The main cultural assets of Cambodia

Cambodia shelters, at present, a population of around 16 million within its present land surface of 181 035 square km, bordered to Vietnam, Thailand, Laos PDR and to the sea in the south. The country is rich in cultural and natural heritage, the most famous of which include the Temples at Angkor, the Freshwater Great Lake of Tonle Sap, the Mekong River, and the cardamom mountain range rich in fauna and flora. The earliest human occupation accompanying a silex chopping tool industry dated back to 71 000 BP at the Laang Spean cave site, in the north-western part of Cambodia. The country’s history started from the Fou Nan period (1st to 6th centuries), Chen La period (7th to 8th centuries) and Angkorian period (9th to mid-15th centuries) and Post-Angkorian period (mid 15th to 3rd quarter of 19th centuries), and Modern Period (late 19th century until present). A recent site survey recorded that Cambodia has over 4 000 archaeological sites of various types such as temples, burial sites, ancient roads, bridges, stone quarries, hydraulic structures and pagodas.

The legal framework on cultural heritage conservation

The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is the principal governmental body in charge of the country’s heritage preservation while other national authorities – APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Safeguarding of Angkor and the Region of Angkor), Preah Vihear and Sambor Prei Kuk National Authorities, respectively are managing the Angkor, Preah Vihear and Sambor Prei Kuk World Heritage Sites. The country has the Cultural Heritage Protection Law, enacted in 1996, while also having ratified several international conventions for natural and cultural heritage protection, and having signed several bilateral agreements with China, Thailand, Viet Nam and the USA for illicit traffic of antique objects.

The cultural and natural sites on the World Heritage List

Cambodia has three sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (Angkor, Preah Vihear and Sambor Prei Kuk) and eight more on the Tentative List; additionally there are also five intangible cultural heritages (the Royal Ballet, the Shadow Puppet Theatre, the Tug of War, the Long Neck Lute (Chapei), and the Khmer Male Mask Dance Drama).

Cambodia is a Member State of ICCROM since 13/06/1961

Mandates in ICCROM Council since 1958:

ICCROM Staff since 1959: - None -

• Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia
  
• Cambodia National Committee for the World Heritage
  
• National Museum of Cambodia
  
• Genocide Museum of Toul Sleng
  
• Angkor National Museum
  
• APSARA National Authority
  
• Preah Vihear National Authority
  

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