Thanks to the advances of modern science and technology has now become possible to study hard to reach corners of the planet, not previously studied by archaeologists. Thus, in the jungles of Cambodia, Australian archaeologists using laser Lidar systems discovered an ancient lost city. This finding may shed light on the history of human civilization.
Town called Mahendraparvata in Cambodia, lost 1,200 years ago on a foggy hillside, archaeologists have tried repeatedly to find. For example, in 1936, an expedition of French archaeologist and art historian Philip Stern investigated Kulen plateau. He found a previously unknown temples and statues of Vishnu and described the area as the first mountain temple complex. But only the expedition of scientists from the University of Sydney was finally able to find directly the ancient city.
Archaeological Expedition, which aimed to find a city Mahendraparvata, led by Damian Evans of the University of Sydney and Jean-Baptiste Shevans of Archaeology and Development Foundation (London). The team presented preliminary results in June 2013. An important feature of the expedition was to use the device attached to the helicopter Lidar scanning area Kulen and subsequent partitioning of the city on the map. To scan itself took seven work days. The results confirmed previous studies terrestrial archaeologists. But, according to Shevansa before that they did not have a complete picture of the territory.
Ground stage of the expedition passed through the narrow trails, watery swamps and minefields. Its result was the discovery by archaeologists of five new temples. Later, with the help of technology Lidar was discovered 30 previously unknown temples. Suddenly we saw an entire city, whose existence no one suspected. The experience is beyond words - says Evans, is not hiding his amusement.
In addition, scientists had discovered a complex network of roads, dams and ponds that formed the infrastructure of the city. During scanning lidar terrain also found numerous hills, scattered throughout the city. According to the preliminary assumption of archaeologists, this temple and burial mounds. What we saw was similar to the central part of the city. There is still a lot of work, it is necessary to know more about this civilization, - the head of the expedition.
Open as a result of a long search for an ancient city located in the province of Siem Reap to Phnom Kulen mountain, 40 kilometers north of the famous Angkor Wat. Discovered city Mahendraparvata Historians refer to the era of the Khmer Empire in Cambodia. Title Mahendraparvata, meaning Mountain of the great Indra, for the first time scientists have found in the inscriptions on the temple Ak Yum near Angkor. The period of the city#39;s founding refers to the reign of Jayavarman II, who is considered the founder of the Khmer Empire.
His reign was consecrated on the sacred mountain Mahendraparvata. According to scientists, he founded the city was one of the three capitals of the empire, among whom were listed Amarendrapura and Hariharalayya. According to Dr. Evans, the decline of civilization could occur as a result of deforestation and the problems of water supply. The expedition team dated the base Mahendraparvaty year 802 AD. Thus, the city was founded before the famous Angkor Wat by about 350 years.
Recall that Angkor Wat is a huge Hindu temple complex in Cambodia, dedicated to the god Vishnu. He is one of the largest ever built places of worship and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. The architectural complex was built in the first half of the XII century during the reign of King Suryavarman II. Today the monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the urban complex of Angkor.
Angkor itself, located in the jungles of Cambodia, was once the capital of the famous Khmer Empire. Opened this city is by chance - 140 years ago, the French explorer Henri Mukho came upon the ruins of the city in the jungle. Angkor consists of a number of Buddhist and Hindu temples built during the period from IX to XVI century the kings of Cambodia.
It is worth noting that Khmer temples were not believers meeting place, and have served the habitat of the gods, and access to their central structure was open only to representatives of the religious and political elite. Angkor Wat is different in that it also intended to bury the Kings.
In conclusion, it should be said that the laser system Lidar, thanks to which the scientists were able to discover the famous city, was first used in 2009 during the study of the ancient Mayan city (Belize, Central America). Later the technology was used in Stonehenge (England), and other parts of Europe. Laser scanning facilitates the study of archaeological sites from the air. Scientists say that in front of them is still a lot of work, because the only part of the Lidar found Mahendraparvaty. The actual size of the city to be seen.
Thus, thanks to modern technology today, scientists were able to reveal the mysteries of the Khmer Empire. However, despite the significance of the discovery, the most important finds probably expect archaeologists are still ahead.
