Vietnam’s Trang An landscapes inscribed to World Heritage

Besides Myanmar, Vietnam saw the addition of another World Heritage site, the Trang An Scenic Landscape in Ninh Binh Province, which contains archaeological sites from the prehistory past and the 10th and 11th centuries.

Trang An Landscape. Source: Vietnam News 20140624

Trang An Landscape Complex
Unesco World Heritage

Trang An wins coveted world heritage recognition
Vietnam News, 24 June 2014

Trang An named Vietnam’s first UNESCO-recognized mixed heritage
Tuoi Tre News, 24 June 2014
Continue reading “Vietnam’s Trang An landscapes inscribed to World Heritage”

Pyu cities are Myanmar’s first World Heritage Site

The 38th World Heritage Committee meeting is wrapping up in Doha, and this year we have inscribed the first World Heritage site for Myanmar: The Pyu cities of Halin, Sri Ksetra and Beikthano.

Ruins of Sri Ksetra. Source: The Irrawaddy 20140623

Pyu Ancient Cities
Unesco World Heritage List

Pyu Cities Snag Burma’s First Unesco World Heritage Listing
The Irrawaddy, 23 June 2014

Myanmar welcomes ancient cities entry on World Heritage list
AFP, via Channel NewsAsia, 24 June 2014
Continue reading “Pyu cities are Myanmar’s first World Heritage Site”

Pulau Nangka treasure hunt to continue until August 1

The state government has granted the company in charge of the treasure hunt an extension til August 1. While the search has been unsuccessful so far, a pair of divers have reportedly found some treasures in other parts of the island!

Malacca treasures found — by foreign divers
The Star, 21 June 2014

Company told to end search for treasure on Pulau Nangka on Aug 1
Bernama, via Astro Awani, 17 Junee 2014
Continue reading “Pulau Nangka treasure hunt to continue until August 1”

Reports of buried treasure in Johor

Local residents in Batu Pahat, Johor, report discovering artefacts dating to the Majapahit period.

Finds from Jeragan Hill. Source: Sinar Harian 20140611

Misteri harta karun Bukit Jeragan
Sinar Harian, 11 June 2014
Article is in Bahasa Malaysia
Continue reading “Reports of buried treasure in Johor”

The paintings of Angkor Wat and the ‘dark’ ages

The Phnom Penh Post’s weekend edition has another story on the Angkor Wat paintings, and this story nicely contextualises the find with the work by my colleagues at the University of Sydney who have been working there far longer than I have – shedding light on the so-called ‘dark ages’ of Angkor between the empire’s ‘fall’ and subsequent ‘rediscovery’.

Paintings in Angkor Wat. Source: Phnom Penh Post 21 June 2014

Walls of hidden treasures
Phnom Penh Post, 21 June 2014
Continue reading “The paintings of Angkor Wat and the ‘dark’ ages”

World Monuments Funds seeks donations to help restore Phnom Bakheng

Phnom Bakheng is one of the World Monuments Funds’ 50th Anniversary priority projects.

Heritage Fund Plans Phnom Bakheng Restoration Work
Cambodia Daily, 20 June 2014

World Monuments Fund Phnom Bakheng Project
Continue reading “World Monuments Funds seeks donations to help restore Phnom Bakheng”

photo by: lawmurray

Tracking how antiquities get stolen and sold on the black market

A new study published in the British Journal of Criminology reveals the inner workings of a statue trafficking network in Cambodia and Thailand and sheds light on how the particular form of organised crime works.

Evidence of looting in Angkor. Source: The Cambodia Daily 20140618

Temple Looting in Cambodia: Anatomy of a Statue Trafficking Network
Simon Mackenzie and Tess Davis
British Journal of Criminology 2014, doi: 10.1093/bjc/azu038

New Evidence Ties Illegal Antiquities Trade to Terrorism, Violent Crime
National Geographic News, 13 June 2014

Study Details Sophisticated Temple-Looting Ring
Cambodia Daily, 18 June 2014
Continue reading “Tracking how antiquities get stolen and sold on the black market”

Call for Papers: Sixth International Conference on Austroasiatic Linguistics 2015

First call for papers for the Sixth International Conference on Austroasiatic Linguistics. Deadline is on 28 Feb 2015.

Sixth International Conference on Austroasiatic Linguistics
Venue: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Date: 22-24 July 2015
Continue reading “Call for Papers: Sixth International Conference on Austroasiatic Linguistics 2015”

Old Jakarta aims for World Heritage listing

The dossier is being prepared to list Old Jakarta as a World Heritage site within the next two years.

Old Town targets int’l recognition via UNESCO world heritage list
Jakarta Post, 18 June 2014
Continue reading “Old Jakarta aims for World Heritage listing”

photo by: basibanget

Shipwreck looting rampant in Riau

10 divers were caught last month by the Indonesian navy for looting shipwrecks. (Thanks to Damien Huffer for the head’s up.)

Indonesian Navy Arrest 10 Divers For Looting Shipwrecks [Link no longer active]
Scubaverse, 28 May 2014
Continue reading “Shipwreck looting rampant in Riau”