Architectural Masonry Features for Prasat Suor Prat

Prasat Sour Prat (PSP) towers, located just outside the Royal Palace and Plaza in Angkor Thom, exhibit distinctive masonry features that challenge conventional assumptions about material use in Khmer architecture. Unlike other structures at Koh Ker, PSP was constructed primarily with laterite blocks, a choice that appears to reflect rapid construction methods and practical considerations rather than aesthetic or symbolic preferences. By comparing PSP's techniques with those of other laterite structures at Koh Ker, researchers identified unique processing and masonry traits—such as faster assembly—that likely stemmed from the material's availability and the need for expedited building during a specific historical period. This study sheds light on the functional and logistical aspects of laterite use in ancient Khmer construction, offering insights into the adaptability and efficiency of their architectural practices.

AKAZAWA, Y., NAKAGAWA, T., & MIZOGUCHI, A. (2015). ARCHITECTURAL MASONRY FEATURES FOR PRASAT SUOR PRAT. Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ), 80(717), 2653–2659. https://doi.org/10.3130/aija.80.2653