Some more connections for Koh Ker.

Connection: Protective Shelters

Koh Ker – "The wall paintings of Prasat Thom and the fragments of paintings were housed in a protective shelter under a temporary shed of thatch in Prasat Thom, to prevent any water ingress during rains (...)." (Nomination file, p. 173)

Connection: Recorded cultural discoveries

Koh Ker – "Koh Ker was rediscovered in 1873 by French researcher Louis Delaporte." (AB Ev) – "Knowledge of the existence of Koh Ker (...) came to light in the late 19th century C.E. French adventurers ranging the forests around the site of Koh Ker while hunting game brought word of the structures in the area back to France. Louis Delaporte was the first researcher of the modern era to visit Koh Ker in 1873." (Nomination file, p. 95)

Connection: Shiva cult

Koh Ker – "Prasat Prang is a thirty-eight-metre-high stepped pyramid constructed as the Koh Ker version of Mount Meru and Kailash, the earthly abode of Lord Shiva." – Criterion iv "is justified by the State Party on the grounds that Koh Ker is an outstanding example of an urban ensemble of a preconceived layout of the sacred symbolic mandala representing the Shiva cult (...)." (AB Ev) – "The capital of Koh Ker, when established, was unparalleled in the entire Southeast Asia, as also its pyramidal temple, as a regional centre of Shiva Worship." – Jayavarman IV's "bid to establish Koh Ker as the centre of Shiva devotion and the Hindu cosmos is manifested in the distinct sacred urban design, monumental structures and infrastructure". (Nomination file, p. vii) – "(...) the city was also not explicitly named after [Jayavarman IV] but was rather called 'Lingapura, the city of Lingas, the abode of Shiva'." (Nomination file, p. 87)

Connection: Slavery

Koh Ker – The inscriptions at Koh Ker "record the donations of the king and dignitaries, the erection of the temples for the gods, lists of slaves and the names of the Srok or districts. The inscriptions also mentioned people arriving from remote areas to work in the new capital, as well as lists of royalty and slaves by village of origin." (Nomination file, p. 67)

Connection: Spolia

Koh Ker – "Prasat Sralau (...) from the 13th century C.E. is included [in the main central temple complex of Prasat Thom] as it replaced an existing temple on the site which functioned as the linga temple no. 5, and is made reusing the stones from that temple." (Nomination file, p. 45)

To be continued...

Genocide (new connection):

- Auschwitz Birkenau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust

- Memorial Sites of Genocide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_genocide

- Cambodian Memorial Sites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_genocide

This is on the borderline with rule 1: "A Connection should (1) not be "self-evident"" and they are already together in Memories of recent conflicts. So, am in doubt.

Another one I am doubting is the following one, as I am afraid there will be many more if the definition is so loose (FRIM would also fit, for example).

Living monuments - A living monument is a protected monument which still serves its original purpose. Sacral monuments, railways, agricultural production sites and bridges are excluded.

Padua botanic garden
Kew Gardens
Fagus factory - keeps producing shoe moulds
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus - a functional railway station
Bremen town hall
Palau de la musica
Tower of Hercules - a functional lighthouse
Sydney Opera House
Stoclet House - a private residence
Museumsinsel - a functional museal complex
Cordouan - a functional lighthouse
Centennial Hall
Great spa towns - The functional thermal baths are central to the nominations.
Coimbra University
UNAM
Uni of Caracas
Vatican City
Berlin housing estates
Blenheim Palace
Decorated farmhouses

Today is the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. I propose that "Genbaku Dome" be included in the "Smallest Cultural WHS" connection. Property: 0.4 hectares, but the connection is currently limited to 0.2 hectares.

One note: the "WHS by Size" link is not active.

We could also consider it in the "Not open to tourists" connection since it can only be visited from outside a fence (with Google Maps, you can walk around it and even see the UNESCO plaque). This is in contradiction with the "Free entrance" connection.

It would add 6 other sites as well. Or we could go up to 0.5 hectares, which would add one more. We could also leave the connection as it is (my preference), as it was originally based on the 10 smallest cultural WHS.


We have not migrated this. We are looking into how to display this in the future as part of the GIS (Geographic Information System) that we use for the maps. I have removed the link.


Seems logical. Cannot oversee all consequences for other archaeological sites (which this in essence also is) where you may not step beyond a certain point.

P.S. am updating the Genbaku Dome map as well, point was wrong and will add a core zone
P.P.S. if you want to see what is really small, look at the Eisinga Planetarium core zone, where the icon is bigger than the core zone itself and you cannot even zoom in more

Cultural landscape not recognized:
- Maratha Military Landscapes: " it has also been nominated as a series of cultural landscapes." (Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS))
- Megaliths of Carnac: "it has also been nominated as a cultural landscape." (Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS))

Maybe "Series of cultural landscapes" could be a connection.

Extended more than once: Phong Nha - Ke Bang (2015, 2025)

Monty Python (Filming Locations)

Could we add a "commonly thought to include El Jem which was not used for filming" as part of the description?

+Royal Exhibition Building
+Jodrell Bank Observatory

I think maybe this connection could be quite large?
(and assuming bridges includes aqueducts like Pontcysyllte Aqueduct)

Honestly, I think this might be a connection that is too broad. If you even include Vatican City, what is holding you back from including all the historic city centres, that also continue to function as city centres? All Gothic churches still serve as churches. The pilgrimage trails still function as pilgrimage trails. Canals still function as canals. Squares still function as squares. Commemorative monuments still function as commemorative monuments.

Where does the list end? And on what basis would you exclude "sacral momuments" or "railways"? On the arbitrary argument that there are too many of them?

Piton Management Area
Petit Piton in St. Lucia requires a guide

(even though some have explored it by snorkeling or something one has to hire a guide for the hike)

Inselbergs: Ngorongoro: Nasera Rock

https://www.ncaa.go.tz/nasera-rock/

This text was cut off in the connection.

Last connections for Koh Ker.

Connection: Stone Quarries

Koh Ker – "Three sandstone quarries have been found from where the grey to yellowish-brown sandstone blocks used in Koh Ker's monuments likely originate." (AB Ev)

Connection: Uncovered using Lidar

Koh Ker – "The LiDAR survey revealed a complete spatial layout of the site, forming a rectangular formation linking the main features within the complex, including the Rahal, embankments and temples, and with Prasat Thom located at its precise centre." – "The above ground remains have been listed and identified in the site surveys, while buried remains have been identified through surveys, excavations, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and LiDAR." – "Some underground elements have been discovered through LiDAR survey, contributing towards a better understanding of the site's overall water system." (Nomination file, p. 32, 69, 164)

Connection: Vishnu cult

Koh Ker – "Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Prasat Chen comprises three laterite sanctuaries that are square in plan and face east. Prasat Banteay Pir Choan, Prasat Chen, and Prasat Thom together represent the Hindu Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva)." (AB Ev) – "Prasat Chen (...) was built by Jayavarman IV between 921-928 C.E. and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu." (Nomination file, p. 54)

Connection: Writing systems

Koh Ker – "In nine of 76 temples in Koh Ker, 73 inscriptions have been found. Notably, these inscriptions are scripted on the walls, columns, and doorframes of temples in old Khmer and Sanskrit. This is highly unusual considering that until that time most royal inscriptions were only in the official Sanskrit language, itself considered sacred in Indian tradition. Another distinctive aspect of inscriptions of Koh Ker was that they were written in a large script compared to other Khmer inscriptions in pre-Angkor and Angkor periods." (Nomination file, p. 67)

Already existing, but adding or changing the rationale.

Connection: Brick architecture

Koh Ker – "Prasat Ruom is a square terrace of twenty-one brick towers" (AB ev) – "Amongst monuments currently listed within the Nominated Property, 6 are built in sandstone, 22 in brick and 23 in laterite." – "Brick was the most common material used for smaller temples, except Prasat Kraham." (Nomination file, p. 39, 44)

The end.