The ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia has fascinated scholars and visitors alike since its rediscovery in the mid-nineteenth century. All are wonderstruck by the beauty and multiplicity of the sculptures that adorn its temples and structures and are overwhelmed by the sheer size of Angkor. There is nothing to equal it in the archaeological world.
A great deal was already known about the history of Angkor and the brilliant Khmer civilization that built it thanks to pioneering work by archaeologists and scholars, but our knowledge has now been completely revolutionized by cutting-edge technology. Airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) has revealed entire cities that were previously unknown and a complex urban landscape with highways and waterways, profoundly transforming our interpretations of the development and supposed decline of Angkor.
In this comprehensive edition of Angkor and the Khmer Civilization, respected archaeologist Michael Coe is joined by Damian Evans, who led this remarkable program of scientific exploration, to present the results and implications of these groundbreaking discoveries that are rewriting history.
Contributors
Michael D. Coe
Author
Michael D. Coe was professor emeritus of anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus for the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. His books include The Maya, Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs, and Breaking the Maya Code.
Damian Evans
Author
Damian Evans was the founding director of the University of Sydney's Overseas Research Center at Siem Reap-Angkor and a research fellow at the École Française d'Extreme-Orient (EFEO).
