National and international researchers have discovered that the ceramic kilns in the Angkor area had been in operation since the mid-12th century and ceased to function in the early 15th century, said a news release of the APSARA National Authority yesterday.
One of the ceramic kilns is at Dei Chhnang Gate, at the northwest corner of Angkor Thom in Nokor Krao village, Sangkat Kork Chak, Siem Reap city, Siem Reap province. The kiln cluster is located on a large mound stretching from east to west, 230 metres long, 84 metres wide, and about 2.70 metres high. This mound is parallel to the wall of Angkor Thom, 123 metres from the Dei Chhnang Gate (Northern Gate).
Mr. Tin Tina, Deputy Director of the Department of Research, Training, and Communication said that after inspecting, verifying, and extracting archaeological data by the researchers from the Department of Research, Training, and Communication of APSARA National Authority, they found 25 mounds, which had not been excavated before. To prove what this is, a handful of researchers have only selected pottery fragments to study. Therefore, in 2020 and 2022, researchers from the APSARA National Authority excavated two mounds to collect data that would allow experts to confirm that this location is a kiln site.
As a result of these two excavations, the news release underlined, it was confirmed that the site was a ceramic kiln in the Angkor area, which had been in operation since the mid-12th century and ceased to function in the early 15th century.
To expand the research of this ceramic kiln, researchers of the APSARA National Authority have recently partnered with the University of Hawaii and Flinders University to locate the structure of the ceramic kiln at Angkor Thom's Dei Chhnang Gate (Northern Gate) using a magnetometre (to find the magnetic signal of the kiln structure).
The data obtained from this measurement is important for experts as it is the basis for excavating and researching this ceramic kiln in the future.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse