SEAArch – The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog

Residents of ancient houses known as Nha Ruong are refusing government funding for refurbishment because of the long-term costs of upkeeping such houses and the strict restrictions that are placed on future refurbishment works.

Residents decline funding to save ancient homes
Saigon Giai Phong, 05 Jan 2010
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The 12th century temple of Banteay Chmar is the next temple to be proposed as a World Heritage Site, although experts say that the final listing will not be for another few years. The temple was recently restored, and Alison has some great photos of the site here.

Cambodia to register 12th century temple as World Heritage Site
Xinhua, 09 August 2009

Experts say World Heritage listing for Banteay Chmar will take years
Phnom Penh Post, 11 August 2009
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It’s a sad irony when even the locals cannot afford the entrance fee to their own heritage sites – but that said, sites like these require revenue to maintain them and so it seems necessary to charge a fee. This story got me thinking about other sites in Southeast Asia that require fees to enter – A day-pass at Angkor is probably the most expensive, at USD20; at Borobudur the price for foreigners is USD10 and in Thailand entry to various sites cost between USD2-6. The entry to Hue is comparable at USD3 for foreigners. I don’t have a problem paying higher fees than locals, but I do wonder sometimes at these sites if the revenue goes to the maintenance of the site or to some higher-up’s pocket.

Hue Citadel visit is beyond means of many Vietnamese
Vietnam Net Bridge, 22 July 2009
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A local television station, Bayon TV, raised US$300,000 in pledges to help with the conservation of the Preah Vihear temple.

Bayon TV raises $300,000 for PVihear
Phnom Penh Post, 09 July 2009
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One year after their inscription, how are the two new Southeast Asian World Heritage sites faring? Cambodia is celebrating with particular pride, after all the ill-will the listing has brought about against neighbouring Thailand. In Malaysia, worries about George Town (and therefore Malacca) will lose its heritage status are eased as an agreement has come with some developers to limit the height of their proposed constructions.

Cambodia marks anniversary of temple’s world heritage listing
AFP, 07 July 2009

Pride party for Preah Vihear
Phnom Penh Post, 06 July 2009

Border troops break bread
Phnom Penh Post, 06 July 2009

Penang stays on Unesco list
AP, via Straits Times, 01 July 2009

Malacca and George Town stay on Heritage list
The Sun, 29 June 2009
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A couple of weeks ago, I visited Thailand and made a trip to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, capital of the Siamese kingdom from the 14th to 18th centuries. The city eventually fell to the Burmese, and the kingdom moved the capital to what is known as Bangkok today. But the ancient city still endures, and today it’s a World Heritage Site that’s a great way to spend a day or two if you’re based in Bangkok. In this post I’ll highlight some of the major sites and ruins in the Ayutthaya Historical Park.

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IS PM Abhisit trying to pull a fast one? He announces that a delay in the official registration of the Preah Vihear temple will give Cambodia and Thailand time to resolve their conflict. Conveniently, the Unesco committee says that the formal registration of the site is to be pushed to next February because it has yet to finish matters at its end. But it sounds like Thailand is implicitly claiming that they have somehow caused the delay to happen – a move probably designed to placate the feelings that have run high over the matter and save face for not having their protest heard in Seville last week. Of course, I could just be reading too much into this short piece of news.

Thai PM says delayed Preah Vihear temple World Heritage Site registration could solve problems
MCOT, 30 June 2009
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