Adjuncts to Empire: The EFEO and the Conservation of Champa Antiquities

Abstract

This paper examines the pivotal role of the Ecole francaise d’Extreme-Oriente in the excavation, delineation, and interpretation of Champa sites in Vietnam. It further suggests the significance of this work in laying the groundwork for further archaeological efforts by the EFEO in Cambodia, Laos, and Northeast Thailand. The paper examines in detail the range of Champa sites, their relation to French scholarship of the early 20th century and their importance as training for later interventions.