The ceramics study is an essential process in all archaeological
work. Indeed, the three main information held by pottery
– that are the reason for their conservation and study after
archaeological excavations – concern the chronology, the
commercial and cultural exchanges, and the function of the
different places in a archaeological site. This is why working
on ceramics is an unrivalled way to know and understand
better the Khmer society.
The APSARA Authority is absolutely aware of the importance
of this study and, with the UNESCO encouragements, has created
a Ceramics Conservation Center (C.C.C.) that aims to be
the future reference regarding the Angkorian Ceramics study
and management. This centre will work in two directions,
different but complementary. First, its mission will be
to proceed to the study of the materials from the excavations
of the Preventive Archaeology Team of APSARA, DMA.1.
Secondly, the international vocation of the C.C.C. involves
the collaboration of all the other teams working in Angkor.
Indeed, the future objective is the elaboration, for all
the teams, of one single and shared way of studying, classifying
and listing ceramic materials. The first step of this project
is already reached with the organization by the National
APSARA Authority of an International Symposium on the 4th
of June 2006, entitled « Angkorian Ceramics. International
Studies & Analysis », that will be the subject
of in the 3rd Angkor Vat Workshop. During this international
meeting, the leaders of almost each team working in Angkor
will be in a position to discuss together the future orientation
that will be followed for the study of Khmer ceramics and
for its adjustment to the objectives of the APSARA Ceramics
Center. All these discussions, for sure very enriching for
all, will be published in a collective book by the APSARA
DMA.1 in the end of 2006.
