Estimated Construction Order of the Major Shrines of Sambor Prei Kuk Based on an Analysis of Bricks

Abstract

Sambor Prei Kuk is a predominantly brick monument complex identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Dynasty, which reached the height of prosperity in the first half of the 7th century. In the east area of this ancient city, the religious area was formed by three temple complexes which are composed of brick shrines and a multiple number of smaller temples with single or a few shrines scattered in the area. One of the challenging issues is to identify the dates and order in which these structures are constructed. Previous studies based on epigraphy and decorative style have estimated a simple dating of the three temple complexes. In this research, 59 major brick structures which are relatively well preserved in this area were analyzed in terms of the size and chemical composition of their component bricks. This analysis revealed that these brick structures can be classified into several groups corresponding to construction stages. The results revealed that the individual shrines in each temple complexes were built in a more complex process than previously stated, and the construction stages of the individual shrines in the vicinity were also identified as an equally complex process.

Prasat Sambor as a Prototype of the Pyramidal State-Temple in Khmer Temple Construction

“…This arrangement suggests that there was no initial plan to build the three complexes; instead, the two parallel complexes were constructed first and then the third complex in the center were planned and constructer later. This hypothesis is consistent with past research which derived the chronological order of the temple construction from an analysis of the chemical composition and size of the bricks (Shimoda et al, 2019). At first glance, the three complexes appear to have a similar layout, but closer inspection reveals differences between them.…”

Non-destructive investigation of sandstone blocks used in the Wat Phu temple in Laos and the Banteay Chhmar temple in Cambodia

“…Chemical composition analysis for stone cultural properties by a non-destructive method using a pXRF analyzer is a very useful method for identifying the types of stone materials and for understanding differences in chemical composition [ 5 , 13 , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] ].…”

Analytical Chemistry Methods of Estimating the Original Firing Temperature of Bricks from a 19th Century Convent in the Philippines: Perspective of a Southeast Asian Country | Mga Pamamaraan ng Mapanuring-Kimika sa Pagtantya ng Orihinal na Temperatura ng Pagsunog sa Ladrilyo Mula sa Isang Ika-19 na Siglong Kumbento sa Pilipinas: Pananaw ng Isang Bansa sa Timog-Silangang Asya

“…Information on how ancient brick was manufactured was reported in another study on the Bagan temples in Myanmar (Oh et al 2019) and a Cham Dynasty temple in Vietnam (Abdrakhimov and Abdrakhimova 2018). Furthermore, research in Cambodia employ analytical techniques to study the sequence of brick construction based on the changes in chemical composition from temples at Sambor Prei Kuk (Shimoda et al 2019) and Koh Ker (Uchida and Sakurai 2018). In Thailand, archaeological dating techniques such as thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence were applied to bricks from archaeological sites at Wiang Kaen (Won-in et al 2008), Thung Tuk (Pailoplee et al 2010;Pailoplee et al 2016) and the brick wall at Songkhla (Puttagan et al 2019).…”