Consideration of the Construction Period of the Khmer Temples along the East Royal Road to Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and the Provenance of Sandstone Blocks Based on Their Magnetic Susceptibility

Etsuo Uchida,Mariko Shimoda,Ichita Shimoda

doi:10.4236/ad.2013.12004

Abstract

To the east of the Angkor monuments, there is a royal road that connects the Angkor area to provincial Khmer cities that include Beng Mealea and Preah Khan of Kompong Svay. Khmer buildings known as Temples d’étape and Fire Shrines are placed approximately every 15 km along this east royal road. In this paper, we investigate the magnetic susceptibility and other characteristics of the sandstone blocks used to construct these buildings in conjunction with their architectural characteristics. As a result, we reconfirmed that the Temples d’étape and Fire Shrines have been constructed during the early Angkor Wat pe- riod and the late Bayon period, respectively. In addition, it was revealed that most of the sandstone blocks used in these buildings along the east royal road were likely supplied from quarries at the southeastern foot of Mt. Kulen. However, we consider that the sandstone blocks used in the buildings of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay, except its central part, the Temple d’étape at Prasat Trapeang Chambok and the Fire Shrine at Prasat Supheap Tbong, were supplied from quarries surrounding Preah Khan of Kompong Svay.

Highlights

Four royal roads radiate from the Angkor area, the centre of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th Century, toward provincial Khmer cities
In addition to the Temples d’étape and the Fire Shrines, large temples such as Prasat (Pr.) Chau Srei Vibol and Beng Mealea are situated along the east royal road
The sandstone blocks used in Preah Khan of Kompong Svay have relatively high magnetic susceptibility of 1.4 to 2.0 × 10−3 SI units in the eastern and western gopuras of the outer gallery, the four gopuras of the inner gallery, the central sanctuary, and the northern and southern libraries (Figures 5(d) and 7)

Summary

Introduction

Four royal roads radiate from the Angkor area, the centre of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th Century, toward provincial Khmer cities. Along the east royal road, five temples known as Fire Shrines are positioned as follows: Pr. Kansaeng in Beng Mealea, Pr. Kuk in Preah Khan of Kompong Svay, Pr. Toap Chey, Pr. Ta En and Pr. Supheap Tbong.

Results

Conclusion