Arteries of Empire

ASTER and Lidar inspections have given us a growingly precise view of the network of ​‘State’ and local roads in vast areas of the Khmer Empire, of water routes, water management structures, of bridges and ​‘satellite settlements’. 

The author stresses several patterns in Angkorian spatial organization, including the remarkably constant east-west orientation of the baray (reservoirs). He also offers parallels with other Imperial formations, from Indian to Mayan to Carolingian Empires.

Regarding the major regional roads of the Angkorean Empire, he notes: ​‘Each of the roads connects to Angkor, either directly or through the junction with another regional road. Each of these roads is equally visible as they leave the immediate vicinity of the capital. It is at this point where some important variations can be identified. While the Southeast and East roads are largely visible across their entire length, the others show marked differences. The West road is extremely visible until it passes the Stung Sreng where it then disappears into the landscape, discretely linking up to Sdok Kok Thom. The Northwest road shows a similar pattern past the Stung Sreng and is particularly the case once the ​‘road’ passes over the Dangrek Range into Thailand. Excluding the impact of post-Angkorian landscape modification in Thailand and remote sensing errors, the investment in building up the Northwest road appears to suddenly stop at the Stung Sreng. The Northeast road is somewhat different in that the trace can be identified to its ​‘terminal’ at Vat Phu but it has several important gaps along its length between Neak Buos-Koh Ker and Koh Ker-Beng Melea.’