Rescue Survey and Excavations at Phum Lovea,

Cambodia
September 2022
By Margaret Morris
Table of Contents:

Page Number: Heading:

1………………………………………………………………………………..………Cover Page
2..……………………………………………………………………………….Table of Contents
2..……………………………………………………………………………………….. Abstract
2..………………………………………………………………………………... Introduction (1)
3………………………………………………………………………………… Environment (2)
3…………………………………………………………………………………….. Geology (2.1)
4………………………………………………………………………………………... Flora (2.2)
4………………………………………………………………………………………. Fauna (2.3)
7...…………………………………………………………………………………… History (3)
7...……………………………………………………………………………………. Methods (4)
15……………………………………………………………. Previous Archaeological Work (5)
16…………………………………………………………………….. Archaeological Results (6)
21……………………………………………………………………………… Interpretation (7)
23……………………………………………………… Conclusions and Recommendations (8)
24…………………………………………………………………………………… Bibliography
24……………………………………………………………………………………….. Appendix

Abstract
A site at Lovea has been suspected of containing a burial that dates to the Iron Age.
Through the excavation of a 2m x 2m square in the center of the modern village, two distinct
layers were identified; the highest from the contemporary and the layer below it likely dating to
the Iron Age. The findings from the second layer suggest short-term habitation and a burial.

Introduction 1
At the behest of Bogs for the World, an archaeological survey and excavation was
conducted to determine an archaeological presence and whether the need of additional
archaeological research is necessary. Phum Lovea is located in Puok District in the Siem Reap
Province of Cambodia. Lovea is constructed of a mound that is occupied and consists of two
fragmented encircling embankments. There is a modern village situated atop a low mound that
measures 210m from north to south and 312m from east to west. Excavations were undertaken at
Phum Lovea from September 5th, 2022 to September 9th, 2022 as part of the Australian
Research Council funded project From Paddy to Pura (DP110101997).
This site is known to date from the mid to late Iron Age, around 1- 600 AD (2015; 1).
Previous research included excavating a multitude of grave sites and revealed a generous amount
of grave goods. They consist of bronze, ceramic fragments, iron objects, glass beads, and various
stone objects to name a few. Additionally, these burials were found to be in the crouched or
supine position in burials which are oriented north-south.

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 The survey and excavation team used techniques to record the exposed profiles. They
excavated a test pit within the available area to observe the nature of the archaeological deposits
and features, then assessed whether burials occured in the area. Plenty of artifacts were found
that allude to habitation of the site which date to the known Iron Age period. The nature of the
archaeological record is slim, but present. There is evidence of at least two habitation periods; in
the modern era and during the Iron Age. The preservation of the excavated site is very well done,
many of the ceramics are still intact, the burial appears unlooted, and organic remains are found
in a state of preservation that is suitable for analysis and conservation.
The plot of land surveyed and excavated was a 2m x 2m square and is located in a vacant
lot at the center of the modern village of Lovea. The excavation used 10 cm spits then excavated
features individually. Three spits were dug and revealed two layers, the lowest layer holding a
majority of the site’s features. The notable features are a plastic PVC pipe (feature 1), lithic core
and subsequent flakes (feature 2), a hearth (feature 3), a kiln (feature 4), and a burial (feature 5).
Additional artifacts and ecofacts were found from dry sieving each spit and feature while
excavating.
The surface spits and layers allude to litter and evidence of construction debris from the
project Bogs for the World have been working on nearby. The second spit of layer one shows
evidence of the ground being disturbed possibly by construction machines and vehicles. The
final excavated spit in the second layer is what the team believes to be evidence of Iron Age
habitation of the site and evidence of a burial mentioned by locals.

Environment 2
LOB: 22 is located north of lake Tonlé Sap. The excavation occurred during early
September, so the weather was fairly warm and rainy during the later days of the season. The site
itself consisted of little evidence of living organic materials.

Geology 2.1
The earth excavated is mostly damp brown or yellow sand, likely caused by the rain or
proximity to Tonlé Sap. The sand was not so damp that it was compact and changed in color, but
wet enough to have some clumps that are easily broken apart when finger pressure is applied.
The Munsell readings were consistently loose sand or gravel (see Fig. 1 for colors). Layer 1 spit
1 and 2 consisted of 10YR 4/3 loose brown sand. Layer 2 spit 1 was 10YR 5/4 yellowish brown
sand. Each of the sediment from the features were compared as well; F1 consisted of 7.5YR &
10 YR 4/3 mixed sand and pink gravel, F2 included 2.5Y 6/4 light yellowish brown friable sand,
F3 was comprised of 10YR 4/3 loose brown sand, but then filled with 2.5Y 6/4 light yellowish
brown friable sand, F4 includes 10YR 4/3 loose brown sand, and finally, F5 was cut into 2.5Y
6/4 light yellowish brown friable sand and filled with 10YR 4/3 loose brown sand.

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 Fig. 1

Flora 2.2
There is not much flora present at the observed site. Less than three roots smaller than a
millimeter were found in the surface spits but none were connected to living foliage. A single
Tribulus terrestris specimen, commonly known as Bindii weed, was found on the surface layer.

Fauna 2.3
There is an array of animal bones found at LOB: 22. A goat mandibular incisor was
found while sieving the sediment of spit one. A majority of faunal remains were discovered in
the first spit of the second layer. Burnt and sun bleached cattle remains from the lower legs were
found; Feature 3 consisted of a burnt cattle bone which had crumbled into 38 fragments (Fig. 2)
during the decomposition process. Item number 17, 18, 22, and 28 (Figures 3-6) were other cattle
bones found, but were not found burnt.

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5
6
 Figures 2, 3 ,4, 5, 6

History 3
Previous research has defined some history of the site. Lovea is thought to be a
pre-Angkorian settlement that dates to the 6-8th centuries CE, but believed to have been first
occupied around the 2nd century CE (O’Reilly et. al, 2015; O’Reilly et. al, 2017). The
Angkorian connection is found with the proximity to Angkor Wat and the evidence of the moated
town which is a precursor to the elaborate water management known to the empire.

Methods 4
The majority of excavative work was conducted with trowels and shovels. At the
beginning of the excavation at LOB: 22, a photograph was taken of the surface then drawn
(Figures 7-12). This was done also at the start of each new spit and layer. In the observed square,
the team excavated with 10cm arbitrary spits then sieved with a 1mm sieve, and recorded the
findings from each one. When a new layer was discovered whilst digging, despite how deep or
shallow it was within the allocated 10cm, the person excavating would go no further until the
other excavators had reached that same layer. This was the case when the excavation team

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reached layer 2; it was recognized as a different layer due to the change in color and feel. Once
the excavation team troweled a clear surface of the second layer, features were identified in the
sediment. For features 3 and 4, a section was excavated to reveal its stratigraphy.

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9
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12

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 After the depths of any notable color changes in the stratigraphy were recorded, the other
half of the feature was excavated. For feature 3, that involved the removal of burnt faunal
remains mixed with charcoal and the discovery of lithic flakes. Feature 4’s excavation resulted in
the removal of a ceramic as well as a multitude of charcoal both inside and around the vessel. No
stratigraphic excavation was necessary for feature 5 due to the present north-south burial
positioning of the head. Feature 5 was excavated delicately with smaller trowels and plastic
spoons. Caution was taken around disarticulated limbs and the ribs that were scattered across the
individual’s thoracic region.
The sediment that was removed during the excavation was sieved in their own piles. Each
spit was sifted above the previous in an attempt to maintain the stratigraphy for backfilling the
site. Each feature’s sediment was sieved separately to avoid mixing the contents. When artifacts
were discovered in the remnants of each sieve, they were placed in corresponding bags. Each
new material, be that charcoal, plastic, organics, or something else would be assigned a bag.
Each bag would be labeled with the date the contents were found, which team was in charge of
its discovery, which layer and spit it belonged to, its category number, what material the contents
were composed of, the amount, and its categorical number. An example listing would be,
“LOB22, UNIT 2, L1Sp2, 05/09/22, Charcoal, 123, Cat. 3”. In cases where the contents where
the litter was of various materials, it would be labeled as “Misc.” Each spit would get an overall
bag that held each artifact bag, which would then be labeled as “Bag 1”. In the case of the bag
for spit three, it contained most of the feature’s artifacts; in those cases, the bag would be labeled
with “△3” or whatever the corresponding feature number was. The electronic cataloging system
consisted of the same labels, but with secondary descriptors and comments. For example, the
secondary descriptor for organic would be “bone” or “tooth'' and the comments for those would
pertain to things like ''burnt” or “'mandibular incisor.” The “Misc.” bags would be entered
separately based on primary and secondary descriptor, but labeled as being a part of the same
category number.
Elevations were recorded at the beginning of each spit and for each feature. To set up a
measurement, a backsight was recorded with the site’s datum of 700masl. A map of the
surrounding environment was created using measurements from the dumpy level (Fig. 13). For
the excavation site, the elevations were taken at the north-west, north-east, south-west, and
south-east corners of the designated square. Feature 1 had its elevation taken both before
removal and after. During the elevation measurements for layer 2 spit 1, the directional corners
were recorded at its start. The elevation of feature 2 was taken when the base of the lithic core
was found and measured from the highest point on the artefact. Features 3 & 4 were taken after
their respective stratigraphic excavations. The elevations for feature 5 were recorded from the
cranium, the pelvis, and the base of the feet.

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 Figure 13

The stratigraphy was excavated with mostly trowels, save for the site’s overall
stratigraphic excavation which utilized an excavator. The only features that required a
stratigraphy to be recorded were 3 & 4 (Figures 14 & 15). The site’s stratigraphy (Figures 16 and
17) revealed around seven layers, with seven features, and a multitude of artifacts found
distributed throughout the layers.

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Figure 14

13
Figure 15

Figure 16

14
 Figure 17

Previous Archaeology in the Area 5

Archaeologist(s) and Site Location

Institution

Louis Mallert, École Embankments enclosing the Near the Prah Srung Srok
Francaise d’Extreme Orient village of Lovea river
(1959)

Dougald O’Reilly & Louise Phum Lovea Puok district, Siem Reap
Shewan, The National province, Cambodia
University of Singapore
(2016)

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 Lovea Village Puok district, Siem Reap
T.O. Pryce (Centre National province, Cambodia
de la Recherche Scientifique),
Dougald O'Reilly (Australian
National University, School of
Archaeology and
Anthropology), & Louise
Shewan (The University of
Melbourne, School of Earth
Sciences), (2017)

Archaeological Results 6
The surface layer and underlying spit shows evidence of the contemporary. Most of the
artifacts listed were found while sieving buckets of sediment either from spits, feature
excavations, or observed in situ.
The first layer was excavated until about 20cm below the surface. Within the first 10cm,
there is evidence of litter from the nearby construction from Bog for the World. A pencil shaving
with orange paint on the bottom lining, three small pieces of paper with writing on them, and 9
fragments of yellowed plastic. Additionally, a goat incisor was found. While troweling, a roofing
screw was found in situ then later removed. 123 pieces of charcoal were also found through the
sieving of sediment. At the lower sections of the spit, feature 1 was discovered. A 2m long black
PVC pipe was found positioned north-south.
The second spit reared 144 pieces of charcoal and more plastic. This spit’s plastic is a bit
more varied in size, shape, and color. A cigarette filter was also found whilst sieving and another
roofing screw. The charcoal found in spit two was found along the surface sediment above
feature 1 during its separated sieving, as well as three pieces of multicolored ceramics.
The beginning of spit three also revealed the second layer, which was much more uneven
than the previous. The second layer proves unlike the prior one due to its difference in color.
Features 2, 3, 4, and 5 were present in this layer, but excavated individually. It is also during the
excavation of this spit that the beginnings of a burial, feature 5, was suspected.
Feature 2 had been identified in situ while excavating spit 2 but buried deeply into the
site and was carefully excavated further into the dig (figure 18). Its position was that of 130cm
from the eastern side of the square and 43cm from the northern side, not too far from the
suspected burial. Its full potential was identified during the feature excavations of spit 3. 25
flakes were found scattered around it. A majority of them were primary flakes with some
secondary appearing around the core.

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 Figure 18

Feature 3 was identified during the troweling of spit three at the position of 40.89cm west
and 60.05 south relative to the southern side of the square. During its excavation, burnt cattle
bone fragments were identified with charcoal. The depth of the feature with the removed artifacts
measured at 24cm deep from the surface of layer 2 (figure 19).

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 Figure 19

Feature 4 was also observed in situ whilst troweling. Misting of the region revealed a
difference in sediment color than that around it. A stratigraphic excavation was performed
around the ceramic which revealed an excess of charcoal much larger than that previously found
on site (figure 20).

Figure 20

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 A pale, smooth, and rounded object was first observed at 126cm east and 54cm north
relative to the north side of the excavation square. This find was labeled as feature 5 (Fig. 21).
Further excavation revealed an intact skull with all cervical vertebrae present at an elevation of
699.35masl. Four ceramics were placed around the buried individual; one terracotta and one
white placed beside the skull, one 10cm long terracotta between the legs, and another white
ceramic slightly below the right knee on the outside of the body (Figures 22, 23, & 24).

Figure 21

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20
 Figures 22, 23, & 24

Additionally, two bronze bracelets were discovered around both of the individual’s
forearms, four in total, with two iron rings found in the sieve. There appears to be at least nine
bones missing from the burial, but two distal phalanges were recovered during the sieving of the
feature’s sediment. The individual’s left appendages were largely disarticulated. The burial was
not removed from the site.

Interpretation 7
The artifacts found in the first two spits are likely evidence of local habitation. The
previously mentioned plastic fragments could possibly be from the construction workers
disposing of take-away food containers, or locals doing the same given the size of the fragments
and the aged yellow color of the plastic. The amount of charcoal in this spit could also allude to
the remains of a barbeque that occurred on site. Goats are commonly found in the diet of the
local population, and there is a history of seeing their remains in the archaeological record of
Cambodia (Stenhouse, 2019). It is possible that during the cooking process of a goat, the muscle
connections in the goat’s mandible weakened and thus released the tooth from its alveolar socket.
The PVC pipe may be from a previous effort during the construction of the modern settlement. It
was not found to be connected to any pipeline or sewage system, so it is possible that it was
forgotten by a previous construction team.
The middle spit begins to show hints of the second layer’s uneven ground. This is
believed to have been caused either by the natural environment or the weight of construction
vehicles moving through the area, but no tracks were found. It is also likely, due to the similarity
of the artifacts found in the spit above, that these artifacts were brought down into the loose
grains by natural or vehicular movements like that of local vendors, wildlife, or strong winds.

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 The observation of feature 2 at the beginning of layer two revealed a number of primary
and secondary lithic flakes (figure 25). No evidence of retouching was present on any of them, so
it is likely that the individual who was creating them was creating a surplus of usable flakes or
altering the core to polish later.

Figure 25

When observing the animal remains found within the site as well, no evidence of
butchering or hunting was present in the form of score marks upon their surfaces. The color of
the sediments in features 3, 4, and 5 are also similar. This could indicate that the features were
covered within the same period of time or backfilled by the same individual who buried the
remains that were found and used the same sediment.
Feature 3 is thought to be a hearth with the presence of burnt cattle bones and charcoal.
Other cattle remains have been found throughout the site, likely brought to the surface from other
fauna native to the area, so it is not unnecessary to believe that a piece of cattle was cooked on
site. It could also be possible that a cut of meat had been brought to the site and prepared as no
other burnt bones were found, signifying short-term habitation. The charcoal is evidence of the
hearth which prepared the meat.

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 A kiln is a probable explanation for feature 4. The 8cm long ceramic was a pale white
with spots of black around its surface, indicative of being fired at a high temperature. Given the
amount of charcoal above, below, and inside the artifact, it is fine to believe that this was a kiln.
It is also likely the place where the burial ceramics were fired, seeing as a similarly colored
ceramic was found placed beside inside the burial. Evidence of the small black spots observed on
the bowl of the ceramic also place it as having been in contact with the surrounding charcoal.
The final feature is very clearly a burial context. The placement of the ceramics is
believed to be intentional, as well as the individual wearing bronze bangles. There is presence of
earrings or rings made of iron, but they were not found on the individual. These metals are
suspected as the bangles are the green color that is notable to copper, which is one of the
properties of bronze. Additionally, the rings are suspected of being iron as they are very heavily
rusted and a dark orange color. The position of the burial is done so in a way that is consistent
with other burials of the Iron Age in Cambodia (O’Reilly et. al, 2015) . This individual did not
appear to suffer from any pathogens or injuries from a general observation, but the disarticulated
left side raises questions that were unable to be answered during this excavation.
The site’s stratigraphy reveals possible habitation from later dates. Three stratigraphic
features in layer (105) resemble post holes in their shape and depth from the base of the layer.
Additionally, there appears to be two moats or large trenches carved beside each other in layer
(107). It is not likely that they are unnatural mounds as there is no additional sloped sediment
along the sides of the middle feature between them to suggest otherwise. Features (115) and
(112) could be hearths, but the lacking of charcoal or burnt remains in direct proximity are likely
to disprove that.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The findings of this excavation allude to a burial from the Iron Age. The presence of
meticulously crafted rings of iron provide at least an early date to the period. Additionally, the
evidence suggests a short period of habitation by at least two individuals as someone was
necessary to do the act of burying. There is possible evidence of post holes in the overall
stratigraphy, but it likely dates to an older settlement of the area as it is not consistent with the
stratigraphic position of the presumed burial. More research is needed to verify this claim.
Should more research be conducted on LOB: 22, it should be to provide an accurate date
for the claims made in this paper as well as the individual who was buried. All three materials,
lithic, metals, and ceramics, are known to have been used continuously as metallurgy advanced
in the area. Therefore, it is necessary to assess an accurate date to determine where in the Iron
Age this burial occurred. Additionally, the skeletal remains should be observed to determine sex,
age, and cause of death if possible. To create a chronology of the area, the sediment of the site’s
overall stratigraphy should also be dated. It would be best to conduct this supplemental research
in nearby laboratories to maintain as much preservation of the artifacts and remains as possible.

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Bibliography

Dougald O'Reilly, Louise Shewan, A report on the 2011–2012 excavation of Lovea: An Iron
Age, moated settlement in Cambodia, Archaeological Research in Asia, Volumes 1–2, 2015,
Pages 33-47, ISSN 2352-2267, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ara.2015.02.001.

Dougald O'Reilly and Louise Shewan, Phum Lovea: A moated precursor to the pura of
Cambodia? Sociopolitical transformation from Iron Age settlements to early state society,
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 47(3), pp 469–484 October 2016.

O'Reilly, D., Evans, D. and Shewan, L. (2017) “Airborne lidar prospection at Lovea, an Iron Age
moated settlement in Central Cambodia,” Antiquity, 91(358), pp. 947–965. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2017.69.

Stenhouse, G. R. E. (2019) “Zooarchaeological analysis of animal resources in the Upper Mun

River Valley, Northeast Thailand”. James Cook University. doi: 10.25903/EXTS-SR71.

Appendices i.e. artifact log, photo log of items found, all level maps, Unit levels log etc.

Figures:

1: Compiled Munsell hues

2: Cat. #30: Burnt faunal remains
3: Faunal scapula
4: Faunal long bone
5: Faunal metatarsal
6: Faunal ulna
7: Surface drawing
8: Surface photograph
9: Spit 2 drawing
10: Spit 2 photograph
11: Spit 3 drawing
12: Spit 3 photograph (post feature excavations)
13: Site Map
14: Profile 3
15: Profile 2
16: Site Stratigraphy
17: Site Harris Matrix
18: Feature 2 photograph
19: Feature 3 photograph
20: Feature 4 photograph

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21: Feature 5 photograph
22: Cat. #36
23: Cat. #37
24: Cat. #38, #39, #40, #41
25: Feature 2 (removed) photograph

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