Khmer sandstone quarries of Kulen Mountain and Koh Ker: a petrographic and geochemical study

Carò, Federico; Sokrithy, Im

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.01.007

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…For example, multiple Kulen sandstone quarries supplied architects in the urban epicentre with their construction materials (e.g., Uchida et al . ; Carò and Im ), and artisan carvers worked in ateliers throughout Greater Angkor from the ninth century onwards, perhaps in craft guilds (Polkinghorne , , ; see also Sinopoli for medieval India). Angkor‐based specialists manufactured Bayon‐style statuary that circulated through the provinces (Carò and Douglas ), and some Greater Angkor architectural stone was shipped to the northernmost parts of the Khmer world for use in building Wat Phu and Hong Nan Sida, Lao PDR (Uchida et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differentiating Khmer Stoneware Production: An NAA pilot study from Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

Grave

Stark

Ea³

et al. 2015

Archaeometry

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We report analytical results for stoneware samples from four excavated Angkor‐period kilns in the Greater Angkor area. Previous work has suggested that establishing distinct chemical signatures for kiln complexes in this region is problematic. The current study highlights the effectiveness of neutron activation analysis (NAA) for differentiating the products of Angkorian kiln complexes; it also confirms the viability of a larger‐scale research programme to understand the relationship between Khmer stoneware production and patterns of distribution across the wider Angkorian territory. Evidence of ceramics excavated at kiln sites but produced elsewhere highlights the complexity of consumption patterns during the Angkorian period.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differentiating Khmer Stoneware Production: An NAA pilot study from Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

Grave

Stark

Ea³

et al. 2015

Archaeometry

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“…In the Koh Ker area, outcrops of gray to yellowish brown sandstone can be found near Prasat Khna, Prasat Neang Khmau, and several other temples. In addition, ancient quarries of gray to yellowish brown sandstone have been found 6 km to the north of Prasat Thom along the Rongea River, as well as 5 km to the northeast of Prasat Thom in the area east of Prasat Trapean Russei [8,16]. Hence, the sandstone blocks of the Koh Ker monuments likely originate from the surrounding area rather than from Mt.…”

Section: Nature Of the Building Stones Of The Koh Ker Monumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Construction sequence of the Koh Ker monuments in Cambodia deduced from the chemical composition and magnetic susceptibility of its laterites

2014

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Introduction: Koh Ker, one of the provincial cities of the Khmer Empire, was located approximately 85 km northeast of the Angkor monuments. The temples in the Koh Ker monuments were mainly constructed from laterite, sandstone and brick between 921 and 944 AD. The laterites used in the Koh Ker monuments are difficult to classify based on their appearance. However, using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer it was possible to distinguish two distinct types of laterite based on Sr content. Results: Laterite blocks used in construction of the Koh Ker monuments either had a low Sr content of less than 300 ppm or a high Sr content of greater than 400 ppm. Significant quantities of quartz were observed in the low Sr content laterites, whereas the high Sr content laterites had relatively low quartz content. Differences in the magnetic susceptibility also were observed for these laterites. Using both Sr contents and magnetic susceptibilities of the laterite blocks, in combination with the assumption that the construction site proceeded in an outward manner, we identified five distinct laterite types associated with different stages of construction.

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“…The male bust from Ta Prohm, DCA8, is carved from a fine grained (mean grain size ¼ 0.14 mm) feldspathic arenite of composition Q 44 F 49 L 7 that, for compositional and textural characteristics, can be attributed to the LowereMiddle Jurassic Terrain Rouge Formation (Carò and Im, 2012). Another sculpture, a small standing female DCA41 from Prasat Kuk Snuol, is carved from a very fine-grained feldspathic arenite which is extremely rich in feldspar grains (Q 21 F 71 L 8 ).…”

Section: Sculpture Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Severe stone weathering and abundant loose sediment cover may be contributing to conceal further quarry remains. For these reasons, clear and organized traces of sandstone quarries, such as the stepped surfaces found at the foothill of Kulen Mountain in the Terrain Rouge formation (Carò and Im, 2012), may be difficult to find.…”

Section: Field Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some scholars have placed the source of stone used for both architecture and sculpture of Bayon style in Phnom Kulen (Kulen Mountains), or more generically among the sandstones belonging to the Khorat series (Delvert, 1963;Woodward, 1980;Jessup and Zephir, 1997). If this hypothesis is true for the stone material used for temples construction under Jayavarman VII (Uchida et al, 2007;Ku cera et al, 2008), evidence suggests that the sandstone selected for free standing sculptures does not belong to the JurassiceCretaceous formations exposed at Phnom Kulen (Terrain Rouge and Gres Superieurs Formations) or to any of those formations traditionally included in the Khorat Group (Contri, 1972;Fleuriot de Langle, 1973;United Nations, 1993;Racey et al, 1996;Sotham, 1997;Carò and Im, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nature and provenance of the sandstone used for Bayon style sculptures produced during the reign of Jayavarman VII

Carò

Douglas

2013

Journal of Archaeological Science

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a b s t r a c tUnder Jayavarman VII (1182/83-ca.1218 CE) the Khmer empire reached its apex, leaving a heritage of major construction works and unique artistic production. The stone materials of several sculptures produced under his reign were characterized and compared to possible geological sources in northern and eastern Cambodia. The data suggest that a specific type of sandstone, rich in volcanic detritus, was deliberately selected and quarried from a Triassic sedimentary sequence exposed far from Angkor, the main political and economic center at that time.

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Khmer sandstone quarries of Kulen Mountain and Koh Ker: a petrographic and geochemical study

Cited by 21 publications

References 13 publications

Differentiating Khmer Stoneware Production: An NAA pilot study from Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

Differentiating Khmer Stoneware Production: An NAA pilot study from Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

Construction sequence of the Koh Ker monuments in Cambodia deduced from the chemical composition and magnetic susceptibility of its laterites

Nature and provenance of the sandstone used for Bayon style sculptures produced during the reign of Jayavarman VII

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