The "Non-Representativeness" Within the Angkor Temples: Historiography from Archaeology in Banteay Kdei

MARUI Masako

Although Banteay Kdei lacks inscriptions indicating the origins of its construction, comparisons with other sites of confirmed dates suggest it was a Mahayana Buddhist temple built around the late 12th century. If "famous" sites like Angkor Wat and Bayon constitute the meta-narrative of not only Angkorian history but Cambodian history itself, Banteay Kdei might be distinguished as a "non-representative" site excluded from that narrative. However, over 30 years of research at Banteay Kdei conducted has revealed the dynamic and diverse patterns of use within the site space, spanning from ancient times to the modern era. The materials necessary to fully reconstruct both regional history and the history of the site itself are now available. The primary objective of this research is to elucidate the history of interactions between archaeological sites and people. The specific approaches taken to achieve this goal have varied according to the social environment of the time and the research interests of individual scholars. Examples include oral tradition surveys to clarify the transmission forms and contemporary social functions of narratives surrounding archaeological sites; oral history research and analysis of modern historical materials to elucidate the social history of regions encompassing modern and contemporary sites; and participant observation of rituals to reconstruct perceptions of boundaries surrounding death. Until now, the society of the villagers existed in a world where the narrative was alive, and they felt no need to deliberately record memories or experiences as words. However, the changing times demand the verbalization of narratives that have been projected onto archaeological sites and excavated materials.