Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney

Research Interests:

Thesis Title - Angkor's Economy (6th to 13th Centuries CE)

The research uses a relational database to facilitate data entry, sorting, retrieval and analysis. By recording all the economic data (wheterh intially considered or not), one is able to look at the texts as statistical records. The study looks at material items and institutional processes recorded in (to date) 976 of about 1200 identified Pre-Angkorean and Angkorean inscriptions between the 6th and 13th centuries. The inscriptions in the database have been spatially and temporally referenced, and analysis in conjunction with a Geographic Information System (GIS) is showing: trends ana anomalies over time and space in the distributions of temple sites; key items and materials; and the roles of the ruler, the founders, the donors and temple workers. These patterns might relate to known historical events, both within and outside the Khmer Empire.

Other interests include economic indicators in temple inscriptions; spatial and temporal trends in aspects of economy; taxation and exeptions; relationship between state, temples and temple workers; distribution of quantities of basic commodities and personnel.

Current Projects:

Economy

Selected Publications:

• Lustig, E., Evans, D. and Richards, N. (In press). Sacred and Secular: A Comparison of Temple and Exchange Items in Khmer Inscriptions (6th-14th Century). Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 32 pages.
• Evans, D, and Lustig, E. (In Preparation). The Role of the Temple in the Development of Urbanism at Angkor: New Perspectives from Remote Sensing and GIS.