New synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data has revealed a massive network of canals and reservoirs predating the Angkor Empire. These hydraulic systems, located near the Funan-era site of Vyadhapura, demonstrate a highly advanced water management strategy that allowed for year-round rice cultivation.
Researchers state that these 6th-century structures provided the foundation for the later Khmer civilization's engineering feats. The scale of the network suggests a central authority capable of mobilizing thousands of laborers.