Archaeology as History in Early South Asia

edited by
Himanshu Prabha Ray

This volume fulfils a long-felt need in South Asian studies by intiating an inter-disciplinary dialogue between archaeology and history. It challenges traditional assumptions derived from text-based archaeology dating to the Alexander Cunningham era and re-examines the role of archives, monumental architecture and artefacts in the reconstruction of the past.

The first section draws attention to two emerging trends in the study of the past; one, the use of archival data for a study of the history of archarolohy in South Asia, and two, the question of representation and public archaeology. The second section descusses scientific methods and techniques that have been significant in recent years in providing inputs to questions of chronology and sourcing of metal objects. Recent research stresses the identification of general patterns of human behaviour and their material consequences, which may be recognisable in the archaeological record, as discussed in the third section on Ethno-archaeology. The issue of multivocality of religious structures and megotiations between different groups is highlighted in the fourth section, while the final section discusses Gender Archaeology and indicates archaeologicl constructs in an analysis of the theme.

The volume thus endorses an active involvement between Archaeology and History. It is hoped that this will then lead to increased inputs in the study and practice of archaeology.