Excavating an iron factory dating back to thousands of years in Cambodia

A group of Cambodian and international scientists have discovered an archaeological site of the first Angkorian iron mill that is receiving the attention of Asian archaeologists.

After three weeks of excavation in Preah Vihear province, a group of Cambodian and international scientists discovered in the area of ​​Rovieng near Phnom Dek mountain an iron smelter was used about a millennium ago, equivalent to about 1000 years ago.

' We found a lot of kiln legs, the crutches in the factory collapsed, and it was an iron-making facility almost fully discovered ' - Canadian archaeologist Mitch Hendrickson of the University of Illinois at Chicago said in a statement.

Earlier, many evidence related to iron smelter was found near the area. According to Hendrickson and archaeologist Phon Kaseka, archaeological director at the Royal Institution of Cambodia, they have for the first time surveyed the area since 2009 and discovered a furnace pipe. Back in 2013, they found many coal, carbon, estimated in the 11th and 12th centuries of the Angkor era.

Combined with previous relics and recent discoveries, the excavation provides a lot of important clues about the era of metal production for the Angkor Empire, serving weapons for the military and the public. He worked for farmers from iron columns to build temples . Mr. Kaseka said.

When conducting archaeological analysis, the results showed that the iron smelter area at this factory had been operating for a long time before officially stopping its operation.

Surveying through the area of ​​the factory mounds, the team discovered at least 6 or 7 iron metallurgy areas according to different stages. Mr. Hendrickson added.

Not only that, last week, the group also found a small clay oven containing a large amount of iron, a 1m to 2m high furnace, placed in a corner of the factory. According to the assessment, this furnace is responsible for burning iron into liquid.

' The team is still not sure whether or not an ancient Cambodian community lives around here. Or just a factory of iron smelter operating independently, isolated residential areas '.

However, many common views suggest that this process of iron smelting can be done away from ancient villages and towns in the past.

Besides, since 2009, 235 iron mounds have been found in two districts of Preah Vihear province: Sangkum Thmei and Rovieng, and the excavation process is ongoing. - Voeun Vuthy, director of Archeology Archeology of the Ministry of Culture, the excavation project supervisor said in a statement.

" This shows that iron production plays a very important role for a time in the cultural and economic part of the country thousands of years ago ," he said.