Archaeology and World ReligionTimothy Insoll Archaeology and World Religion is an important new work, being the first to examine these two vast topics together. The volume explores the relationship between, and the contribution archaeology can make to the study of 'World Religions'. The contributors consider a number of questions: * can religious (sacred) texts be treated as historical documents, or do they merit special treatment? * Does archaeology with its emphasis on material culture dispel notions of the ideal/divine? * Does the study of archaeology and religion lead to differing interpretations of the same event? * In what ways does the notion of a uniform religious identity exist and is this recognisable in the archaeological record? Clearly written and up-to-date, this volume will be an indispensable research tool for academics and specialists in these fields |
Contents
the archaeology of world religion | 1 |
Negative approaches to archaeology and world religion | 10 |
Positive approaches to archaeology and world religion | 16 |
The individual chapters | 23 |
The archaeology of Hinduism | 33 |
The implications of the archaeological evidence | 51 |
The variables behind the growth and continuity of a major pilgrim | 57 |
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Common terms and phrases
Allchin Ancient Anuradhapura approaches archaeological evidence archaeological studies Archaeology and World Archaeopress architectural artefacts beliefs Beth She'arim Biblical Buddha Buddhist Buddhist archaeology Buddhist monuments Cambridge University Press catacombs cemetery centre Chakrabarti Christian churches complex Coningham 1998 considered context courtyard cult dating decorated deities Diaspora domestic early example excavation existence female Figure funerary gender goddess Hachlili Harappan Hindu Hinduism historical human ibid identified India inscriptions Insoll interpreted Islam Jerusalem Judaism Kalibangan Kapilavastu Land of Israel landscape loculi London Lumbini material culture menorah mihrab Mitra Mohenjodaro monastery mosque Muslim Nagarjunakonda Oxford pagan Parker Pearson practice prayer recognisable relics religious ritual role Roman Routledge sacred Salihundam sanctuary scholars Second Temple Second Temple period Siva social space Sri Lanka stone structure Studies in Archaeology stupa symbols synagogue Taxila terracotta third century BCE tion Torah shrine traditions vihara whilst World Archaeology world religions worship