CCI Internship with Phum Archaeological Project
Project Director: Piphal Heng (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)
December 15, 2023 – January 26, 2024
Archaeological practice relies increasingly on non-invasive data collection techniques, so learning how to collect/analyze remotely sensed data is integral to the Cambodian Closure Initiative. Our 2023-2024 Cambodia-based internship focused on using non-invasive strategies for post-fieldwork data collection. CCI candidates Sophearun Sea and Chan Dariya Nguon participated in training for geophysical surveys, Lidar drone surveys, GIS/Lidar data processing, and artifact documentation as part of the Phum Archaeology project. This internship also involved PhD candidate Earl Hernandez from UCLA, as well as Archaeologist Phirom Vitou and Sambor Chhun from the APSARA National Authority, alongside Akphivath Vitou, a crew member from Phum Archaeology.
The internship activities included the following tasks:
- Lidar data collection pilot survey using a commercial UAV system in three geographic regions: (a) Angkor’s “rural area” or Greater Angkor region (Siem Reap Province); (b) the Thala Borivat area (Stung Treng Province); and (c) Sambor area (Kratie Province).
- Geophysical survey, with guidance from Jarrod Burks (Ohio Valley Archaeology, DPAAI) in the northwest quadrant of the Angkor Wat’s enclosure where Angkorian urban blocks of gridded mounds and ponds were not visible on lidar because of previous construction activity.
- Analysis of ceramics collected from Phum Archaeology 2022-2023 excavations.
