Casting for the King: The Royal Palace bronze workshop of Angkor Thom

A multidisciplinary project at Angkor Thom has uncovered the first historically documented bronze workshop in Southeast Asia, providing unprecedented insights into Khmer metallurgical practices. Analysis of production waste, including ceramics, molds, and casting debris, revealed specialized techniques for crafting statues and objects, likely serving the royal elite to adorn palaces, temples, and legitimize political power through divine imagery. The discovery highlights the significance of this workshop in both artistic output and symbolic governance during Angkor's peak.

Polkinghorne, M., Vincent, B., Thomas, N., & Bourgarit, D. (2014). Casting for the King: The Royal Palace bronze workshop of Angkor Thom. Bulletin de l’Ecole Française d’Extrême-Orient, 100(1), 327–358. https://doi.org/10.3406/befeo.2014.6179