Japanese archaeologists announce the discovery of six 13th century Buddha statues at Banteay Kdei.
Archaeologists discover ancient Buddha statues in Cambodia
IBN News, 25 August 2010
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13th century Buddhas found in Angkor
September 3rd, 2010 noelbynature Posted in Angkor, Cambodia No Comments »
Running facial recognition scans on the apsaras of Angkor Wat
August 27th, 2010 noelbynature Posted in Angkor, Cambodia 1 Comment »
Last year, independent researcher Kent Davis made the news with his theory that Angkor temples were a monument to women and to this end was hoping to analyse and quantify the traits of every apsara/devata image (over 1,700 in all). The Phnom Penh Post recently carried an update on Davis and his work and features, quite prominently, the discussion that on this website about Davis’ work (which you can read here).
What didn’t really come through in the PPP article was the paper on the facial pattern recognition study presented at the International Conference on Pattern Recognition in Istanbul, Turkey (it was buried somewhere in the middle of the article). The Cambodian Daily has a better-written paper on the article which you can read on Davis’ site, along with a download link to the facial recognition paper. The work is still very much in a preliminary stage, but quite promising and may potentially find correlations between types of faces with ethnicities or locations within the temple complex. It will be interesting to see what kinds of patterns emerge from a deeper analysis of the quantified attributes of the apsara/devata carvings emerge.
Sleuth researches enigmatic Angkor girls
Phnom Penh Post, 20 August 2010
The many faces of Angkor Wat
The Cambodian Daily, via www.devata.org, August 2010
Job Posting: National Culture Project Officer (Cambodia)
August 25th, 2010 noelbynature Posted in Cambodia No Comments »
Unesco in Phnom Penh is hiring! Cambodian nationals fluent in English and Khmer with a degree in archaeology are some of the key requirements. The full listing is on the Phnom Penh Post and the deadline is on 31 August 2010.
Academics counsel different approach to handle Preah Vihear dispute
August 18th, 2010 noelbynature Posted in Cambodia, Thailand, UNESCO World Heritage No Comments »
The Bangkok Post reports on how some academics in Thailand are counselling a more pragmatic and less emotionally-charged approach to handling the Preah Vihear dispute, which erupted in 2007 when UNESCO designated the border temple as a World Heritage Site under Cambodia. The award has become a political hot potato in Thailand, where nationalists have seen the award as a breach in sovereignty and has led to the worsening of relations between the two countries.
Academics want pragmatic approach over border row
Bangkok Post, 09 August 2010
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Videos from the Gods of Angkor at the Smithsonian
August 13th, 2010 noelbynature Posted in Cambodia, Exhibitions, Museums, Talks / Presentations No Comments »
Here’s a couple of videos related to the current Gods of Angkor: Bronzes from the National Museum of Cambodia currently exhibiting at the Freer and Sacker Gallery Galleries of the Smithsonian. The first is a news piece on the exhibition by the VOA Khmer Service and is in Khmer.
Preah Vihear tussle in the last WHC meeting
August 11th, 2010 noelbynature Posted in Cambodia, Thailand No Comments »
Preah Vihear became a source of contention again for Thailand and Cambodia during the recent World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil a couple of weeks ago when Cambodia submitted a proposal to solely manage the controversial site, much to the chagrin of their Thai neighbours leading to protests. The committee decided to postpone any plan raised by Cambodia on the basis that there was too little time to review it and it will be looked into again next year. Hopefully, this will lead to dialogue between the two countries in jointly managing the site, particularly in demarcating the borders in the vicinity of Preah Vihear which is still in dispute.
Preah Vihear to be raised at heritage meet
Bangkok Post, 22 July 2010
Thailand and Cambodia tussle over World Heritage Site Preah Vihear Temple
CNNGo.com, 27 July 2010
Protest against Preah Vihear temple listing
Bangkok Post, 27 July 2010
Thai cabinet opposes Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple management plan
MCOT, 28 July 2010
Abhisit threatens to reconsider UNESCO ties over Preah Vihear
Phnom Penh Post, 29 July 2010
Thailand may quit UN body over temple issue
Laos News Net, 29 July 2010
Preah Vihear’s borders ‘must come first’
Bangkok Post, 29 July 2010
Temple tension mounts
Phnom Penh Post, 30 July 2010
WHC postpones decision on temple plan to next year
Bangkok Post, 31 July 2010
PM tells media to study UNESCO resolution as Cambodia claims victory on Preah Vihear issue
MCOT News, 31 July 2010
Temple Row Sours Thai-Cambodian Ties—Again
The Irrawady, 31 July 2010
PM urges Thais to support government on ancient temple
MCOT News, 01 August 2010
Buses banned into Angkor Thom, then unbanned
August 2nd, 2010 noelbynature Posted in Angkor, Cambodia No Comments »
A decision to ban buses from entering Angkor Thom starting from August 1 was abruptly reversed last month. The decision would affect buses carrying more than 12 passengers into the Angkor Thom complex and authorities say that the ban will be postponed after it has concluded talks with the tourism bodies. Having seen the weekend crowds at Angkor, a bus ban might be a good idea!
Bus ban in Angkor Thom
Phnom Penh Post, 22 July 2010
Angkor Thom bus ban delayed
Phnom Penh Post, 29 July 2010
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