Part 8/10:
As spectacular as its rise was, Angkor Wat's fall raises myriad questions. The capital is said to have declined in the 15th century, with theories pointing to various potential causes such as invasions, natural disasters, or resource depletion. The findings garnered from Lidar technology suggest that the city did not simply vanish overnight but experienced a gradual decline, with certain areas falling into abandonment while others remained productive.
In recent studies, core samples from sediment layers have helped reconstruct the environmental changes the area underwent, providing insights into how urban living adapted over centuries. The evidence points toward a protracted process, with areas gradually returning to jungle rather than a sudden mass exodus.