With a little luck, archaeologists stumble on the forges of Angkor

An archaeologist clears away dirt at an archaeological dig where the remains of an old foundry have been found. Photo supplied

A team of archaeologists led by Im Sok Rithy, deputy director of the Apsara Authority, and Dr Ea Darith, has confirmed the discovery of an ancient iron-smelting works within the grounds of the Angkor Archaeological Park following excavations carried out in March. The discovery is the first of its kind so near the seat of power of the Khmer Empire and, for Im, shows the value of good old-fashioned archaeological methods.

“For 150 years, this site has escaped the attention of local and international researchers, and hadn’t been detected by any aerial photograph or even LiDAR.” LiDAR, a ground survey method using lasers, in 2012 revealed, among other things, the scale and complexity of Mahendraparvata, the Khmer Empire’s foundation city on Phnom Kulen.

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/little-luck-archaeologists-stumble-forges-angkor