Category:Takeo 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

With the exception of undrained wetlands in the centre east of the province, Takeo sees a dense distribution of ancient sites in all districts. As with the southern parts of Prey Veng and Svay Rieng, the greatest concentration is closest to what is today the Vietnamese border and similarly consists of myriad mound, reservoir and small ruin sites. The Funanese capital at Angkor Borei is situated in the eastern part of the province at a location corresponding to the separation line between slightly raised, drier land to the north and marshes and wetlands to the south, east and west. The important early port of Oc Eo is a short distance to the east in what is today Vietnam. The latter's hinterland, as well as areas south and east of Angkor Borei, were largely unsuitable for settlement and agriculture in ancient times so Takeo was vital for agricultural and human resources during the Funan and early Chenla periods.

As with other modern-day border provinces, our speculation would purport a very high occurrence of village sites - each with a small temple and reservoir site - decreasing proportionally as the geographical distance from the main settlements increased.

However, unlike Svay Rieng and Prey Veng, Takeo's importance - to this day it is one of the country's prime rice-growing regions - continued into later periods and significant structures dating to all historical periods have been identified. Some of these are still standing and notable sites include the well-preserved Suryavarman I temple and settlement site at Prasat Phnom Chisor, the intact Jayavarman VII site of Prasat Ta Prohm (Tonle Bati), Prasat Asram Moha Russei at Phnom Da - dated to the Bhavarman I period - and the early Chenla, 7th-century, Prasat Phnom Bayang in the far southeast of the province.

Not the first province casual visitors would think of in connection to Angkor and pre-Angkor temples but surprisingly one of the most rewarding with the added bonus that you'll probably have any of the above sites all to yourself.