ABSTRACT
Angkor has been the focus of Western academic research since the nineteenth century, largely focusing on Angkor’s stone temples, architecture, and inscriptions. These datasets have provided a valuable understanding of Angkor’s rulers and elites, however there is still much to be learned about the rest of Angkor’s population. This chapter reviews historical, art historical, ethnographic, and archaeological data to discuss what life was like in different parts of Angkor’s Empire. The diverse population within Angkor’s capital benefits from a rich dataset that helps us understand the variety of occupations and activities that took place around Angkor’s famous stone temples. Meanwhile, archaeological research in Angkor’s countryside and provinces are beginning to provide a picture of daily life in these locations. We argue that Cambodian cultural and archaeological heritage can extend beyond the stone temples for which Angkor is famous, to include the house mounds and villages of everyday Angkorians.
