While earlier episodes have explored the grand temple complexes, royal inscriptions, and hydraulic engineering that defined the Khmer Empire, this episode turns its gaze downward to the soil beneath Angkor Wat. We examine how modern archaeologists are reconstructing the daily lives of the thousands who lived in the shadow of the devaraja cult, moving beyond the stone monuments to uncover the organic materials that decayed away. Through the study of pollen, dental records, and settlement patterns revealed by LiDAR surveys, we explore the diet, health, and social hierarchy of ordinary Khmer citizens during the height of Jayavarman VII’s reign. This conversation delves into the evidence of rice cultivation, the prevalence of periodontal disease among the elite versus the commoner, and the surprising findings from burial sites that challenge our understanding of class mobility in medieval Southeast Asia. We also look at the recent discoveries at Beng Mealea and Preah Khan of Kompong Svay, which offer a window into the peripheral networks that sustained the capital. By listening to what the earth has preserved, we begin to hear the voices of those who built the empire but left no stones behind.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Fexingo. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Fexingo och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
