Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape is located in Champasak District of southern Lao PDR, 500km south-east of the capital, Vientiane, on the west bank of the Mekong River. This complex is the focal point of a sophisticated cultural landscape centred on the Champasak Plain, taking in the Phou Kao (mountain) to the west and the banks of the Mekong Rive
r to the east. Between them are temples, shrines, water tanks, water channels, quarries, historic field systems, ancient roads and settlement sites, including Shrestrapura, one of the earliest known urban settlements in south-east Asia, and its 9th century successor. The Champasak Cultural Landscape, including the Vat Phou temple complex, is one of the most important sites of the greater Khmer Empire and exhibits some of earliest known evidence of urbanism in Southeast Asia. It was contrived to express the Hindu version of the relationship between nature and humanity, using an axis from mountain top to river bank to lay out a geometric pattern of temples. The remarkably well-preserved planned landscape, more than a thousand years old, represents a development over nearly a thousand years from the 5th to 15th centuries AD associated above all with the Khmer Empire. The outstanding significance of the Champasak Cultural Landscape lies in the broad scientific perspective of the powerful Khmer culture. The temple complex of Vat Phou represents a masterpiece of human creative genius for the high quality of artistic work and the integration of its symbolic plan with the natural landscape to create a physical manifestation of a Hindu mental template of the perfect universe. The resulting expression of these ideas, not only on the ground but also in architecture and art was a unique fusion of indigenous nature symbols, religious inspiration and technical prowess. Criteria
Criterion iii. The temple complex of Vat Phou bears exceptional testimony to the cultures of southeast Asia, and in particular to the Khmer Empire which dominated the region in the 10-14th centuries. Criterion iv: The Vat Phou complex is an outstanding example of the integration of a symbolic landscape of great spiritual significance to its natural surroundings. Criterion vi: Contrived to express the Hindu version of the relationship between nature and humanity, Vat Phou exhibits a remarkable complex of monuments and other structures over an extensive area between river and mountain, some of outstanding architecture, many containing great works of art, and all expressing intense religious conviction and commitment. Integrity
The integrity of the property is related to the integrity of the landscape setting of the whole, the association of various elements and the evidence for deliberate planning, buried archaeological sites, archaeological sites surviving as visible earthworks, and standing structures within the whole cultural landscape. All of these elements, which are considered integral to express the property’s outstanding universal value, are present within the inscribed property. All are original, in-situ, and with their historical and archaeological contexts undisturbed. Furthermore, the landscape setting is original and continuing, consisting of shallow rice paddy agricultural fields and small settlements. Authenticity
Evaluation of authenticity involves five main elements:
1. The landscape setting of the whole
The river and the mountain, the frame of the man-made complex, remain in place and little altered; the plain in between is probably more wooded and less coherent in appearance than it was a thousand years ago. Overall, however, authenticity in this respect is high.
2. The association of the various elements and the evidence for deliberate planning
The various elements comprising the landscape survive well as archaeological sites or standing ruins. It is therefore relatively easy to see how the elements were articulated with one another and to understand their relationships. The axial arrangement of structures in relation to the Lingaparvata of Phou Kao is clearly visible.
3. Buried archaeological sites
The general depth of archaeological stratigraphy is no more than 0.5m in the urban sites, but neither natural nor human disturbance has so far been significant. The archaeological integrity is therefore high.
4. Archaeological sites surviving as visible earthworks
Of former structures now earthworks, the most notable are the ramparts around the two cities. Some damage has been caused by cuts through them (eg for modern roads), but the most serious damage has been erosion of the second and third walls of the Ancient City by a stream. Other upstanding earthworks include the roads, canals, and baray (reservoir), and mounds where buildings or other structures have collapsed and become overgrown. Again erosion, and some robbing and digging, have affected these features but generally they are in good condition.
5. Standing structures
While no ancient buildings are now intact, most survive to the tops of their walls. No large-scale restoration has occurred. The standing structures are therefore still entirely authentic with a high level of integrity despite partial collapse. Most of the present population live away from the main archaeological complexes. Many of the inhabited houses are traditional in form, but developmental pressures are mounting. Nevertheless, overall, with little vegetational or other natural changes and minimal archaeological or restorative activity, the integrity and authenticity of the site of this property are high. Management and Protection
(i) Overall framework
The Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape is protected by the Provincial Decree on the Regulations for the Preservation of the Historical Site of Vat Phou and the Areas related to Vat Phou No 38/88 (October 1988). This defined a large Protection Zone, not limited to just the main standing monuments; within it are three Preservation Areas, essentially the three main archaeological complexes. The national legal framework for heritage preservation is provided by the Law Concerning National Heritage. No 08/NA which was adopted by the National Assembly in 2005. Management is undertaken in accordance with the Champasak Heritage Management Plan which was officially adopted by the Government in September 1998. The Plan defines the boundaries of the Protection Zone and the three Areas within it, and contains regulations for the management of the entire nominated World Heritage site. These cover archaeological work, conservation, and development control. In addition, action plans are developed every five years to identify priority management actions. The site is managed by the Department of Vat Phou Champasak World Heritage which has staff trained in archaeology and architecture. The department cooperates closely with various international expert teams. The Government has established a National Inter-Ministerial Co-ordinating Committee to oversee the management of the Protection Zone and to coordinate the activities of the various Government Departments at national, provincial, and district levels. (ii) Specific long-term expectations
Long-term challenges for the management of the property principally concern the control of urban and infrastructure development within the large historic cultural landscape zone which functions as the buffer zone of the property. In addition, other challenges may arise from environmental pressures (mainly flooding, run-off, and erosion), visitor/tourism pressures including those of the annual festival each February, and the growing population with higher lifestyle expectations within the protected zone itself.
