrete project supervised by Prof. Roland Fletcher. This thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis presented by me for another degree or diploma. This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any other tertiary institution. No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main text of the thesis. David Brotherson 2011 ii Acknowledgements – Many thanks... Being a latecomer to the study of Archaeology (and the Arts in general) there are many factors which have led me to the accomplishment of this thesis, and credit must be given where it is due. First of all I would like to thank Professor Roland Fletcher. Unaware of how I wanted to pursue my Honours thesis I am indebted to Professor Fletcher for offering me this task in the first place. Initially, the process of surveying the enclosure wall of Angkor Wat seemed nothing short of a Herculian labour but what had originally seemed so daunting evolved into a truly enjoyable experience. Roland’s wealth of experience and near limitless enthusiasm for this project has made a world of difference. Furthermore, the resources of the Greater Angkor Project which were left at my disposal were instrumental in making this dissertation what it has come to be. Special thanks I owe to Dr Mitch Hendrickson took me along the long, bumpy road to Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and showed me the ropes in the field, as well as providing much sought after advice during the research process. Equally I am indebted to Dr Christophe Pottier, whose decades of experience and encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Angkorian is a force with which to be reckoned. Likewise I owe my thanks to Dr Damian Evans, Dr Georgie Lloyd and Dr Dougald O’Reilly, all of whom made my stay and studies in Cambodia that much more productive and enjoyable. Special thanks to Dr Martin Polkinghorne who liaised and organised additional field surveys around Angkor while I was in absentia. I also extend gratitude to Gabrielle Ewington, Luke Benbow and Till Sonnemann for much thought provoking discussion, especially Gabrielle for her knowledge of Middle Period matters and Till for opening the discussion on the issue of cannon warfare. Thanks also to Dr Martin King for his technical assistance and to Dr Andrew Wilson for making my experience with ArcGIS a marginally less frustrating ordeal1. A special mention goes to Dr Wayne Johnson, who aside from being a most informative and “off the beaten path” tour guide around Siem Reap, introduced me to the wonders of Angkor, wonders of which I confess to being ignorant until I took his class on European colonialism in 2nd year (2006). My fieldwork at Angkor Wat would not have been possible without the hard work, competence and bilingual talents of Kasper Hanus, Suy Pov and Han Chenda. Likewise my experiences in Cambodia would have been lacking if it were not for the friendship and experience of Dr Phon Kaseka, Chan Sovichetra and So Malay. In addition, this year would have been significantly duller without the friendship and group therapy to be found in the Honours class social club (past and present). Thanks also to all my friends from the various contexts of my life – you guys made the whole process bearable by listening to me carry on about postholes. Finally, I need to thank my family. For my Mum, Dad, and brother Gavin I have the utmost love and respect. Thank you for having the patience to see me through this long and winding journey. All good things to those who wait, right? PS - It would be rude of me if I didn’t thank that ancient, inquisitive, anonymous ancestor of ours who took the time to find just the right combination of water, hops, malt and yeast – and then proceeded to let it sit for a couple of weeks. That seminal body of research made the writing up of this project all the more amicable. Whoever you are – I salute you! 1 Seriously though, thank you Andrew. iii Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements – Many thanks... ....................................................................................... iii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. x 1. Angkor Wat – A Monumental Puzzle ................................................................................ 1 The Problem – The Postholes ................................................................................................. 5 Misconceptions ....................................................................................................................... 7 Change and Continuity ........................................................................................................... 7 Walls = Defence Mechanisms? ............................................................................................... 8 Thesis Outline ....................................................................................................................... 10 2. Angkor Wat in Context .................................................................................................... 11 The Khmer State ................................................................................................................... 11 Ancestry ............................................................................................................................ 11 Foundation ........................................................................................................................ 15 The Formation and Layout of the Capital - Greater Angkor ............................................. 15 State Structure and Operations ........................................................................................ 17 Labour and Resources ................................................................................................... 18 Temple Construction ..................................................................................................... 18 Angkorian Religions ...................................................................................................... 19 Angkor Wat .......................................................................................................................... 21 The Later History of Angkor ................................................................................................. 22 Conclusions........................................................................................................................... 24 3. Boundaries: Function and Form ...................................................................................... 25 The Global Perspective – The Boundary’s Function............................................................. 25 Separation and Ordering of Space ...................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Comparison of Buddhist Music and Dance Between Ancient Cambodian and Yunnan Minority Peoples After Reading the Customs of Cambodia
    A Comparison of Buddhist Music and Dance Between Ancient Cambodian and Yunnan Minority Peoples After Reading The Customs of Cambodia Yang Minkang (Music Research Institute, The Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing) [Summary] Over 700 years ago, The Customs of Cambodia was written by Zhou Daguan. It provided a detailed, reliable record and description of the Buddhist culture of Chenla, describing the Buddhist sects, characteristics of temples, Theravada rituals, ritual music activities, and related folklore activities. Compared with the music of some Yunnan ethnic groups that believe in Theravada, such as Dai, Blang, De’ang, etc, they all have some common features. In the vast sea of Chinese historical records, this is another important historical document that records ceremonies and ritual music and dance in detail after the Pyu Music.1 It helps us to understand the ins and outs of Theravada music and dance culture in China today, it also sheds light on the research of Theravada’s cultural history in Southeast Asia. [Keywords] The Customs of Cambodia, Dai Minority, Blang Minority, Theravada, Ritual music. [Chinese Library Classification] J607， J608, J609.2 [Document Code] A [Article ID] 1008－9667（2009）03－0027－08 During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Chenla which was a vassal state of Funan, began to rise. Its original territories included today's northern Cambodia and southern Laos. Around the mid-6th century, A.D, Chenla annexed the eastern border area of Funan and gradually became stronger. In the 7th century, it eventually replaced Funan and became the most powerful Indianized countries in Southeast Asia. During the Song2 and Yuan3 dynasties, this country that once belonged to Funan grew stronger.
    [Show full text]
  • Culture & History Story of Cambodia
    CHAM CULTURE & HISTORY STORY OF CAMBODIA FARINA SO, VANNARA ORN - DOCUMENTATION CENTER OF CAMBODIA R KILLEAN, R HICKEY, L MOFFETT, D VIEJO-ROSE CHAM CULTURE & HISTORY STORYﺷﻤﺲ ISBN-13: 978-99950-60-28-2 OF CAMBODIA R Killean, R Hickey, L Moffett, D Viejo-Rose Farina So, Vannara Orn - 1 - Documentation Center of Cambodia ζរចងាំ និង យុត្ិធម៌ Memory & Justice មជ䮈មណ䮌លឯក羶រកម្宻ᾶ DOCUMENTATION CENTER OF CAMBODIA (DC-CAM) Villa No. 66, Preah Sihanouk Boulevard Phnom Penh, 12000 Cambodia Tel.: + 855 (23) 211-875 Fax.: + 855 (23) 210-358 E-mail: [email protected] CHAM CULTURE AND HISTORY STORY R Killean, R Hickey, L Moffett, D Viejo-Rose Farina So, Vannara Orn 1. Cambodia—Law—Human Rights 2. Cambodia—Politics and Government 3. Cambodia—History Funding for this project was provided by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council: ‘Restoring Cultural Property and Communities After Conflict’ (project reference AH/P007929/1). DC-Cam receives generous support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The views expressed in this book are the points of view of the authors only. Include here a copyright statement about the photos used in the booklet. The ones sent by Belfast were from Creative Commons, or were from the authors, except where indicated. Copyright © 2018 by R Killean, R Hickey, L Moffett, D Viejo-Rose & the Documentation Center of Cambodia. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
    [Show full text]
  • Towards a Christian Pastoral Approach to Cambodian Culture
    Thesis Title: Towards a Christian Pastoral Approach to Cambodian Culture In fulfilment of the requirements of Master’s in Theology (Missiology) Submitted by: Gerard G. Ravasco Supervised by: Dr. Bill Domeris, Ph D March, 2004 Towards a Christian Pastoral Approach to Cambodian Culture Table of Contents Page Chapter 1 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 The world we live in 1 1.2 The particular world we live in 1 1.3 Our target location: Cambodia 2 1.4 Our Particular Challenge: Cambodian Culture 2 1.5 An Invitation to Inculturation 3 1.6 My Personal Context 4 1.6.1 My Objectives 4 1.6.2 My Limitations 5 1.6.3 My Methodology 5 Chapter 2 2.0 Religious Influences in Early Cambodian History 6 2.1 The Beginnings of a People 6 2.2 Early Cambodian Kingdoms 7 2.3 Funan 8 2.4 Zhen-la 10 2.5 The Founding of Angkor 12 2.6 Angkorean Kingship 15 2.7 Theravada Buddhism and the Post Angkorean Crisis 18 2.8 An Overview of Christianity 19 2.9 Conclusion 20 Chapter 3 3.0 Religions that influenced Cambodian Culture 22 3.1 Animism 22 3.1.1 Animism as a Philosophical Theory 22 3.1.2 Animism as an Anthropological Theory 23 3.1.2.1 Tylor’s Theory 23 3.1.2.2 Counter Theories 24 3.1.2.3 An Animistic World View 24 3.1.2.4 Ancestor Veneration 25 3.1.2.5 Shamanism 26 3.1.3 Animism in Cambodian Culture 27 3.1.3.1 Spirits reside with us 27 3.1.3.2 Spirits intervene in daily life 28 3.1.3.3 Spirit’s power outside Cambodia 29 3.2 Brahmanism 30 3.2.1 Brahmanism and Hinduism 30 3.2.2 Brahmin Texts 31 3.2.3 Early Brahmanism or Vedism 32 3.2.4 Popular Brahmanism 33 3.2.5 Pantheistic Brahmanism
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix Appendix
    APPENDIX APPENDIX DYNASTIC LISTS, WITH GOVERNORS AND GOVERNORS-GENERAL Burma and Arakan: A. Rulers of Pagan before 1044 B. The Pagan dynasty, 1044-1287 C. Myinsaing and Pinya, 1298-1364 D. Sagaing, 1315-64 E. Ava, 1364-1555 F. The Toungoo dynasty, 1486-1752 G. The Alaungpaya or Konbaung dynasty, 1752- 1885 H. Mon rulers of Hanthawaddy (Pegu) I. Arakan Cambodia: A. Funan B. Chenla C. The Angkor monarchy D. The post-Angkor period Champa: A. Linyi B. Champa Indonesia and Malaya: A. Java, Pre-Muslim period B. Java, Muslim period C. Malacca D. Acheh (Achin) E. Governors-General of the Netherlands East Indies Tai Dynasties: A. Sukhot'ai B. Ayut'ia C. Bangkok D. Muong Swa E. Lang Chang F. Vien Chang (Vientiane) G. Luang Prabang 954 APPENDIX 955 Vietnam: A. The Hong-Bang, 2879-258 B.c. B. The Thuc, 257-208 B.C. C. The Trieu, 207-I I I B.C. D. The Earlier Li, A.D. 544-602 E. The Ngo, 939-54 F. The Dinh, 968-79 G. The Earlier Le, 980-I009 H. The Later Li, I009-I225 I. The Tran, 1225-I400 J. The Ho, I400-I407 K. The restored Tran, I407-I8 L. The Later Le, I4I8-I8o4 M. The Mac, I527-I677 N. The Trinh, I539-I787 0. The Tay-Son, I778-I8o2 P. The Nguyen Q. Governors and governors-general of French Indo­ China APPENDIX DYNASTIC LISTS BURMA AND ARAKAN A. RULERS OF PAGAN BEFORE IOH (According to the Burmese chronicles) dat~ of accusion 1. Pyusawti 167 2. Timinyi, son of I 242 3· Yimminpaik, son of 2 299 4· Paikthili, son of 3 .
    [Show full text]
  • Women in Cambodia – Analysing the Role and Influence of Women in Rural Cambodian Society with a Special Focus on Forming Religious Identity
    WOMEN IN CAMBODIA – ANALYSING THE ROLE AND INFLUENCE OF WOMEN IN RURAL CAMBODIAN SOCIETY WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON FORMING RELIGIOUS IDENTITY by URSULA WEKEMANN submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF THEOLOGY in the subject MISSIOLOGY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: DR D C SOMMER CO-SUPERVISOR: PROF R W NEL FEBRUARY 2016 1 ABSTRACT This study analyses the role and influence of rural Khmer women on their families and society, focusing on their formation of religious identity. Based on literature research, the role and influence of Khmer women is examined from the perspectives of history, the belief systems that shape Cambodian culture and thinking, and Cambodian social structure. The findings show that although very few Cambodian women are in high leadership positions, they do have considerable influence, particularly within the household and extended family. Along the lines of their natural relationships they have many opportunities to influence the formation of religious identity, through sharing their lives and faith in words and deeds with the people around them. A model based on Bible storying is proposed as a suitable strategy to strengthen the natural influence of rural Khmer women on forming religious identity and use it intentionally for the spreading of the gospel in Cambodia. KEY WORDS Women, Cambodia, rural Khmer, gender, social structure, family, religious formation, folk-Buddhism, evangelization. 2 Student number: 4899-167-8 I declare that WOMEN IN CAMBODIA – ANALYSING THE ROLE AND INFLUENCE OF WOMEN IN RURAL CAMBODIAN SOCIETY WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON FORMING RELIGIOUS IDENTITY is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.
    [Show full text]
  • Reclamation and Regeneration of the Ancient Baray
    RECLAMATION AND REGENERATION OF THE ANCIENT BARAY A Proposal for Phimai Historical Park Olmtong Ektanitphong December 2014 Submitted towards the fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Architecture Degree. School of Architecture University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Doctorate Project Committee Kazi K. Ashraf, Chairperson William R. Chapman, Committee Member Pornthum Thumwimol, Committee Member ACKNOWLEDMENTS I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my committee chair, Professor Kazi K. Ashraf, who has the attitude and the substance of a genius: he continually and convincingly a spirit of adventure in regard to research and the design, and excitement in regard to teaching. Without his guidance and persistent help this dissertation would not have been possible. I would like to thank my committee members, Professor William R. Chapman and Dr. Pornthum Thumwimol, whose work demonstrated to me that concern for archaeological aspects of Khmer and Thai culture. They supported me immensely throughout the period of my dissertation. Their valuable advice and discussions guided me to the end-result of this study. I highly appreciated for their generally being a good uncle and brother as well as a supervisor. In addition, a thank you to the director, archaeologists, academic officers and administration staff at Phimai Historical Park and at the Fine Arts Department of Thailand, who gave me such valuable information and discussion. Specially, thank you to Mr. Teerachat veerayuttanond, my supervisor during internship with The Fine Arts Department of Thailand, who first introduced me to Phimai Town and took me on the site survey at Phimai Town. Last but not least, I would like to thank University of Hawaii for giving me the opportunity for my study research and design.
    [Show full text]
  • A STUDY of the NAMES of MONUMENTS in ANGKOR (Cambodia)
    A STUDY OF THE NAMES OF MONUMENTS IN ANGKOR (Cambodia) NHIM Sotheavin Sophia Asia Center for Research and Human Development, Sophia University Introduction This article aims at clarifying the concept of Khmer culture by specifically explaining the meanings of the names of the monuments in Angkor, names that have existed within the Khmer cultural community.1 Many works on Angkor history have been researched in different fields, such as the evolution of arts and architecture, through a systematic analysis of monuments and archaeological excavation analysis, and the most crucial are based on Cambodian epigraphy. My work however is meant to shed light on Angkor cultural history by studying the names of the monuments, and I intend to do so by searching for the original names that are found in ancient and middle period inscriptions, as well as those appearing in the oral tradition. This study also seeks to undertake a thorough verification of the condition and shape of the monuments, as well as the mode of affixation of names for them by the local inhabitants. I also wish to focus on certain crucial errors, as well as the insufficiency of earlier studies on the subject. To begin with, the books written in foreign languages often have mistakes in the vocabulary involved in the etymology of Khmer temples. Some researchers are not very familiar with the Khmer language, and besides, they might not have visited the site very often, or possibly also they did not pay too much attention to the oral tradition related to these ruins, a tradition that might be known to the village elders.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Did Chinese Call Cambodia Chenla
    [email protected] The History of Cambodia from 1st Century to 20th Century [5] Why did Chinese call Cambodia “Chenla[s]”? SLK 05/02/2009 The architectural style of the shrine, which scholars call the pre-Angkorian Khmer style, is the progenitor of the Rolous group of monuments built in the ninth century in the vicinity of Angkor. Today it is still possible to visit the ruins of the two palaces on either side at the foot of the hill. Naga-shaped staircases are attached to the sides of the palaces and rise to the hilltop in the company of enormous trees. Human sacrifices were performed at the temple, ministered at night by the king of Zhenla. SLK v.2 [5] Why did Chinese call Cambodia “Chenla[s]”? Zhenla Period (550-802) THE first classical Chinese text to provide any detailed information on Zhenla is the Sui Annals, written in 627, seventy-seven years after the kingdom became established in 550. The Kingdom of Zhenla is south-west of Linyi (Champa). It was originally a vassal kingdom of Funan. It bordered Chequ on the south. The kingdom of Chu-ch’uang (Red River) on the west, and took six days’ travel by sea from Rinan. The family name of the king was Ch’a-li (Kshtriya); his personal name was She-to-ssu-na [Chitrasena]; his ancestors had gradually increased the power of the country. Chitrasena seized Funan and subdued it. Chitrasena died, and his son, Prince Isanavarman, succeeded him as king. This prince makes his residence in the city of I-she- na (Isanapura), which contains more than twenty thousand families.
    [Show full text]
  • {Download PDF} the Last King of Angkor
    THE LAST KING OF ANGKOR WAT PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Graeme Base | 36 pages | 16 Sep 2014 | Abrams Books For Young Readers | 9781419713545 | English | United States Angkor Wat | Description, Location, History, Restoration, & Facts | Britannica A foot metre bridge allows access to the site. The temple is reached by passing through three galleries, each separated by a paved walkway. The temple walls are covered with bas-relief sculptures of very high quality, representing Hindu gods and ancient Khmer scenes as well as scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. When he built a new capital nearby, Angkor Thom, he dedicated it to Buddhism. Thereafter, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist shrine, and many of its carvings and statues of Hindu deities were replaced by Buddhist art. In the early 15th century Angkor was abandoned. Still Theravada Buddhist monks maintained Angkor Wat, which remained an important pilgrimage site and continued to attract European visitors. In the 20th century various restoration programs were undertaken, but they were suspended amid the political unrest that engulfed Cambodia in the s. When work resumed in the mids, the required repairs were extensive. Notably, sections had to be dismantled and rebuilt. In the ensuing years, restoration efforts increased, and Angkor was removed from the danger list in Today Angkor Wat is one of the most important pilgrimage shrines in Southeast Asia and a popular tourist attraction. The temple complex appears on the Cambodian flag. Print Cite. Facebook Twitter. Give Feedback External Websites. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article requires login. External Websites. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature and Provenance of the Sandstone Used for Bayon Style Sculptures Produced During the Reign of Jayavarman VII
    Journal of Archaeological Science 40 (2013) 723e734 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Archaeological Science journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jas Nature and provenance of the sandstone used for Bayon style sculptures produced during the reign of Jayavarman VII Federico Carò a,*, Janet G. Douglas b a Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028, United States b Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, Freer Gallery of Art/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, United States article info abstract Article history: Under Jayavarman VII (1182/83-ca.1218 CE) the Khmer empire reached its apex, leaving a heritage of Received 13 June 2012 major construction works and unique artistic production. The stone materials of several sculptures Accepted 16 June 2012 produced under his reign were characterized and compared to possible geological sources in northern and eastern Cambodia. The data suggest that a specific type of sandstone, rich in volcanic detritus, was Keywords: deliberately selected and quarried from a Triassic sedimentary sequence exposed far from Angkor, the Petrography main political and economic center at that time. Volcanic grains Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Sandstone Sculptures Bayon Angkor Cambodia 1. Introduction The provenance of this sandstone and the location of the workshop have been the subject of much speculation. Some Under the reign of Jayavarman VII (1182/83-ca.1218 CE) many scholars have placed the source of stone used for both architecture significant construction projects were undertaken, such as major and sculpture of Bayon style in Phnom Kulen (Kulen Mountains), or roads, stone bridges, hospitals and temples, which testify to a deep more generically among the sandstones belonging to the Khorat interaction with the local environment and knowledge of its series (Delvert, 1963; Woodward, 1980; Jessup and Zephir, 1997).
    [Show full text]
  • The History of Cambodia from 1St Century to 20Th Century [1] What Does Kampuchea Mean in “Pali/Sanskrit”?
    [email protected] The History of Cambodia from 1st Century to 20th Century [1] What does Kampuchea mean in “Pali/Sanskrit”? SLK 05/02/2009 In 1967, archaeological excavations at Ban Chiang, in Udon Thani province of north-eastern Thailand, shed further light on the history and culture of the Khmers. The earliest excavations discovered hand-painted patterned ceramics in red colours, bronze weaponry, and jewellery from prehistoric times, excavations in 1974 and 1975 unearthed human remains, painted pottery, bronze spears and axes, bronze accessories, bronze casts, and glass-bead necklaces. The oldest and most precious item-a bronze spear with intricate patterns-was dated to 3600- 3900 BC, 600-900 years earlier than bronze vessels previously discovered in Asia Minor. SLK v.2 [1] What does Kampuchea mean “Pali/Sanskrit?” PIECING together what happened in prehistoric Cambodia, the period before Siamese and Yuonese colonization when written historical records were first well-kept in all Chinese texts and on the base-reliefs of Khmer Ancient Monuments. Many sources of information are used--data collected by linguists who study the movement of languages across Southeast Asia, remains from societies which have been excavated by archaeologists, historical documents kept by Chinese and travelers, and origin myths which are still told today about the beginning of Cambodia and its people. Cambodia is the transliterated name of Cambodja, the remnants of a once mighty Khmer empire that stretched out over much of Southeast Asia.1 Posted: Sun May 16, 2004 3:23 pm Post subject: Our History and misinterpretation History and Misinterpretation When I was young, I hated Vietnamese called me, Khmer.
    [Show full text]
  • Historie Routes to Angkor: Development of the Khmer Road System (Ninth to Thirteenth Centuries AD) in Mainland Southeast Asia Mitch Hendrickson*
    Historie routes to Angkor: development of the Khmer road system (ninth to thirteenth centuries AD) in mainland Southeast Asia Mitch Hendrickson* Road systems in the service of empires have long inspired archaeologists and ancient historians alike. Using etymology, textual analysis and Angkor archaeology the author deconstructs the road system of the Khmer, empire builders of early historic Cambodia. Far from being the creation of one king, the road system evolved organically to serve expeditions, pilgrimages Phnom . Penh ù <> and embedded exchange routes over several i centuries. The paper encourages us to regard road networks as a significant topic, worthy of comparative study on a global scale. N 0 ^ 200 Keywords: Cambodia, Khmer, roads, routes, communications Ancient road systems: context and methods of study Investigating the chronology of road systems is complicated by their frequent reuse over long time periods and because they are comprised of multiple archaeological components that range from site to regional scales (e.g. roads, resting places, crossing points, settlements, ceramics). The archaeologist studying road systems must identify and incorporate a variety of available data sets, including historic information, within a framework of operational principles that characterise state-level road building and use. Recent trends in the study of imperial states focus on socio-cultural issues, such as pov^'er and politico-economic organisation (see D'Altroy 1992; Sinopoli 1994; Morrison 2001) and concepts of boundaries ' Department of Archaeology. University af Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Email: [email protected]) Received: 28 Au^t 2009; Revised: ¡3 October 2009: Accepted: 12 January 2010 ANTlQUITy84 (2010): 480-496 http://antiquiiy.ac.uk/ant/84/ant840480.htni 480 Mitch Hendrickson (see Morrison 2001; Smith 2005).
    [Show full text]