A colleague of mine is working for a great archaeological project studying the archaeology of Gujarat. The project has recently begun a blog as part of an outreach programme. The blog discusses the work as well as the travel experiences of the team as they conduct field research in Gujarat.
It should be of interest to those who would like to know more about archaeology in India and how archaeologists go about their day-to-day work!
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Adam Hardy: Temple, Template, Text
If you are in or around Cambridge, the Cambridge Asian Archaeology Group has an upcoming talk.
Professor Adam Hardy (Cardiff University) will be giving a talk entitled
Temple, Template, Text: Making temples in medieval India
Abstract: At Bhojpur in central India where a gigantic temple attributed to the renowned Paramara king Bhoja was left unfinished in the mid-eleventh century. Quarries and incomplete architectural parts are scattered around the temple, and engraved on the rocks are numerous architectural drawings which have been documented for the first time. Ascribed to the same monarch is the Samaranganasutradhara, a Sanskrit treatise on architecture. For the first time its prescriptions are being translated into architectural drawings, a necessary first step for discussing the relationship between a canonical text and the practice of architecture. The talk will discuss how medieval Indian temples were designed, bringing together the drawings, the text, and the evidence provided by buildings themselves.
4.00-5.00pm, South Lecture Room, Division of Archaeology, Downing Site
Open to all.
Image: Bhojpur Mandir. Taken from Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons and can be freely distributed.
Thursday 1 March 2012
In Memoriam: Raymond Allchin (1923-2010)
I haven't been updating this blog for a while, and so there are some things I'd like to cover that are very very (very...) belated. Two of those things are obituaries for archaeologists in the field who passed away in 2010 and 2011.
Frank Raymond Allchin was born in England in 1923. He developed an interest in Indian archaeology, history, and culture while stationed there from 1944. He went on to complete a degree in Hindi and Sanskrit and a PhD in Indian Archaeology at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies, London). He then stayed at SOAS to teach.
He went on to teach South Asian Archaeology in Cambridge from 1959. He inspired many students to go on to work in the field, trained many students from South Asia, and continued to do fieldwork across India and Pakistan.
While at Cambridge, he also co-founded the Ancient India and Iran Trust in 1978, along with Prof. Joan Van Lohuizen, Dr Jan Van Lohuizen, Sir Harold Bailey, and his wife Bridget Allchin, also a celebrated South Asian archaeologist. Today the organisation provides a home for research on India and Iran, houses an impressive library, and hosts regular talks by distinguished speakers.
He was also one of the founders of the European Association for South Asian Archaeology (EASAA), that hosts the biennal South Asian Archaeology conference. The 21st conference is this summer in Paris.
Raymond Allchin was prominent and influential enough that he was honoured by obituaries in the Times, the Times Higher Education Supplement, and the Guardian, among many other news media.
I won't go on about his many achievements, his teaching and publications, and how he went on to shape the field through his research and the creation of forums for South Asian Archaeology. All I can say is that this is the man who taught the people who lectured me as an undergraduate. Some of the first academic literature I read was his writings. As an early career researcher I'm presenting a paper on my PhD at the EASAA conference that he founded. He was one of the early archaeologists who brought South Asian Archaeology to the world. His influence in the field was phenomenal, and ours is a tremendous loss.
Images: Ancient India and Iran Trust logo, Book cover for The Rise of Civilization in India and Pakistan by Bridget and Raymond Allchin
'Mother Goddess' Image found in Andra Pradesh
A full-size (150cm/4'9" high) sandstone statue of a seated 'Mother Goddess' figure has been found associated with a temple in Andhra Pradesh. The archaeologists estimate that it dates to the 3rd century BC, which would make it the oldest such figurine found in the country/South India (the article is really not clear). However, there is no explanation in the linked article of how they dated it.
As you can see from the photos in the article, which I couldn't copy here, the statue is not in the best condition, but certainly exhibits steatopygy, or prominent hips, thighs and buttocks. Along with prominent or exaggerated breasts, many archaeologists maintain these features indicate an emphasis on fertility, and are related to ideas of the Mother Goddess.
Such figurines are found around the world, with some of the more famous examples including the Venus of Willendorf, a much older (24,000-22,000 BC) statue found in Austria. The Venus of Hohle Fels, found in Germany, is another example. As you can see, in the European tradition these statues are much older, and are often named for the goddess Venus.
The prevalence of the Mother Goddess idea comes from the research of prominent archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, who wrote a deeply influential series of books on the role of women and matriarchy in Neolithic and Bronze Age European cultures. Her work has more recently come under criticism for simplifying the association between these figures and themes of fertility and matriarchy, and for perhaps imposing modern feminist theory on early societies.
That's a whole different story however, and these Venus statues are much older. The Indian statue, which as I mentioned has been dated (tentatively?) to the 3rd century BC, is much younger. It is also associated with a Hindu temple and hence has been found in a religious context, which suggests some religious function. Hence it has the potential to indeed be a female goddess, but whether it is related to fertility or not is yet to be seen. The archaeologists also say that she appears to be holding grain in her lap, which would also suggest fertility, plenty, bounty, harvest or spring/summer.
It is unclear whether this 'Mother Goddess' is a Hindu deity; there is a rich tradition of Hindu goddesses, and certainly there are fertility deities such as Bhumi, but this statue is unusual in its representation- which is why the archaeologists are excited about it! It's certainly a very interesting find, but more research is needed to understand the meaning and context.
Image: Venus of Willendorf. Taken from Wikipedia and hence licensed to freely share.
As you can see from the photos in the article, which I couldn't copy here, the statue is not in the best condition, but certainly exhibits steatopygy, or prominent hips, thighs and buttocks. Along with prominent or exaggerated breasts, many archaeologists maintain these features indicate an emphasis on fertility, and are related to ideas of the Mother Goddess.
Such figurines are found around the world, with some of the more famous examples including the Venus of Willendorf, a much older (24,000-22,000 BC) statue found in Austria. The Venus of Hohle Fels, found in Germany, is another example. As you can see, in the European tradition these statues are much older, and are often named for the goddess Venus.
The prevalence of the Mother Goddess idea comes from the research of prominent archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, who wrote a deeply influential series of books on the role of women and matriarchy in Neolithic and Bronze Age European cultures. Her work has more recently come under criticism for simplifying the association between these figures and themes of fertility and matriarchy, and for perhaps imposing modern feminist theory on early societies.
That's a whole different story however, and these Venus statues are much older. The Indian statue, which as I mentioned has been dated (tentatively?) to the 3rd century BC, is much younger. It is also associated with a Hindu temple and hence has been found in a religious context, which suggests some religious function. Hence it has the potential to indeed be a female goddess, but whether it is related to fertility or not is yet to be seen. The archaeologists also say that she appears to be holding grain in her lap, which would also suggest fertility, plenty, bounty, harvest or spring/summer.
It is unclear whether this 'Mother Goddess' is a Hindu deity; there is a rich tradition of Hindu goddesses, and certainly there are fertility deities such as Bhumi, but this statue is unusual in its representation- which is why the archaeologists are excited about it! It's certainly a very interesting find, but more research is needed to understand the meaning and context.
Image: Venus of Willendorf. Taken from Wikipedia and hence licensed to freely share.
Wednesday 29 February 2012
RangSutra and INTACH Event
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and RangSutra are holding an event on traditional Indian crafts. They describe it as an invitation to discover "our traditional crafts and unique products".
RangSutra describe themselves as "a company of a thousand artisans from remote regions of India – the deserts of Rajasthan, hill regions of Uttaranchal and Assam.
Our goal is to ensure sustainable livelihoods for artisans and farmers, by creating top quality hand made products based on the principles of fair trade and a celebration of India’s rich craft heritage."
71 Lodi Estate, New Delhi
2-4th March, 11am to 9pm.
Images: INTACH logo, promotional poster for the event.
Tuesday 28 February 2012
150th ASI Anniversary, and PM's Speech
In December 2011 the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) had its 150th anniversary. This is a little belated but I am well overdue on catching up on posts.
The Prime Minister gave a speech on the occasion, the theme of which was largely how urbanization is threatening our monuments. Now this is a very serious issue in archaeology, and it's particularly important that in our rush to modernise we don't destroy all the heritage that we have, because, and trust me on this, we'll regret it later.
So all I can say to Manmohan Singh is pretty much, Yes indeedy. Now it would be nice if the government took a little more action instead of just paying lip service to heritage issues.
The Prime Minister gave a speech on the occasion, the theme of which was largely how urbanization is threatening our monuments. Now this is a very serious issue in archaeology, and it's particularly important that in our rush to modernise we don't destroy all the heritage that we have, because, and trust me on this, we'll regret it later.
So all I can say to Manmohan Singh is pretty much, Yes indeedy. Now it would be nice if the government took a little more action instead of just paying lip service to heritage issues.
Islamic Stepwells in Gujarat
Here's a bit of archaeological eye candy for you today- Archaeology magazine did a recent feature on the visually stunning- and often still used today!- stepwells of Gujarat. I absolutely loved these beautiful, lavishly carved medieval wells on childhood visits to Gujarat, and the article describes how the tradition is about a millennium old and was practiced by Hindu and Islamic dynasties alike.
I didn't want to nick the photos, but if you click on the link you won't be disappointed.
I didn't want to nick the photos, but if you click on the link you won't be disappointed.
Restoring Humayun's Tomb
Here's an interesting piece about restoring Humayun's Tomb.
Image- Humayun's Tomb, 2010. Copyright Alex Adwick.
Inscription in Edakkal Caves, Kerala
An inscription engraved in early Brahmi characters has been found in the Edakkal Caves, Kerala. The engraving also depicts an anthropomorphic figure with a large phallus, which is often taken by archaeologists to suggest ideas and themes of fertility.
The associated epigrapher, Dr M R Raghava Varier, seems to think so, and in relation with the phallic theme and the inscription, suggests that it might refer to Brahma.
Read the news feature in the Deccan Herald to find out why it's important.
No images, sorry!
The associated epigrapher, Dr M R Raghava Varier, seems to think so, and in relation with the phallic theme and the inscription, suggests that it might refer to Brahma.
Read the news feature in the Deccan Herald to find out why it's important.
No images, sorry!
Buddhist Artefacts Destroyed in the Maldives
Tragedy recently struck in the Maldives. Amid the current political turmoil, protecting archaeological heritage is probably not a high priority. Unfortunately, vandals attacked the National Museum and destroyed "all but two or three" of about 30 Buddhist statues, some dating to the 6th century BC.
The statues are said to be irrevocably destroyed. The incident echoes the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban in 2001, and for me, the mindless destruction of the Babri Masjid in India. All three incidents involve people destroying religious archaeological artefacts because they disagree with the religions that inspired them.
Like it or not, these things are our heritage, and they are irreplaceable.
Image: Ali Waheed, Director of the National Museum. Photo by Chiara Goia for The New York Times.
South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts
The SADACC Trust, based in Norwich (England), aims create a record of and promote the decorative arts and crafts of South Asia. The Trust houses a 3000+ collection of arts and crafts, many of which are- unusually- everyday objects and artefacts.
The Trust also has regular exhibitions, such as the current displays of Beadwork from Gujarat and Displays of Rajasthani Folk Heroes.
Those working in the fields of South Asian decorative arts and crafts can contact the Trust for funding for their research.
Images are: Tribal Dolls from Rajasthan, A Carved Bottle Stopper.
Taken from the SADACC website. Copyright © 2012 South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts
South Asia Archive and Library Group
For those interested in South Asian archives and libraries, there is a blog run by the UK-based SAALG that covers goings on in the field. It has handy information on conferences, seminars, funding, and of course research news.
Linguistic Archaeology and Sanskrit Manuscripts
A new project has "has set out to complete a comprehensive survey of Cambridge University Library’s South Asian manuscript collection, which includes the oldest dated and illustrated Sanskrit manuscript known worldwide.
Written on now-fragile birch bark, palm leaf and paper, the 2,000 manuscripts in the collection express centuries-old South Asian thinking on religion, philosophy, astronomy, grammar, law and poetry."
Click the link to read more.
21st Annual EASAA Conference: Paris, 2012
This summer is the 21st Annual EASAA Conference- that's the European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art.
The conference will be in Paris from 2 to 6 July 2012 at the Ecole du Louvre.
Although the deadline for abstract submissions has now passed, registration will take place online latest by April.
For more information, visit the EASAA website
Indus Seal Discovery in Pakistan
There was a recent news feature about an Indus seal discovered in Pakistan. These seals, which are one of the most distinctive and evocative forms of material culture associated with the Indus, are generally associated with large urban sites such as Mohenjo-daro, although this is not exclusive.
This particular seal (for which an image is unfortunately unavailable at the moment) unusually depicts an ibex. The leader of the Punjab University team, Farzand Masih, says it may demonstrate regional influence or a separate identity. The seal was found in Cholistan.
For more information, here is the link to the news feature.
This particular seal (for which an image is unfortunately unavailable at the moment) unusually depicts an ibex. The leader of the Punjab University team, Farzand Masih, says it may demonstrate regional influence or a separate identity. The seal was found in Cholistan.
For more information, here is the link to the news feature.
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