The principal of an isolated primary school in Peah Vihear province has donated seven pottery artefacts and two stone tools to the Eco-Global Museum Samdech Techo Hun Sen Preah Vihear for protection and conservation.
Kim Chhean, principal of Kong Yong Primary School, in Choam Ksan district’s Yeang commune, said his son had discovered them while ploughing a paddy field not far from the village.
Mak Doeung, deputy director of the Department of Research, Training and Documentation under the National Authority for Preah Vihear, collected the artefacts on April 22, according to the National Authority for Preah Vihear.
The authority appealed to people living in and around the Preah Vihear temple area to report or hand over artefacts to the authority if they found them.
“The authority will store them at the museum, where they will be protected and preserved. They can also be exhibited to the public, so that people can learn to appreciate the value of their cultural history,” it said.
National authority director-general Kong Puthika said on April 24 that museum officials are currently cleaning the seven artefacts and two stone tools.
“The specialists at the museum have not yet identified which era the pieces belong to, but after careful cleaning, they will be able to let us know about these items,” he added.
“It is important that these artefacts are protected, as they are part of our collective national cultural heritage. The fact that they were given to us for protection is an excellent sign of the trust that the people have for us,” he continued.
He explained that the authority has been making the community aware of the importance of cultural artefacts for more than a decade.
“Most people who discover such items make sure that they are handed to us, as they know that we value them, and will protect them for future generations. In the past, we have received artefacts made from metal, baked clay, ceramics and wood,” he concluded.
