Negotiating Cultural Identity: Landscapes in Early Medieval South Asian History (Archaeology and Religion in South Asia)

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. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Figures 8 Acknowledgements 10 Introduction 14 PART I: HISTORY 24 1. From Antiquarianism to Scientific Antiquarianism 26 2. Archaeology 60 PART II: THEORY AND METHOD 96 3. Contemporary Theory and the Archaeology of Religion 98 PART III: PRACTICE 114 4. Minting Identity and Hegemony 116 5. Dicing and Oracular Gambling at Sirkap 165 6. The Archive at Sanghol 214 Conclusion: A Brief Look Ahead 249 Appendices 254 Bibliography 261 About the Author 286 Index 287 history,Asia,India & South Asia,Social Science,Archaeology "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