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Title
Angkorian Khmer stoneware: production and provenance
Author(s)
Stark, Miriam T
Ea, Darith
Chhay, Rachna
Marsh, Ben
Phon, Kaseka
Sugiyama, Hiroshi
Tabata, Yukitsugu
Sato, Yuni
Sovannara, Sok Keo
Chhay, Visoth
Veerawan, Sutee
Publication Date
2021-12
Early Online Version
Abstract
From ∼ 900 to 1450 CE the Angkorian Khmer state extended control over much of inland Southeast Asia. This economically complex polity supported a large number and a diverse range of specialist producers across its territory. Given the limited types of textual data, our understanding of the Angkorian Khmer economy is heavily reliant on archaeological data to address key issues such as the relationship between specialist producers and the Angkorian elite. Here our focus is on the production side of this question through elemental characterization (Neutron Activation Analysis) of a large sample of high temperature ceramics - stonewares - from 15 Angkorian Khmer complexes in Cambodia and Thailand. In the majority of cases we can identify kiln-specific compositional signatures as the groundwork for the next stage of analysis: studying the consumption-side dynamics of Angkorian stoneware distribution. The study also highlights the spatial resolution of stoneware NAA possible in this context. Together, defining patterns of stoneware production, distribution and consumption will allow a new bottom-up perspective on the operation of the Angkorian Khmer political and ritual economy.
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 40(Part B), p. 1-14
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
2021-11-16
Place of Publication
Netherlands
ISSN
2352-4103
2352-409X
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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