APSARA National Authority Completes Excavation of Ceramic Kiln Site at Dei Chhnang Gate of Angkor Thom

The archeological team of the Angkor International Centre of research and documentation of APSARA National Authority continues to study and completes the excavation of the site of the ceramic kilns at Dei Chhnang Gate of Angkor Thom, according to a news release of APSARA National Authority on Mar. 21.

Mr. Tin Tina, Deputy Director of the Angkor International Centre of research and documentation, said that in late 2019, his team excavated on an ancient mound called Tuol Trapeang Bos to confirm if that mound was an ancient ceramic kiln. Through the excavation results, the team found the structure of the low-temperature kiln, which was used for ceramic production such as pots, water jars, and tiles.

According to the research results, which is an important database that can confirm that there were ceramic kilns on the dam in the northwest corner of Dei Chhnang Gate of Angkor Thom, that is why the working team of the Angkor International Centre of research and documentation continues to collect data on pottery clusters and post-analysis of GPS at the site of the ceramic kilns of Dei Chhnang Gate of Angkor Thom to determine the scope of the site, determine the number of mounds and divide the group of the mounds. As a result, we can determine that the ceramic kilns at Dei Chhnang Gate of Angkor Thom have a total of 24 kilns and are divided into 11 groups, he added.

Mr. Tin Tina said that since the beginning of February 2022, the team has selected TDCK7a in group 7 for excavation. The concept of kiln excavation is to learn more about the structure of other kilns in this area, whether it is similar to the TDCK1 (Tuol Trapeang Bos) kiln, and to understand the kiln group connection at this site.

Until mid-March 2022, as a result of excavations, the remains of the kiln structure were found to have the same structure as the TDCK1 kiln, but with the difference that on the TDCK1 mound, there was only one kiln. On the other hand, on the TDCK7a, there are four kilns and according to the research results, two or three kilns can burn at the same time, he continued.

Mr. Chhay Rachana, head of the ceramic study office of the Angkor International Centre of research and documentation, said that of the four ceramic kilns at TDCK7a, not all were large, some were just 1.5 metres in diametre and some are the same size as the kiln at TDCK1 with a diametre of 2.2 metres, and a length of 3 metres. It can be concluded that it is an ancient kiln structure that started to produce ceramics in the late 13th century and ended in the early 15th century.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press