SEAArch – The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog

Remember last month when Cambodia complained to Google about its incorrect maps at the Preah Vihear border? Ogle Earth has a nice roundup about the disputed maps and a little background to the border spat. I found it quite interesting that when the temple was awarded to Cambodia by the ICJ, Thailand didn’t lower the flagpole flying over Preah Vihear and dug out the flagpole – with flag still flying – and moved the pole into Thai territory a kilometre away.

Where does Google stand on the Thai-Cambodian border at Preah Vihear Temple?
Ogle Earth, 07 Feb 2010 (via Changwat, Amphoe, Tambon)
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Richard Bammer of the Reporter visits three Southeast Asian Museums – The Museum of Vietnamese History in Hanoi, The Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap, and the National Museum Bangkok and contrasts the state of artefacts there.

Tales of three different Southeast Asian museums
The Reporter, 18 February 2010
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Cambodia files a complaint against Google for placing more than half of Preah Vihear into Thai territory. Google has responded that they will look into the matter, and here’s a picture taken off Google Maps on Wednesday (10 Feb 2010).

Cambodia rebukes Google over disputed Thai border map
AFP, via Channel NewsAsia, 06 February 2010

Google to review Cambodian map over Preah Vihear Temple
Xinhua, 10 February 2010

Google says it will look into complaint from Cambodia that border map with Thailand is wrong
AFP, via Baltimore Sun, 10 February 2010

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The director-general of the Thai Fine Arts Department reports on the progress of a project to digitally recreate the buildings of Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya Historical Park taking shape
The Nation, 05 February 2010
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Alison in Cambodia writes about traditional ceramics making in Northeast Thailand using the paddle-and-anvil method, probably the oldest form of ceramics found in the regional archaeological record, and still a continuing tradition today.

Check out her full post (and video) here.

A small firefight broke out between Thai and Cambodian forces near the Preah Vihear border, reportedly when Thai troops encroached onto Cambodian territory. No casualties were reported, and both sides have moved quickly to the discussion table.

Thai Army Rangers clash with Cambodian troops near Preah Vihear temple
MCOT News, 24 January 2010

Khmer and Thai troops clash at border near temple
DPA, via The Nation 24 January 2010

Cambodia, Thai troops clash
AP, via Straits Times, 24 January 2010

Cambodia reports clash with Thai troops on border
AA, via Jakarta Post 24 January 2010
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Not strictly an archaeology story, but readers with an interest in primate anthropoid fossils might be interested in this story. (8/1 update: Raymond notes that the terminology used in the article is wrong, and that it’s not so much a primate as much as an anthropoid.)

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Oldest primate fossils found
Bangkok Post, 07 January 2010
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