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Preventive excavation Team
In the team has Archaeologists specialist working and
responsible for doing the excavation.
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Archaeological Preventive
Excavation in the Project of the Development in the Southern
Pond of Angkor Wat
The south-pond rehabilitation project was implemented by
the Department of Monuments and Archaeology I in an aim
to beautify the Prasat Angkor Wat and to enhance its value.
The preventive excavation had to be done before we conducted
this project. It is very important to get information about
the ancient stratigraphy and the new embankment and then
we will see what we can do to rehabilitate.
In 2005, we drew a topographical map of the site and excavated
here by opening a 1.20m-by-66m-long trench across the pond
from south to north. According to this report, on 3rd February
2007 we continued to do the excavation by opening another
pit at the north-east corner of the pond to collect more
information.
Based on the result of these excavations, we can divide
the stratigraphy into 3 phases:
- 1st phase is 13 pond laterite steps and the basement of
these steps.
- 2nd phase is very big clay layer.
- 3rd phase is a new embankment or the mud of the pond bed;
the average thickness is 20cm or 400m³.
During the excavations, the preventive excavation team has
discussed on the site with H.E Ros Borath, Mr. Eric LLOPIS
(an archaeologist in FSP Project) and Mr. Rachid EL HAJAOUI
(a French consultant to the preventive excavation team).
Then, a hypothesis has been put forward concerning the draught
of reservoirs in Angkor Wat as well as the whole region
of Angkor. On the other hand, if we take out the new embankment
or the mud of the pond floor which is 20cm deep in average,
it will affect the entire area and we will not benefit from
the rehabilitation project at all.
Finally, we decided to conserve this new muddy embankment
for research purposes to allow us to get more data about
the environment in the Angkor area and proposed to look
after this pond by refilling the reservoirs with water every
season. |
Excavation activities
Laterite steps were found
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Archaeological excavation
at Angkor Thom’s moat
(on the north of south gate)
Since 2007 up to now, Preventive excavation team cooperated
with EFEO (under the direction of Prof. Jacques Gaucher)
to excavate at Angkor Thom’s moat. The aim was to
understand the structure of Angkor Thom wall “Jayakiri”
and laterite step on both sides of the moat. This excavation
is still processing, so we do not get the results yet.
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Excavation activities
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Preventive Excavation at
the construction site of the Woman Development Centre
On 24th January 2007, the Archaeological Unit conducted
a preventive excavation on Woman Development Centre’s
construction site, Ministry of Woman’s Affairs. It
is located in Ploung Village, Leng Dai Commune, Angkor Thom
District, Siem Reap Province.
The team unearthed 10 pits. We found a mound and a trace
of canal (probably an ancient canal) existence from the
north to south, situated in the west of the construction
site.
After the excavation, we assumed this site has a low archaeological
potential. Thus, we could give a chance for the construction,
but we permitted them to dig only from 50 to 100cm deep
and our team proposed to conserve this ancient canal.
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Excavation activities
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Preventive Excavation on
five public toilet construction sites
From March to April 2007, the Archaeological Unit conducted
a preventive excavation at Prasat Chao Srey Vibol and Roluos.
The result of the both sites was confirmed to have a low
archaeological potential and we found some potsherds. Due
to the finding, the construction of the toilets was allowed.
However, the foundation must go down between 50 and 100cm
in depth.
The excavation at Taprom, Preah Khan and West Baray is
still under way.
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Excavation activities at Chao Srey Vibol
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