Re-evaluating the occupation history of Koh Ker, Cambodia, during the Angkor period: A palaeo-ecological approach

Palaeoecological and geoarchaeological evidence reveals that Koh Ker, Cambodia, remained occupied by its domestic population for several centuries after the royal court relocated to Angkor in the 10th century. This challenges the long-held assumption that the city's abandonment by the elite marked the end of its occupation. The study employed multi-proxy environmental reconstructions—including sediment analysis and plant remains—to trace human activity and land use patterns, demonstrating their persistence well beyond the documented political shifts. These findings underscore the value of integrating palaeoecological data to refine our understanding of Khmer urban dynamics during the Angkor period.

Hall, T., Penny, D., & Hamilton, R. (2018). Re-evaluating the occupation history of Koh Ker, Cambodia, during the Angkor period: A palaeo-ecological approach. Plos One, 13(10), e0203962. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203962