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Newly-discovered jungle temples weren't so green

By Rain Noe - August 17, 2007

in Object Culture

When we see ancient structures like Mayan ruins or the temples at Angkor Wat, we tend to assume they were "green" and in harmony with the environment, as if ecologically harmful construction practices were only brought on by the Industrial Revolution.

Not so, at least in the case of Angkor; and as it turns out for the ancient Khmer architects, what you don't know can kill you. Australian researchers using satellite and radar imaging have discovered a staggering seventy-four previously unknown temples at Angkor, obscured by heavy vegetation. Why did these structures become abandoned and fall into obscurity? Turns out the builders had installed over 1,000 man-made ponds and a complex irrigation system, which researchers believe eventually "[exposed] the water management system to increased sedimentation and erratic water flows," mucking up the ecosystem. Who knew?

via science daily

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Nic

17 years ago

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The Mayans & Toltecs definitely wreaked their share of havoc as well. Along the Yucatan peninsula you'll find cities scattered eastward every 10km or so. The reason was usually that they had completely destroyed the land at the last city (every wall was plastered, and to make the plaster they would heat it over fire for 2 days, meaning they burnt a _lot_ of wood).
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CJ

17 years ago

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You mean "ancient Khmer or Cambodian architects," unless I read you wrong.
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Vibol Muk

17 years ago

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It is Khmer architect. Not Siamese. Please make the correction.
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