SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog

Happy New Year! Well, the Thai new year has just passed and we have a link to Songkran in Wednesday Rojak new year edition. This week, we also get whisked away to the people and architecture of Myanmar, sports in Thailand and some news for photography buffs.

photo credit: rwp-roger
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A cement factory linked to the Myanmar government is said to be endangering an ancient Buddhist site by blasting the nearby mountains for material without regard for the relics housed in the cave.

Cement Factory Accused of Destroying Antiquities
The Irrawaddy, 25 February 2008
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One of Myanmar’s most stunning architectural treasures is the Shwedagon Temple, built in the later half of the first millenium CE and contains the supposed relics of Buddhas.

Creative commons image by ppbaud

Glorious Golden Pagoda
Wall Street Journal, 23 February 2008
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Burma’s (Myanmar) crackdown on protesting monks last year made a dent in tourist receipts, something the military government is trying to curtail. But despite the calls to boycott the temples of Bagan, it’s really the locals who feel the pinch.

Image by Hartfried Schmid

Burma Lures Tourists with Reopening of Ancient Palace
Ethical Traveler, 03 February 2008
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Over in the US, four museums in California are being investigated over possession of artefacts that were allegedly illegally exported from Southeast Asia and looted from Native American lands.

Burmese Art Features in US Smuggling Probe
The Irrawaddy News Magazine, 25 January 2008

Raids New Blow to American Museums
Associated Press, 25 January 2008
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News coverage of Myanmar has been overshadowed lately by the political unrest and the actions of the military government to retain control; tourism is one of the hardest hit industries in Myanmar today, which is a shame when you consider that the temple complexes that make up Bagan are just as majestic as Angkor in Cambodia. In a bid to restore tourist visits to the country, the government has opened a 1,000-year-old palace to tourists. But given Myanmar’s track record in handling archaeological work, are these archaeological treasures or just mismanaged tourist traps?

Creative commons image by Jungle Boy

Myanmar reopens ancient palace to attract tourists
Xinhua, 03 January 2008
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This Christmas edition of the Wednesday Rojak brings us to Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia for some ancient temples, royal architecture, hobbits and the Shan:

• Andy Brouwer features an article by Heritage Watch on Protecting Cambodia’s Treasures.
• Chris Miller sets poetry to Angkoran sculpture in When Sculpture was King.
• Matt brings us to Thailand’s royal palaces and monatery in Bangkok’s Royal Bling.
• Greg Laden blogs about a new paper published on our favourite Hobbit.
• Read an Indonesian article about the Majapahit-era shrine, Candi Bajangratu.
• Music blogger Deni Bonet spends a hot morning in Sukhothai.
• Andy (no relation to the previous Andy) reflects on the impermanence of Southeast Asian capitals in Moving Mueang.
• While in London, the New Mandala reports from a conference on the Shan people in Burma, with details of some archaeology papers presented there.

In this series of weekly rojaks (published on Wednesdays) I’ll feature other sites in the blogosphere that are of related to archaeology in Southeast Asia. Got a recommendation for the next Wednesday rojak? Email me!