Experimental Archaeology and the Transportation Network of Angkor

Transportation infrastructure is a key but often overlooked factor in urban development. At Angkor, the vast network of canals, reservoirs, and roads likely served dual purposes: irrigation and transportation. However, the extent to which waterways were used for regional movement within Greater Angkor remains poorly understood.

This project applies modern urban transportation network models to archaeologically reconstructed routes, comparing pedestrian and water-based mobility. A key component involves experimental archaeology---using a traditional Khmer dugout canoe, we will conduct controlled paddling trials with local participants to collect empirical data on watercraft speed, efficiency, and manoeuvrability. These results will be integrated into simulations to test how transportation infrastructure shaped Angkor’s growth and connectivity.

By bridging archaeological evidence, computational modelling, and experimental approaches, this research enhances our understanding of how infrastructure facilitated urban integration in Southeast Asia’s largest premodern city. It also provides a comparative framework for studying the role of transport networks in ancient urbanization globally.