Kerdomnel Khmer
Kerdomnel Khmer (កេរដំណែលខ្មែរ, Khmer Heritage) is a Cambodian magazine and website on Khmer arts, archaeology, history and cultural heritage.[1][2] Its founders call it the first magazine in the Kingdom of Cambodia devoted to arts and archaeology.[1]
Coverage
The magazine covers archaeology, history, epigraphy (the study of inscriptions), ethnology, sociology, painting and cultural tourism. It also reports on exhibitions, meetings, workshops and new publications in arts and archaeology in Southeast Asia and beyond.[1] It writes for pupils, students, intellectuals and the general public, especially younger readers and people in the provinces, and keeps its articles simple and free of unneeded technical terms.[1] Its stated aim is to teach the value of the national heritage and to encourage its protection.[1] It accepts articles on Khmer culture and civilization from outside researchers and has a Letters to the Editor section.[1]
History
The founding team, Cambodian and foreign students and professors of archaeology, history, sociology, tourism, economics and information technology, were also founding members of the Center for Research and Development of Cambodian Culture.[1] A trial issue appeared first, and the plan for 2009 and 2010 was an issue every three months, starting with four issues in 2009.[1] The magazine held licenses from Cambodia's Ministry of Information for 2009 and 2010. The site lists letters of appreciation for the first issue from King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Him Chhem, and the team states that the King gave royal funds to help the magazine appear.[1]
In September 2011 the team said it could not afford to keep printing the magazine and would continue its work online.[1] By August 2012, Chen Chanratana signed as founder and president of the Kerdomnel Khmer Foundation.[1] The website also reposts cultural articles from other sites and gathers books about Khmer culture.[1][3] In 2023, Kerdomnel (KDNK) in Phnom Penh published History of Cambodia from the End of 16th to 18th Centuries, the 789-page Khmer translation of Mak Phoeun's study first published in French, with Chen Chanratana credited alongside him.[4]