the iron production remains at Preah Khan and newly
discovered sites within the vast region between the Angkorian
centre and Phnom Dek show a continuous evolution of a technological
tradition or ‘style’. Specifically, we seek to test whether the
ethnohistorically recorded 19th/20th century Kuay style production
can be traced back into earlier historic times, and thus substantiate
or refute claims for Kuay association with the proliferation
of Angkorian Khmer society. To attempt this goal we combined data
from bibliographic study, surface survey, excavation of industrial
sites and subsequent chemical analysis of the excavated assemblages.
Through the juxtaposition of these datasets we tried to
identify and explain systematic variation in iron-making behaviour
at a range of production sites in different locations in Preah Vihear
province and, in particular, to evaluate whether Kuay technological
continuity can be reasonably sustained. Perhaps more significantly,
these results will provide insight into the Khmer/non-Khmer interdependencies
necessary, but rarely discussed, for a more holistic
understanding of Cambodia’s historical trajectory.