Category:Pursat Province

Map Keys
	Large Prasats		Arogyasalas
	Large Ruins		Dharmasalas
	Medium Prasats		Ancient Bridges
	Medium Ruins		Ancient Cities
	Medium Tuols		Ancient Kilns
	Small Prasats		Ancient Quarries
	Small Ruins		Ancient Reservoirs
	Small Tuols		Ancient Villages
	Museums		Carvings
	Depositories		Other Structures
	Wats		Prehistoric Sites
	Neak Ta's		Unknown Sites
	Unconfirmed Sites

Pursat Province, located between the important Angkorian region of Battambang to the northwest and Kampong Chhnang to the southeast which features several well-preserved early temples, is surprisingly poor in ancient sites. Large areas of the south of the province are mountainous and heavily forested while flood plains along the Tonle Sap in the northern reach probably deterred early settlement in that region. Correspondingly then the majority of the relatively small number of sites are restricted to a central band, notably on either side of what is today highway 5. A cluster of sites in Srae Sodok commune in the northern part of the province, which includes Wat Prasat Preah Theat and Prasat Kampaeng, are noticeably sited on higher ground.

Hemmed between marshlands and forest, Pursat likely served merely as part of the overland route from Battambang with small settlements and accompanying temple sites functioning as stop-off and/or supply sites on the long journey. Nonetheless, vestiges - several still standing - cover a wide timeframe with Preah Theat displaying Rajendravarman features and a substantial Jayavarman VII structure identified at Prasat Preah Khan (Pursat), (also known as Bakan), and possibly at Prasat Wat Daun On.

Pursat is often overlooked in terms of Angkorian vestiges but does possess several interesting sites.