新发现改写吴哥窟的历史

The temple of Angkor Wat was much larger and more complex than previously ¹ thought, University of Sydney archaeologists have discovered. The University of Sydney's Professor Roland Fletcher and Dr Damian Evans lead the Greater Angkor Project in Cambodia, a major international research collaboration ² which is using airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) technology, ground-penetrating radar ³ and targeted excavation ⁴ to map the great pre-industrial temple., ,The landscape of Angkor Wat redefined, ,The team has discovered that the Angkor Wat complex was far larger than expected, had more components ⁵ than previously envisaged ⁶, and was bounded on its south side by a unique and massive structure., ,"This structure, which has dimensions of more than 1500m×600m, is the most striking discovery associated with Angkor Wat to date. Its function remains ⁷ unknown and, as yet, it has no known equivalent in the Angkorian world," said Professor Fletcher, from the University's Department of Archaeology ⁸., ,The team also discovered Angkor Wat includes an entire ensemble ⁹ of buried 'towers' built and demolished ¹⁰ during the construction and initial use of the main temple, remains of what is thought might be a shrine ¹¹ used during the construction period., ,Roads and homes hint at workers' role, ,The areas surrounding Angkor Wat have long been assumed to be sacred precincts or 'temple-cities'. However, the research has revealed evidence of low-density residential ¹² occupation in the region, including a grid ¹³ of roads, ponds and mounds ¹⁴, possibly used by people servicing the temple., ,"This challenges our traditional understanding of the social hierarchy ¹⁵ of the Angkor Wat community and shows that the temple precinct, bounded by moat and wall, may not have been exclusively the preserve of the wealthy or the priestly elite," said Dr Fletcher.