Archaeology of Early Buddhism

By (author) Lars Fogelin

Publication date:

09 February 2006

Length of book:

256 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

ISBN-13: 9780759107496

How do archaeologists explore the various dimensions of religion? Lars Fogelin uses archaeological work at Thotlakonda in Southern India as his lens in a broader examination of Buddhist monastic life. He discovers the tension between the desired isolation of the monastery and the mutual engagement with neighbors in the Early Historic Period. He also sketches how religious architectural design and use of landscape helped to shaped these relationships. Drawing on historical accounts, religious documents, and inscriptions, as well as results of his systematic archaeological survey, Fogelin is able to shed new light on the ritual and material workings of Early Buddhism in this region, and shows how archaeology can contribute to our understanding of religious practice.

1 Preface
2 Chapter 1: Archaeology and Early Buddhism
3 Chapter 2: A Brief History of the Early Historic Period in South Asia
4 Chapter 3: Buddhism in Early Historic Period South Asia
5 Chapter 4: Religion, Ritual, Architecture and Landscape
6 Chapter 5: Thotlakonda's Archaeological and Environmental Context
7 Chapter 6: Beyond the Monastery Walls
8 Chapter 7: The Architectural Layout and Organization of Thotlakonda Monastery
9 Chapter 8: Thotlakonda Monastery in its Local Landscape
10 Chapter 9: Conclusion
11 Glossary

The publication of Archaeology of Early Buddhism will serve a very broad audience, including specialists of Buddhist monastic history and students of the material expression of ritual and religion in a complex cultural setting. Fogelin has effectively integrated modern theory on ritual, practice, and landscape with archaeological data from a key south Indian Buddhist monastery—Thotlakonda—to create a stimulating explanation of its place within a complex political, economic, and social setting. It is certain to become a classic in the field.