Japanese-Cambodian Collaboration Reveals Ceramic Secrets

via Phnom Penh Post, 25 December 2023: In a collaborative effort between Japan’s National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH) and the Preah Vihear National Authority, six Japanese students are utilizing ground-penetrating radar (GPR) at the ancient Kork Dei Chhnang ceramic kiln near Koh Ker temple in Cambodia. This research, led by Japanese professor Yukitsugu Tabata, focuses on ancient pottery production, aiming to understand the structure and size of the kilns. The GPR technology aids in precise excavation planning, with ongoing research and categorization of findings, emphasizing the significance of each site’s heritage.

n collaboration with Japan’s National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH), six students are conducting research using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) at the Kork Dei Chhnang ancient ceramic kiln near the remote Koh Ker temple complex in the northern province of Preah Vihear, which shares its border with Thailand. Their aim is to pinpoint the exact location for future excavation.

Phin Samnang, director of the Preah Vihear National Authority’s (PVNA) Department of Research, Training and Documentation, said on December 24 that the research on the ancient kiln commenced in 2019 under PVNA’s technical officer’s guidance. Subsequently, the Japanese expressed interest in this initiative.

In 2020, Yukitsugu Tabata, director of the NICH at Waseda University, formalised this collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PVNA to streamline the excavation of the site.

Source: ​Radar-armed Japanese scholars dig into Cambodia’s ceramic past | Phnom Penh Post