Archaeology and Religion in Early Northwest India: History, Theory, Practice (Archaeology and Religion in South Asia)

This book explores the ways in which past cultures have been used to shape colonial and postcolonial cultural identities. It provides a theoretical framework to understand these processes, and offers illustrative case studies in which the agency of ancient peoples, rather than the desires of antiquarians and archaeologists, is brought to the fore. @ Introduction 1. From Antiquarianism to Scientific Antiquarianism 2. Archaeology 3. Contemporary Theory and the Archaeology of Religion 4. Minting Identity and Hegemony 5. Dicing and Oracular Gambling at Sirkap 6. The Archive at Sanghol. Conclusion Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Figures Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: HISTORY 1. From Antiquarianism to Scientific Antiquarianism 2. Archaeology PART II: THEORY AND METHOD 3. Contemporary Theory and the Archaeology of Religion PART III: PRACTICE 4. Minting Identity and Hegemony 5. Dicing and Oracular Gambling at Sirkap 6. The Archive at Sanghol Conclusion: A Brief Look Ahead Appendices Bibliography About the Author Index "This volume breaks new ground by reconceptualising landscape to understand early medieval history of South Asia. It examines the archaeology of space and the socio-cultural construction of landscape, as manifest in society, religious architecture and monuments -- from the village to the shrine -- and as shaped through trade, economic transactions and material objects such as coins and related artefacts."--Back cover From Antiquarianism To Scientific Antiquarianism -- Archaeology -- Contemporary Theory And The Archaeology Of Religion -- Minting Identity And Hegemony -- Dicing And Oracular Gambling At Sirkap -- The Archive At Sanghol -- Conclusion: A Brief Look Ahead. Daniel Michon. First Published In India In 2015. Simultaneously Published In The Uk--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This volume breaks new ground by conceptualizing landscape as a dynamic cultural complex in which the natural world and human practice are inextricably linked and are constantly interacting. It examines the social and cultural construction of space in the early medieval period in South Asia, as manifest in society, religious architecture and as shaped through trade and economic transactions.