![This week in Southeast Asian Archaeology: Prambanan gets some renewed attention, Phimai Black pottery surfaces at Mun Bon Dam, and I’m taking a short break next week.⠀
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The featured stories look at the new Indonesia–India conservation project at Prambanan, focusing on the temple complex’s ruined perwara shrines, and a striking Late Prehistoric find in northeast Thailand: a remarkably complete Phimai Black vessel discovered as water levels fell at Mun Bon Dam.⠀
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Temples, pottery, reservoirs, and a little scheduled rest. Back again on 27 July.⠀
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Read this week’s newsletter: [link in bio]⠀
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#SoutheastAsianArchaeology #Archaeology #Heritage #Prambanan #Thailand #Indonesia #Cambodia #Vietnam #CulturalHeritage #Substack](https://scontent-sin6-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/744214042_18361115071209510_2262608560893170251_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=efvF5aVfY5EQ7kNvwHCwB5Y&_nc_oc=Adrhygfs4_3OVhjr2Rgbgpm8FmeWkE2yymjBA2vziLdP9JGysLT5sw8HvP0DyoT9ok0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sin6-3.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=E2a971KxU5zWh5nw04VahQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQG3isXxBQ6X2iiWSZMjLP-e67HFOBtkU91-gQ-AKbsKRt5f8E-T4V3vusgBi5f3KhWHhujQj78B&oh=00_AQDe-6UC5alsUH9NnC76ElPMhHOuQqr5Md7rQWU22phWgQ&oe=6A65E271 "This week in Southeast Asian Archaeology: Prambanan gets some renewed attention, Phimai Black pottery surfaces at Mun Bon Dam, and I’m taking a short break next week.⠀
⠀
The featured stories look at the new Indonesia–India conservation project at Prambanan, focusing on the temple complex’s ruined perwara shrines, and a striking Late Prehistoric find in northeast Thailand: a remarkably complete Phimai Black vessel discovered as water levels fell at Mun Bon Dam.⠀
⠀
Temples, pottery, reservoirs, and a little scheduled rest. Back again on 27 July.⠀
⠀
Read this week’s newsletter: [link in bio]⠀
⠀
#SoutheastAsianArchaeology #Archaeology #Heritage #Prambanan #Thailand #Indonesia #Cambodia #Vietnam #CulturalHeritage #Substack")
It looks like Cambodia is unable to stop the sale of Khmer artefacts in other countries, or in eBay because such artefacts need to be ‘listed’ as an item of cultural heritage. But such an exercise in listing and inventorying requires far more resources than Cambodia can currently afford. Is this a loophole in the system that needs to be closed?
The Ministry of Culture Says It Is Not Able to Bring Back Khmer Artifacts Put Up for Sale in the United State of America
Deum Ampil, 10 March 2009, translated by the Cambodia Mirror.
A high-ranking official of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts stated that the Cambodian government is not able to bring back artifacts which are not listed here and lost, but are reported now in the United State of America and in some other countries.
“A secretary of state of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Mr. Chuch Phoeun, told Deum Ampil on Monday evening 9 March 2009, ‘The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is not able to collect Khmer artifacts that are lost and not yet listed as Cambodian cultural heritage, even though those artifacts are claimed to be property of Cambodia.’
This is a huge loophole but considering how much money other countries have spent trying to get their cultural heritage back (e.g. Italy) it seems like it would be almost impossible. That money might be better spent by protecting and conserving archaeological sites and ensuring future sites aren’t looted. It’s a tough place to be in.