From Consumption to Production: Chemical and Type Trends in Angkorian Stonewares from the Regional Center of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay, Cambodia (11th to 13th c. CE)

Mitch Hendrickson1*, Miriam T. Stark2, Peter Grave3, Lisa Kealhofer4, Hong Ranet5, Dominique Soutif6, PHON Kaseka6, and Quan Hua7

Recent research on Angkorian stoneware kiln groups across Cambodia and northeast Thailand has generated considerable data sets directed toward the nature of ceramic production. Here we present a corpus of Khmer stonewares from the regional center of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay (PKKS) to explore consumption trends and demonstrate how this data can also enhance our understanding of circulation practices and production. Neutron activation analysis of a large sample of stonewares (n=763) from excavated and looted contexts is found to align with the spatio-temporal shifts in Khmer kiln regions between the 11th and 13th centuries. In addition to demonstrating the robustness of the Khmer transportation networks, the chemical results also reveal the presence of previously undocumented white ware production signatures in northeast Thailand. Comparison of ceramic ratios (e.g., stonewares-earthenwares-imports) from PKKS and other excavated contexts (e.g., temples, settlement, metal production) forces us to consider issues of circulation and access, preference and choice and, more directly, what role(s) stonewares played in Khmer society.