Water Management in Angkor

by Collective

From "the hydraulic city" to a more sober approach on water management in Angkor.

West Boray Siem Reap Cambodia

Publication: Antiquity 82

Author: Collective

Pages: 14

Language : English

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An archeological approach of the management of water resources in Angkorian times. Saving and keeping water for a growing population, a challenge that predates modern times.

This type of archeological research is paramount for a better understanding of Angkor’s social organization, the preeminence of agriculture in the Khmer Empire’s economy and the possibles causes leading to its decline and fall.

Siem Reap Area, by Angkor Conservation, circa 1954
This map of the Angkor area was drawn by Angkor Conservation team circa 1954. It shows the complex orography of the area, and the density of historic villages” around the temples (source: Banyan, EFEO online library, FCA/2/DG/870)

Authors: Roland Fletcher, Dan Penny, Damian Evans, Christophe Pottier, Mike Barbetti, Matti Kummu, Terry Lustig and the Department of Monuments and Archaeology at Apsara Authority.

Tags: water, demographics, history, baray, archaeology, hydrology, decline and fall, agriculture

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