The Khmer did not live by rice alone: Archaeobotanical investigations at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm

Archaeobotanical research at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm reveals that the Khmer Empire's non-elite populations relied on a diverse range of plants beyond rice for sustenance, ritual, and medicinal purposes. By analyzing macroremains and phytoliths from residential contexts within temple enclosures—combined with historical inscriptions and Zhou Daguan’s 13th-century accounts—the study reconstructs aspects of daily life in these sacred urban landscapes. Findings indicate that plants cultivated or foraged in these spaces played crucial roles in diet, household economies, and ceremonial practices, challenging the notion that rice was the sole staple. This interdisciplinary approach sheds light on the multifaceted functions of Angkorian temples as hubs of ritual, politics, and subsistence.

Castillo, C. C., Carter, A., Kingwell-Banham, E., Zhuang, Y., Weisskopf, A., Chhay, R., Heng, P., Fuller, D. Q., & Stark, M. (2020). The Khmer did not live by rice alone: Archaeobotanical investigations at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm. Archaeological Research in Asia, 24, 100213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ara.2020.100213