Phum Snay
Phum Snay Iron Age Cemetery · Banteay Meanchey Snay
Iron Age Moated 600 BCE–500 CE → Chenla·Iron Age Isan–Khmer moated (Mekong–Tonle) → Chenla·🇰🇭 Banteay Meanchey Province, Preah Netr Preah District, Phum Snay village (15 km northeast of Poipet, near Serei Saophoan, Tonle Sap northwest), Cambodia
About
About Phum Snay
Iron Age moated town and cemetery (c.600 BCE–500 CE) at Phum Snay inland from the Tonle Sap northwest — linear earthwork 15 km with moat ditch and 21 burials with agate–carnelian beads, bronze mirrors (Han Chinese), iron swords and famously elaborate burial headdresses and leprosy-mimic pathology remains, excavated 2000–07 by Dougald O'Reilly (Otago). Phum Snay pairs with Noen U-Loke (Thai) as Iron Age Isan–Cambodia moated civilization contemporary with Ban Non Wat iron, documenting Indian–Han–Khmer exchange maritime via Oc Eo corridor and showing social ranking via weapon-glass beads before Chenla; includes Thailand-style pendants and Khok Phanom Di ancestry.
Why it mattersNW Cambodia moated Iron Age — sister Isan to Noen U-Loke, proving Han–India–Khmer maritime triangle via Phnom 200 BCE before Oc Eo Funan.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Were Han mirrors diplomatic gifts or Han merchants at Phum?
Theories
- 01Moated Isan–Khmer iron as inland precursors to Oc Eo maritime (O'Reilly model)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.600 BCE Iron Age moated hamlet; cemetery 350 BCE–200 CE
- Period
- Iron Age Moated 600 BCE–500 CE → Chenla
- Culture
- Iron Age Isan–Khmer moated (Mekong–Tonle) → Chenla
- Builders
- Mekong Iron Age moated farmers with Han–Indian exchange
- Purpose
- NW Cambodia moated ceremonial hill and elite cemetery controlling Tonle–Isan trade before Angkor
- Abandoned
- c.500 CE (Chenla urban shift to Sambor Prei Kuk plain)
- Rediscovered
- 1999 looters exposed graves; 2000–07 O'Reilly rescue; 2015 re-analysis
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600–350 BCE
Moated settlement ditch 15 km and early iron swords
c.350 BCE–200 CE
21 rich burials with Han mirrors and Indian carnelian, headgear
2000
O'Reilly rescue after looting reveals Moated NW Cambodia
On the ground
Structures & features
13.6600° N · 103.0800° E · 35 m · 2 mapped features
Moated Earthwork Perimeter
earthwork15 km linear moated ditch and embankment around Iron Age settlement
13.6605° N · 103.0805° EElite Burial Pit Cluster
cemetery21 extended burials with Han mirrors, iron weapons and headdresses
13.6595° N · 103.0795° E