A preliminary investigation of a circular earthwork at Krek, Southeastern Cambodia

Abstract

Hand-auger testing was conducted at a circular earthwork located in Krek, southeastern Cambodia in order to examine the applicability of the hypothesis that the site was a round village similar to those still observable among minority groups inhabiting northeastern Cambodia, southern Laos and central Vietnam. The results of the testing strongly supported the hypothesis. Some morphological and spatial aspects of the site thus far not well known were also clarified through the investigation. The study of the circular earthworks may eventually provide us with the clues as to the time depth of the Mon-Khmer occupation of mainland Southeast Asia.