Memot Centre of Archaeology

Archeologists know very little about what Cambodia was like before the Angkor and pre-Angkor kingdoms of Chenla and Funan (and even then its hazy). Memot represents the best effort to crack open the country’s ancient history. The Memot museum and excavation site was founded with help from German archeologist, Henrrich Böll.

The excavations vary, but they include a number of prehistoric circular sites concealing a wealth of Iron Age tools and ceremonial pieces. Some of the newer digs have revealed ancient cemeteries that shed light on the kind of religious climate that persisted in Cambodia long before the advent of Buddhism.

One of the biggest problems in recent years has been convincing locals that these excavations are valuable to the community as a whole. Too often, a site is discovered by farming family and then is heavily looted before experts can begin a dig. While most of the artifacts are stone, iron and bronze, golden ornaments are occasionally unearthed.

Memot Center of Archaeology’s primary goal is to educate the local community while training up archeologists to continue the work begun in the 1990s. This is a good opportunity for tourists to support Cambodian preserving heritage.