Urbanism and Residential Patterning in Angkor

Excavations at Ta Prohm, a temple site within the Angkor region of the Khmer Empire (9th–15th centuries), reveal that residential occupation occurred within the temple enclosure from before the 11th century until the 14th century. This challenges the traditional assumption that stone temples were solely loci of ritual and highlights their dual role as centers of habitation. By leveraging LiDAR data to guide excavations, researchers identified patterns of urbanism unique to Angkorian cities, offering new insights into the complexity and diversity of ancient urban systems in mainland Southeast Asia.

Carter, A., Heng, P., Stark, M., Chhay, R., & Evans, D. (2018). Urbanism and Residential Patterning in Angkor. Journal of Field Archaeology, 43(6), 492–506. https://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2018.1503034