Preah Khan Kompong Svay

There is little historical data about Preah Khan Kompong Svay. Some French scholars have argued that it was founded in the 11th century, probably by Suryavarman I. Evidence from sediment analysis suggests that the site was fully abandoned during the late 14th to 15th century, with maintenance of temples and infrastructure ceasing around the mid-14th century. The complex is notable for its use as a royal residence during the kingdom of Suryavarman II and as a military outpost for Jayavarman VII during conflicts with the Cham in the late 12th century. Some of the theories mentioned by Mitch Hendrickson and Damian Evans about what Preah Khan Kompong Svay actually was include a kingdom of the Khmer, its own entity, a trading outpost, and a defensive center. Many famous Khmer sculptures come from here, such as the putative head of Jayavarman VII that is displayed at the National Museum of Cambodia. The sculptures and carvings of Preah Khan are among the peak works of Khmer art, and the temples have been widely sacked in the past. Thieves have also damaged many structures while looting sculptures and carvings during the second half of the 1990s. ==Site==

Preah Khan Kompong Svay covers an area of about 22.5 square kilometers and has four concentric enclosures. Unusually for Khmer sites (which are typically oriented eastward), the temple complex is aligned to the northeast. It has entrances in all cardinal directions and is rounded by a windowed gallery. Revised mapping of the area using various methods, such as ASTER imagery, OrbView imagery, FINNMAP photographs, etc., shows extensive hydraulic structures, masonry religious structures, and concentrations of stoneware, earthware, imported porcelain, and various ceramics that point to 11th–17th-century occupation of the area. ==Iron production==

Due to its close proximity to iron sources, notably Phnom Dek (the "iron mountain"), the production of iron was thought to be central to Preah Khan's importance. Unlike other Angkorian sites, evidence for iron smelting was even found near temples and within the walled enclosures. Sediment analysis from the main baray supports a similar timeline. Evidence of widespread burning at the site, possibly for industrial purposes, appears in the mid-14th century, with little evidence for regular burning before that point. This sudden change in use could point to a departure of the Khmer, with the complex being repurposed by local groups. ==World Heritage Status==

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 27 March 2020 (originally proclaimed 1 September 1992), in the Cultural category. ==References==