Diachronic modeling of the population within the medieval Greater Angkor Region settlement complex

Sarah Klassen, Alison K. Carter, Damian H. Evans, Scott Ortman, Miriam T. Stark, Alyssa A. Loyless, Martin Polkinghorne, Piphal Heng, Michael Hill, Pelle Wijker, Jonathan Niles-Weed, Gary P. Marriner, Christophe Pottier, Roland John Fletcher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
93 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Angkor is one of the world's largest premodern settlement complexes (9th to 15th centuries CE), but to date, no comprehensive demographic study has been completed, and key aspects of its population and demographic history remain unknown. Here, we combine lidar, archaeological excavation data, radiocarbon dates, and machine learning algorithms to create maps that model the development of the city and its population growth through time. We conclude that the Greater Angkor Region was home to approximately 700,000 to 900,000 inhabitants at its apogee in the 13th century CE. This granular, diachronic, paleodemographic model of the Angkor complex can be applied to any ancient civilization.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbereabf8441
Number of pages10
JournalScience Advances
Volume7
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 May 2021

Keywords

  • Greater Angkor Region
  • demographic study
  • demographic history
  • paleodemographic model

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