SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog

All quiet til June

noelbynature — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:12:44 +0000

I’m off to do some fieldwork and will have little internet access for the next five weeks, so expect to hear little updates from this site until the middle of June. In the meantime, if you see any news related to the archaeology of Southeast Asia, why not share it on the Facebook page?

On that note, any readers in Bangkok, Vientiane and Luang Prabang interested in a meetup over coffee and/or beer?

Weekend tomb raiders

noelbynature — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:39:16 +0000

Not of the artifact-looting sort. A feature on the Stone Hunters Group, a group of heritage/history enthusiasts who spend their free time searching for and exploring ruins in Java.

Searching for relics amid the hills
Jakarta Post, 24 April 2012

Members of Gerombolan Pemburu Batu (Bol Brutu) or the Stone Hunters Group, explorers of archeological relics and historical sites, reached Candi Ijo in Prambanan, 25 kilometers east of Yogyakarta, on one bright Sunday morning.

Perched on a hill at an altitude of 350 meters, Candi Ijo is the highest temple in the region, and is comprised of a main temple and three perwara (ancillary) buildings.

In the temple yard, over a dozen “stone hunters” had gathered and were chatting. Some began to study the structures believed to date back to the ninth century AD.

Full story here.

Fire destroys library of Wat Phanan Choeng

noelbynature — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:02:27 +0000

The library of Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya, containing many old and rare books, has been completely destroyed by a fire that broke out yesterday afternoon.

photo: jfantenb

Fire burns down ancient book library of Wat Phanancheong
The Nation, 24 April 2012

A fire burned down the library building where an ancient tapitaka and many rare old books were kept in a famous temple in this central province Tuesday afternoon.

The fire broke out at 3 pm at the two-storey building of the temple. The fire quickly engulfed the building and destroyed all the books.

The abbot of the temple said the fire caused damages worth Bt40 million.

Full story here.

Angkor sees increased visitors from South Korea and China this year

noelbynature — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:22:14 +0000

Siem Reap’s Tourism Authorities provide statistics from the first quarter of the year, showing an increase of tourists from South Korea and China.

photo: Arian Zwegers

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat attracted 639,800 tourists in Q1
The Sun, via Bernama, 21 April 2012

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temples, one of the world heritage sites, has attracted 639,800 tourists, an increase of 45 percent, in the first quarter of this year.

Tourists from top three countries visitng Angkor Wat are South Korea, Vietnam and China, respectively, the statistics of Siem Reap provincial tourism department said Friday.

During the period from January to March this year, some 132,750 South Koreans, 75,088 Vietnamese, and 49,231 Chinese had visited the temples, up 67 percent, 15 percent and 54 percent respectively, reports Xinhua news agency.

“We see that the visitors from South Korea and China are on the sharp rise,” Chhoeuy Chhorn, administration chief of Siem Reap provincial tourism department, told Xinhua via telephone.

Full story here.

Photography exhibition showcases caves of Cagayan

noelbynature — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:10:59 +0000

A photography exhibition at the Cagayan Museum showcases photographic works with the archaeologically significant Cagayan Caves as the subject matter.

Cagayan Cave photo exhibit draws crowd
Philippine Information Agency, 20 April 2012

Cave photos of 10 environment artists in an on-going exhibit continue to draw appreciative audiences less than a month after it opened to the public at the Cagayan Museum exhibit area of the provincial capitol.

Cagayan Museum officials said that while it showcased the output of a photo workshop, it likewise served as a long-overdue tribute to the late Richard “Chang” Guzman, a multi-awarded Cagayano artists.

Called “Cagayan: Art of Darkness Cave Photography exhibit,” it captured the archaeological richness of the province through images of caves at the same time recognizing the efforts of Guzman, the acknowledged father of Cave Photography in Cagayan Valley.

Full story here.

Artifacts from Hoi An to be exhibited in Japan

noelbynature — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:54:08 +0000

The Kyushu National Museum has inked a deal with Hoi An to exhibit some of the artifacts from the World Heritage Site.

Hoi An antiques to be displayed in Japan
Tuoi Tre News, 17 April 2012

The Hoi An People’s Committee has approved the lending of many antiques to be exhibited at the Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu city, Fukuoka prefecture in Japan.

These items include colorful glass items found at Lang Beach, Cham Island and the remains of Japanese Hizen pottery found at house No. 16, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai in Hoi An’s old town.

Experts at the Kyushu National Museum have completed documents to select and borrow antiques from the Hoi An Center of Heritage Conservation and Management.
Having antiques exhibited at a Japanese museum is a chance for Hoi An to promote its image to the Japanese and help them understand the trade link between the two countries in the past.

Full story here.

The Clarence wreck in Australia and its modern SEA connections

noelbynature — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:35:24 +0000

Earlier this year I posted a call by the Archaeology Unit from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies for The Australian Historic Shipwreck Protection Project. The Age has a story out about the underwater excavation and a mention about the Southeast Asian archaeologists working at the site.

Wreck reveals its bounty
The Age, 17 April 2012

One of Australia’s largest underwater research projects started this week when a team of 60 scientists, students and volunteers began a month-long study of the Clarence’s remains.

With a $500,000 grant from the Australian Research Council, those involved in the three-year project will examine the hull of the 67-tonne, 15-metre wooden ship and the objects found aboard it.

Monash University marine archaeologist Mark Staniforth says the research is intended to develop a “sophisticated protocol” for rapid excavation, detailed recording and reburial of significant shipwrecks that are at risk — “and to foster a strategic national approach for shipwreck management”.

…

The National University of Singapore is another sponsor. It has paid for four Asian marine archaeologists from Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines to take part in the excavation. Professor Staniforth says that although thousands of shipwrecks are scattered around the Asian region, there are few trained specialists to work on them. Taking part in a big underwater excavation is something the visitors have never experienced before.

Full story here.

Archaeological vessel caught between China-Philippine standoff

noelbynature — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:47:01 +0000

The MY Sarangani, an archaeological survey vessel, was caught in a standoff between China and the Philippines over their disputed ownership of the Scarborough/Panatag Shoal earlier this week. The vessel was reportedly conducting salvage over a Chinese shipwreck.

PH files protest vs Chinese harassment of research boat in Scarborough Shoal
Philippine Inquirer, 16 April 2012

China urges Philippine archaeological vessel to leave Huangyan Island
People’s Daily Online, 17 April 2012

China wants PHL archaeological vessel out of Panatag Shoal
GMA Network, 17 April 2012

Dispute with China continues; Philippines stands firm
Business World Online, 17 April 2012

In Standoff, China Tells Philippines to Leave Scarborough Shoal
New America Media, 17 April 2012

Philippines ignores China demand to quit shoal
Philippine Inquirer, 19 April 2012

Philippine archaeological ship leaves troubled West Philippine Sea
Philippine Inquirer, 19 April 2012

PHL archaeological vessel leaves Panatag Shoal
GMA News

The Philippines lodged on Monday a diplomatic protest over the “acts of harassment” by Chinese ships and aircraft of the MY Saranggani, a Manila-registered vessel doing archaeological research in the Scarborough Shoal area.

Raul Hernandez, the Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman, said “such actions are in violation of the sovereign right and jurisdiction of the Philippines to conduct marine research in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.”

“The Philippines demanded that the Chinese ships and aircraft cease the harassment of the vessel so that its crew can complete its work,” Hernandez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

According to Hernandez, the DFA “filed the protest through Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing.”

“Any attempted action by the Chinese ships or aircraft against the Saranggani will be considered by the Philippines as a gross violation of its national laws and of international law,” he warned.

Full story here, and on the links above.

Banteay Chmar, Cambodia’s next draw

noelbynature — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:35:49 +0000

Recently cleared of mines and with restoration work under way, Banteay Chmar may one day be an attraction as large as Angkor Wat. The news link also has a video in it.

2nd Angkor Wat to wake
CNTN, 13 April 2012

The temples at Banteay Chhmar, dubbed as Cambodia’s “Second Angkor Wat” are slowly returning to life after eight centuries of isolated slumber.

Archaeologists have been invited to rebuild the ancient temples stone by stone. With landmines cleared and roads being paved, the temples will soon be on the tourist trail.

The famous temples at Angkor Wat are Cambodia’s biggest tourist attraction, drawing around 7-thousand tourists a day from around the world.

Yet 160 kilometers to the west, in Banteay Chhmar, the scene couldn’t be more different.

Known as Cambodia’s “Second Angkor Wat”, the 12 square kilometer complex of ancient Angkorian temples attracts just one or two visitors a day. The temple was built by King Jayavarman VII in the 12th Century – shortly after he constructed Angkor Wat – to commemorate his son, who was killed in battle.

Full story (and video) here.

Koh Ker Warrior: A summary of events thus far

noelbynature — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:24:41 +0000

We’ve been following the story of the Koh Ker warrior auction here, this is just a summary story by AFP on the current controversy.

Cambodian statue sparks legal battle in US
AFP, via AsiaOne, 15 April 2012

For a year, an ancient Cambodian statue of a warrior has been at the centre of a legal battle in New York in which US authorities back Cambodia’s claim that the artwork was looted.

The standoff between Sotheby’s auctioneers, who intended to sell the thousand-year-old statue, and the US government hardened on April 4 when a federal prosecutor in New York demanded its surrender.

Sotheby’s currently holds onto the work, but its future is unclear.

Full story here.