As expected, not much, yet. There aren’t many channels devoted to archaeology, [...]]]> Last week, Apple announced a revamped iBooks and iTunes U service aimed at bringing textbooks and course materials to the iPad. There’s a fair buzz in the education circles, but how much content is there relating to the archaeology of Southeast Asia?

As expected, not much, yet. There aren’t many channels devoted to archaeology, much less to the archaeology of Southeast Asia. But if you dig deeper, you might be able to find a couple of good lectures and material. Here’s my list of so 7 far:

• Sacred Lands, Sacred Traditions: The arts of Southeast Asia and the Himalayas – a 2005 lecture series by the Society of Asian Art at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Covers topics of the art of Thailand and Indonesia in particular, and the art of early Southeast Asia.
• Southeast Asia-China Interaction – from the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. The lecture series covers a wide variety of topics from the ancient to the contemporary, but some of the lectures relevant to archaeology include talks on Champa in Vietnam and kiln sites in Cambodia.
• Emerald Cities – Another series by the Asian Art Museum, focused on a 2009-2010 exhibition focused on the art of 18-20th century Thailand and Myanmar.
• South and Southeast Asia before 1200 – Part of lecture series on art by Maggie Hobson-Baker of the Montogomery County Community College.
• Arts of Southeast Asia Documentaries – Another one from the Asian Art Museum, one of the the three podcasts in this series is about the temple mountains of Cambodia.
• World Audio Cambodia – Sounds, music and stories from Cambodia. Not exactly archaeological, but there are some locations featured.
• Passport to Asia – Asian Art Museum Lecture series 2008-2009. A wide variety of subjects on Asian sites, but two lectures on Pagan (Myanmar), Borobudur (Indonesia) and the Royal Road of Angkor (Cambodia/Thailand).

That’s a start. It’s not quite seven lectures, as some of the links contain more than one lecture! Do you know of any other content in iTunes U that is related to Southeast Asian Archaeology?

photo credit: Justyn™

Angkor Wat, Borobudur temple to become sister sites, says official Jakarta Post, 16 January 2012

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple in [...]]]> The tourism departments of Indonesia and Cambodia are in discussions to make Angkor Wat and Borobodur sister sites, and promote bilateral tourism by opening air routes between the two cities.

photo credit: Justyn™

Angkor Wat, Borobudur temple to become sister sites, says official
Jakarta Post, 16 January 2012

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap and Indonesia’s Borobudur temple in Central Java are to become sister sites, according to an official.

Head of Indonesian delegation I Gusti Putu Laksaguna said on Thursday that the proposal had been agreed by both Cambodian and Indonesian tourism ministers during a bilateral meeting at the ASEAN Tourism Forum at the Grand Kawanoa Convention Center in Manado, North Sulawesi.

Full story here.

Another Great Cambodian Temple Stirs To Life [...]]]> A feature on the massive temple of Banteay Chmar in Banteay Meanchay province, not far from the Thai-Cambodian border. The site is starting to see visitors again, but it’s sculptures have been looted – including a pair that’s said to be in the garden of a Thai politician!

Another Great Cambodian Temple Stirs To Life
AP, via the Huffington Post, 03 Jan 2012

It’s still entwined in mystery and jungle vines, but one of Cambodia’s grandest monuments is slowly awakening after eight centuries of isolated slumber, having attracted a crack archaeological team and a trickle of tourists.

“It takes awhile to unfold this temple – and everywhere there are enticements,” says John Sanday, the team leader, as he navigates through tangled undergrowth, past dramatic towers and bas-reliefs and into dark chambers of the haunting monastic complex of Banteay Chhmar.

What drove Jayavarman VII, regarded as the greatest king of the Angkorian Empire, to erect this vast Buddhist temple about 105 miles (170 kilometers) from his capital in Angkor and in one of the most desolate and driest places in Cambodia remains one of its many unsolved riddles.

Full story here.

No smoking in, or on, [...]]]> The authorities have cracked down on souvenirs sold in Angkor that are thought to be disrespectful, including Angkor Wat shaped ashtrays. The headline of the article suggests that smoking may have also been banned in the park, but no mention was made of it in the body. Can anyone confirm?

No smoking in, or on, temples
Phnom Penh Post, 30 December 2011

APSARA authorities yesterday confirmed a crackdown on certain Angkor Wat souvenirs being sold inside the archaeological complex that they say are denigrating the World Heritage site, as well as selling practices that they say are irritating tourists.

Prom Karona, director of the Apsara Authority’s Public Order and Co-operation Department, told the Post yesterday that vendors would no longer be able to sell Angkor Wat-inscribed ashtrays or drinking glasses that contained a sketching of the temple at the bottom of the glass.

Full story here.

Preah Vihear, wikicommons image

UNESCO team views Preah Vihear damage

Phnom Penh Post, 15 December 2011

More than a dozen UNESCO volunteers visited the Preah Vihear temple yesterday to determine [...]]]> A team from Unesco recently inspected the damage done to Preah Vihear after this year’s fighting between Cambodia and Thailand over the territory.

UNESCO team views Preah Vihear damage

Phnom Penh Post, 15 December 2011

More than a dozen UNESCO volunteers visited the Preah Vihear temple yesterday to determine the extent of damages that resulted from armed battle near the temple in February, officials said.

Council of Ministers undersecretary of state Sous Yara, who accompanied the UNESCO delegation to the World Heritage site yesterday, said the visit was “very important” because it was UNESCO’s first since fighting broke out between Cambodia and Thailand in February.

“They came to see about the damage we reported to them from the fighting,” he said. “Thailand reported no damage, but now they see that there is damage.”

Full story here.