Nowadays, local and foreign researchers have been interested in ceramics studies of Pre-Angkorian(1st – 8th century) and Angkorian (9th – end of 13th century) periods in Cambodia, especially in the Angkor region, Siem Reap province. In 1883, first ancient kiln site of Ankorian period was found by E. Aymonier which was situated in Anglong Thom village, Khnorng Phnom commune, Svay loeu district. Later on, some ceramics had been found during the excavation surveys, restoration works at temples, and other areas.

Since 1995, other kiln sites were found in the Angkor region. Thus, many researchers have been interested more and more in the ceramics studies, but not much in roof tile studies.

Recently, we are getting information of the Pre-Angkorian tiles. In Angkor Borei district, Takeo province, local people have found some Pre-Angkorian tiles and donated to The Angkor borei Museum for display and preserving. Beside this area, there is another Khmer ancient site which was a Khmer port in Pre-Angkorian period, called OE OV. It is where Pre-Angkorian tile have been found, but I do not study it because that site is located in Vietnam and its shapes are similar to Angkor Borei tiles.

Another Pre-Angkorian site which is located in Kampong Thom province is called Sambo Prei kuk area (Isanapura city in 7th century). Pre-Ankorian tiles have also been found and reserved at the Office of The Sambo Prei kuk Conservation Project, cooperated between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Cambodia and the Architectural laboratory of Waseda University, Japan. The collection was held at the Khnach Tol  and excavated area at the temples of Sambo Prei kuk group (North group).

Beside Pre-Angkorian and Angkorian tiles, Post-Angkorian tiles have been found as well, but due to the incompletion and inaccuracy of tiles information, they are not studied while some researchers affirmed that there are tiles which were produced in Post-Angkorian period.

Until now we have not known when the ancient Khmer started using tiles made of clay materials, how it evolved, what kind of Building was roofed by tiles and what kind of people were, and whether the tiles used at the temples in Angkor region were local or imported products.

For replying to the questions above, 3 main points have been raised to study in this research topic:

1. Influence and evolution of tiles from Pre-Angkorian to Angkorian periods, which include shapes, row-materials and typologies. (See the tiles from 4 kiln sites in the Angkor region such as Anlong Thom, Tani, Khar Po and Sasei for further information.)

2. Comparing between the tiles of the 4 kilns above and the tiles of the excavation surveys or surface collections from Prasat Pimean Akas (Ancient Royal Palace), Prasat Suor Prat, Prasat Banteay kdei (D11 area) and Kor Ker area, for understanding that which kiln produced the tiles for the temples?

3. Trying to study what kind of Khmer Architecture buildings has been roofed by tiles? This studying is based on the tile evidence of excavation surveys and base-reliefs.

For understanding its technical producing and usage, the two kinds of modern tiles (unglazed and glazed Sror Ka Linh) are brought out to study as examples.

As a result, it shows that tiles have been used from the Pre-Angkorian period (at least 5th century) to Angkorian period (9th – 11th century). Its shapes had changed from flat shapes (Indian influence) to curving shapes (Chinese influence), but the curving shapes were changed to flat shapes in the present days. However, the present flat shapes are not the same as the Pre-Angkorian flat shapes. Besides, we can understand how producing and using of tiles on the wooden buildings of the temples which are the local products.

I hope that the result of this research topic will be a light for the next generation.

For the details of this research topic, please read its full paper of Bachelor thesis-2006, Faculty of Archaeology, the Royal university of Fine Arts (in Khmer).

Map of the study areas (extracted map from WWW.mapquest.com)