Resilience, Landesque Capital, and the Long Durée: Re‑evaluating the Post‑Angkorian Fluvial Landscapes of the Lower Mekong

Scott G. Hawken1*, Martin Polkinghorne2, NHIM Sotheavin3, PHON Kaseka4, Belinda Duke2, Vito Hernandez2, Simon Hoad2, SUY Pov5, and LENG Vitou6

The 14th - 15th century relocation of the Angkorian elite from the plains of central Cambodia to the riverine networks of the Mekong represents a reconfiguration of Southeast Asian political and economic geography. Conventionally framed as a “collapse,” this paper challenges that narrative, arguing instead for a strategic reorientation toward the agricultural opportunities of Mekong fluvial urbanism. We analyse this transition through the theoretical lens of “landesque capital” – long‑term, cumulative landscape investments – to demonstrate how early modern Cambodian centres prioritised the adaptation and intensification of a distinct suite of infrastructural ecologies. Whereas the Angkorian “hydraulic city” relied on massive centrally planned water systems, post‑Angkorian polities such as Tuol Basan / Srei Santhor and Longvek integrated themselves within the seasonal dynamics of the Mekong and its distributaries. Our multidisciplinary approach combines historical chronicles with remote sensing and geospatial analysis to map and evaluate the landesque infrastructure of these settlements. We identify a resilient agrarian model based on the sophisticated management of boeung (back‑marshes) and the construction of braek (canals) and daṃnap (dykes) to facilitate colmatage—a traditional form of landesque capital that utilises silt‑laden floodwaters to create highly productive rice and orchard landscapes. This study reveals a form of ecological resilience that contrasts sharply with the Angkorian model and offers a more nuanced understanding of Khmer civilisation. We conclude that these legacy landscapes represent enduring strategies of socio‑ecological adaptation that remain relevant for contemporary discussions of food security and sustainable development in the face of modern environmental change and rapid urban expansion.