Casting for the King: The Royal Palace bronze workshop of Angkor Thom

Abstract

Les sites de production artistique du royaume khmer et les méthodes de fabrication associées sont longtemps restés inconnus. Pour la première fois en Asie du Sud-Est, un projet multidisciplinaire a identifié un atelier de bronziers d'époque historique où étaient fabriqués tant des statues que des objets, comme l'attestent divers déchets de production mis au jour. Les résultats préliminaires de prospections et de fouilles conduites au nord du palais royal d'Angkor Thom, complétées par une série d'analyses de matériaux, ont posé des nouveaux jalons pour une caractérisation de la métallurgie du cuivre et de ses alliages à Angkor. La proximité du complexe du palais royal suggère que l'atelier était d'une importance considérable pour l'élite politique qui commandait les produits des bronziers, ceci non seulement afin de fournir palais et temples en objets, mais aussi de légitimer son pouvoir au moyen d'images de dieux. L'étude technique du mobilier archéométallurgique, qui inclut céramiques techniques (creusets, moules, parois de fours), objets en cuivre et chutes de fonderie, objets en fer, scories, outils en pierre et en céramique, révèle de son côté les pratiques de fonte privilégiées par des artisans spécialisés.

Chemical Compositional Signatures of Constituent Minerals of Iron Slags and Ores from the Khmer Monuments

“…We collected iron slags and ores from two sites (Sanlong Java (S) and Sanlong Tonle Bak (T)) in the south of Phnom Daek (meaning Iron Mountain), which is situated 30 km southeast of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and has been considered as the source of iron ores in the Khmer period [4]. We also collected samples from one site (F) at the roadside near Svay Damnak between Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and Phnom Daek.…”

“…In addition to iron tools for stone quarrying and processing, it is expected that iron was used for agricultural and military objectives [3]. Iron fragments that are considered to be part of armatures were found at the Royal Palace in the Angkor monuments [4]. As evidence of iron making, iron slags, which were generated and disposed of in the iron-making process, have been found at the Khmer monuments [5].…”

New Dates for Old Kilns: A Revised Radiocarbon Chronology of Stoneware Production for Angkorian Cambodia

“…Evans et al 2007, 2013; Fletcher et al 2015; Feneley et al 2016). In order to support and supply these centers, the Khmer developed multiple industries, including iron (Hendrickson et al 2009; Pryce et al 2014; Hendrickson and Evans 2015), stone (Polkinghorne 2012; Uchida and Shimoda 2013; Polkinghorne et al 2015) and bronze (Polkinghorne et al 2014). Archaeological focus has recently moved away from previous artistic, epigraphic and architectural approaches (e.g.…”

Life goes on: Archaeobotanical investigations of diet and ritual at Angkor Thom, Cambodia (14th–15th centuries CE)

“…A desiccated rice husk fragment (Oryza sativa L.) from inside the lead vessel was dated by AMS 14 C (Beta-427977). The plant materials, vessel deposit and interment are dated to the early 15th century consistent with interpretation of site stratigraphy (Polkinghorne et al, 2014).…”

“…Although the samples were collected during excavations to consider elite craft production, they relate to contexts deposited after the foundry and sculpture workshop had ceased operations (Polkinghorne et al, 2014). The study examined a small area within the enclosure of Angkor Thom and the number of sorted contexts is limited.…”