The Origins of Angkor: Inside Cambodia’s Lost Royal Capital I SLICE HISTORY | FULL DOCUMENTARY

Deep in the Cambodian jungle, archaeologists are reconstructing Mahendraparvata, the royal capital founded by Jayavarman II in the 9th century. Temples, a royal palace, roads and an advanced hydraulic network reveal a highly organized city that appears to have established many of the principles later seen at Angkor.

Using excavation, historical records and LIDAR mapping, researchers uncover the scale of this forgotten capital and its connection to the rise of the Khmer Empire. From mountain temples to the sacred River of a Thousand Lingas, the film explores how Mahendraparvata became the blueprint for one of the greatest urban centers of the medieval world.