Vittorio Reveda - Bangkok Post 20110630

A scientist’s second act Bangkok Post, 30 June 2011

Long past the age when most would retire to a life of relaxation, Dr [...]]]> The Bangkok Post has a feature article on Dr Vittorio Roveda, who has written several books on the art of the Khmers and Angkor.

A scientist’s second act
Bangkok Post, 30 June 2011

Long past the age when most would retire to a life of relaxation, Dr Vittorio Roveda refuses to slow down. Although no one would blame him for doing so, the idea of settling down does not appeal to him.

“Research is my medicine,” he said. Roveda, who has both Italian and Swiss citizenship, is currently living in Bangkok and working on two books about Cambodian temples and the art found within them. It’s a topic on which he has already published five books and numerous articles. His prolific output is even more impressive, given that he only got into art history after spending 20 years as a geologist.

He experienced a lot of success in geology, working for huge oil companies like Shell and BP, but the corporate world left a part of him unfulfilled. Only later in life, after an accident that nearly killed him, did he gain a new perspective on what is important and decide to whole-heartedly pursue his passion.

“I was a gifted child,” said Roveda, referring to the fascination in geology that blossomed in him at a very young age. As an eight-year-old living in Switzerland, he would collect rocks and study mountains. His love of the subject never wavered, and he studied until the completion of his PhD in 1964 from the University of Milan in Italy.

He immediately got work in the oil industry. His job allowed him to travel to many exotic places. It was during some time spent in Southeast Asia that he first saw the beautiful paintings present in the ancient wats (temples) of countries like Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand.

The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia: Timing and impact Venue: Manning Clark Theatre 1, Manning Clark Centre, Union Court, ANU Date: Thursday, 29 April 2010 Time: 7:30 PM – [...]]]> Prof. Charles Higham will be presenting a lecture this Thursday at ANU on the Bronze Age of Southeast Asia. Don’t miss it if you’re in Canberra!

The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia: Timing and impact
Venue: Manning Clark Theatre 1, Manning Clark Centre, Union Court, ANU
Date: Thursday, 29 April 2010
Time: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Mainland Southeast Asia was the end of the line for the expansion of bronze technology across Asia. For decades, however, the story of the Southeast Asian Bronze Age has been clouded by controversy over its timing and social impact. Professor Charles Higham has excavated the site of Ban Non Wat, Central Thailand over two years and has opened a new chapter in our understanding of early metal technologies. In this lecture, Professor Higham will examine these new findings and suggest a new understanding of the late prehistoric period of Southeast Asia.

Professor Charles Higham studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University. In 1966, he was appointed lecturer at the University of Otago, New Zealand and two years later, was appointed the foundation Professor. Professor Higham has undertaken fieldwork in Thailand and Cambodia over the past 40 years, and directed excavations at many sites in the area including Ban Na Di, Khok Phanom Di, Nong Nor, Ban Lum Khao, Ban Non Wat and Angkor. He is also a member of collaborative research projects with the University of Durham, UK, and University of Sydney. Professor Higham is a Fellow of the British Academy and an Honorary Fellow of St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge.

Enquiries and registration info here.

Christina writes: “I’m studying a certain ceramic piece for my dissertation, and was wondering if anyone had come across anything similar in SE Asia. These were excavated in NE Thailand at Ban Non Wat. If anyone has any ideas what they are, or has seen them in any context (museums, digs, etc.) please get in touch with me. Thanks!” You can get in touch with her by emailing chrsewall [at] tidewater [dot] net.

Civilisation Oc Eo : une recherche récompensée par le prix Trân Van Già u Le Courier de Vietnam [French], 17 January 2010 [translation]

The research “The archaeological remains of the [...]]]> Professor Pham Duc Manh and his team have been awarded the Tran Van Giau award for their book on the Oc Eo civilisation.

Civilisation Oc Eo : une recherche récompensée par le prix Trân Van Giàu
Le Courier de Vietnam [French], 17 January 2010 [translation]

The research “The archaeological remains of the Oc Eo civilization of post-Oc Eo in the province of An Giang” by Professor Pham Duc Manh and his colleagues have been awarded Tran Van Giau. This is a collection of historical documents and archaeological said on civilization.

The mound of Oc Eo Vong Khe, An Giang province (Mekong Delta), is lending his name to an important civilization of the region. In 1944, French researcher Louis Malleret had conducted excavations on the site and the first study results were appeared in his doctoral dissertation, subsequently published in a book titled Archeology 6 volumes of the Mekong Delta.

Ceramics for the Archaeologist: Recent Advances in Understanding [...]]]> Readers in Singapore may be interested in a public lecture by Dr John Miksic of the National University of Singapore on Southeast Asian Ceramics. For readers who might not be able to attend the lecture, you may want to purchase Dr Miksic’s latest book, Southeast Asian Ceramics.

Ceramics for the Archaeologist: Recent Advances in Understanding Pottery in Southeast Asian History
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore
Date: 28 January 2010
Time: 7.30 – 8.30 pm

Farewell to an Angkor institutionstrong> Phnom Penh Post, 08 January 2010

NGKOR archaeological mainstay Christophe Pottier will leave the Ecole Francais [...]]]> Christophe Pottier, the director of EFEO at Siem Reap will leave the school for the University of Sydney, where he will be continuing his work as co-director of the Greater Angkor Project.

Farewell to an Angkor institutionstrong>
Phnom Penh Post, 08 January 2010

NGKOR archaeological mainstay Christophe Pottier will leave the Ecole Francais d’Extreme Orient (EFEO) on January 15 after serving as the Asian studies school’s director since 1999. Pottier was involved in opening the centre in Siem Reap in 1992.

The Frenchman will head to Australia to spend a year or two doing research at the University of Sydney’s Cambodia research cluster.

He will remain co-director of the Greater Angkor Project, a joint effort between the EFEO, the University of Sydney and the Apsara Authority.

“I’ll still be in Angkor quite often and be very involved with Angkor studies,” Pottier said.

photo credit: Ryan Somma

Hobbit researchers win science gong Sydney Morning Herald, 29 October 2009

Unravelling the mystery of Indonesia’s hobbit-sized humans and discovering ways to prevent dementia have helped two Sydney researchers win [...]]]> Congratulations to Dr. Kira Westaway for winning one of the Science Gongs for her research with the homo floresiensis.

photo credit: Ryan Somma

Hobbit researchers win science gong
Sydney Morning Herald, 29 October 2009

Unravelling the mystery of Indonesia’s hobbit-sized humans and discovering ways to prevent dementia have helped two Sydney researchers win one of Australia’s top science gongs.

Dr Michael Valenzuela and Dr Kira Westaway were jointly named most outstanding scientist for NSW/ACT at the The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.

The pair received a medal and $1,500 at a gala event in Sydney on Thursday, while 16 others were also awarded for their research in areas covering climate change, skin cancer, obesity and body tissue engineering.

The awards, now in their 10th year, recognise high achievers in the early stage of their careers making major breakthroughs across all scientific fields.

Buddhistic remains in the form of stone and metal imagery and/or brick-built temples have been found at several locations throughout the island [...]]]> The Archaeology of Buddhist Sumatra
Date: 22 October 2009
Time: 4 – 6 pm
Venue: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Seminar Room II
Registration Required: Email Betty (betty@iseas.edu.sg) by 21 Oct 2009

Buddhistic remains in the form of stone and metal imagery and/or brick-built temples have been found at several locations throughout the island ranging from Aceh in the north west to the Palembang region of southern Sumatra. This talk will review the various finds of imagery and the implications of such recoveries which mainly infer links with local rulers or with foreign traders. The Buddhist sangha, although possibly, left some minor influences in the Sumatran adat (culture), did not seem to have developed into a vigorous or sustainable form among indigenous communities throughout the island in the past. This perhaps suggests an over-dependence on overseas trade which, by the sixteenth century, was increasingly Islamic in nature.

About the Speaker:
E. Edwards McKinnon obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in art history from Cornell University, USA. He has interests in ancient inter-regional maritime trade and Indian (particularly Tamil) influences in Sumatra, especially the vestiges of both Buddhism and early Islamic influences. He has worked in northern Sumatra, where he pioneered excavation at Kota Cina, a medieval harbour site near Medan and in Aceh, and published widely on the history and archaeology of Sumatra. He has travelled extensively throughout the island and is familiar with much of the landscape of Sumatra and with numerous early archaeological sites.

* Please note that this lecture takes place at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, (ISEAS), in Seminar Room II.

Due to limited seating, registration is required. Please R.S.V.P to betty@iseas.edu.sg or fax 6775 6264 by 21st October, Wednesday. For more enquires, please call Betty at 6870 2472.

Successful registrants will be notified by email.

This lecture is free. Light refreshments will be served before the lecture.

This lecture is jointly organised by the Research and Publication Unit of ACM and Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre, ISEAS.

Culture digger Thanh Nien Daily, 31 August 2009

As a young doctoral candidate in 1988, Khoi studied the hill tribes of Ta Nung commune in the central highlands province of Lam Dong Province. [...]]]> A spotlight on Vietnamese archaeologist Doan Ngoc Khoi, who has spent most of his career investigating the prehistoric Sa Huynh culture.

Culture digger
Thanh Nien Daily, 31 August 2009

As a young doctoral candidate in 1988, Khoi studied the hill tribes of Ta Nung commune in the central highlands province of Lam Dong Province. It was then that he made his first major archeological discovery: several centuries’ old pieces of pottery from the graves of the Cham people, which he stumbled upon almost accidentally.

After graduating university, Khoi found a job at the Quang Ngai Province Museum and became increasingly intrigued by Sa Huynh culture, especially as he would visit the fishing village personally to visit relatives.

It was in Sa Huynh that the first artifacts related to the ancient culture were found by the French at the turn of the last century. As findings progressed, it came to be known that Sa Huynh lived before the Cham people in societies based around iron tools, jade and glass work and elaborate cremation and burial rituals.