The Apsara National Authority is considering to conserve and develop an ancient road connecting two capitals of the Angkor period – Sothor (Angkor) and Hariharalaya (Roluos) in Siem Reap. apsara national authority
The Apsara National Authority is considering to conserve and develop an ancient road connecting two capitals of the Angkor period – Sothor (Angkor) and Hariharalaya (Roluos) in Siem Reap province’s Kandek commune, Prasat Bakong district.
If carried out, the project will serve to turn the road into a living heritage. Apsara National Authority spokesman Long Kosal said after excavating it, the road was found to have connected the two capitals in Siem Reap.
A technical working group would continue its research into other ancient roads falling outside the park. This study, Kosal said, is aimed at promoting the value of ancient roads, bridges and constructions along them to raise awareness among the younger generations.
“We are studying the ancient road with a view to using it in the future because it has been left alone for a long time. No one has walked on or used it for years. We are now collecting data on road infrastructures to develop and conserve in the future,” he said.
Chhean Rotha, the acting president of the department of conservation outside the park, said the excavation of the ancient road infrastructure in Roluos was carried out to compare it with others in different locations.
He said the working group had arrived there to study the ancient master plan, measure it and open five excavation pits to learn about Khmer ancestors’ techniques in road building. The results showed that the road was built with sand and clay poured on the top layer.
“This road is 1.2-1.5m-high and 56-66m-long, with a divider of 30-40m-long. Both its sloping sides are 3m-wide. It also has a canal that is between 7m- and 10m-long.
“In addition to the excavation results, measurements at different locations of its stretch showed that the road has a total of 70-100m of canals flanking it. Close to its upper part, the body of the road gets narrower to between 56m and 66m,” Rotha said.
Suom Sophea, a technical employee at the department, said the period when the road was built remained unclear. But according to a chronology, it might have been built during the first period of King Yasovarman I (889-910BC).
He had moved Roluos’ capital and built a new one in the Angkor area, also known as “Sothor” with Phnom Bakheng as the middle point.
Sophea said the King returned in 893BC to build a Lolei temple in dedication to his ancestors. During the second period, construction of the temple may have been completed during the reign of King Jayavarman VII (1181-1218 BC).
The ancient road and bridge were for people to travel on. They connected Angkor to Roluos as the bridge is an irrigation system on a 12km ancient road that remains until today.
“The bridge is part of each road infrastructure with the canal always flanking the latter. There are higher lands for people to live on. There are ponds, temples, dwelling halls and hospitals along the road,” he said.
According to the Inventory of Archaeological Sites (Cisark), the bridge had never been previously excavated or repaired.
It was only mentioned by French linguist and archaeologist Etienne Aymonier in 1900, Lune de la Jongere in 1911, and Christoph Potter in 1999.
It was finally listed by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in cooperation with the L’Ecole francaise d’Extreme-Orient (EFEO) between 1995 and 2007. The dilapidated sandstone bridge is 2m-high, 21m-long and 6m-wide, with eight holes to expel water.
