Archaeology and World Religion

This is the first text to consider the subjects of religion and archaeology in conjunction with each other. It explores the relationship between the two, and the contribution archaeology can make to the study of world religions.

List of figures

viii

List of tables

xi

List of contributors

xii

Acknowledgments

xiii

Introduction: the archaeology of world religion

1

(32)

Timothy Insoll

Definitions and objectives

1

(2)

An approach to the archaeology of world religion?

3

(7)

Negative approaches to archaeology and world religion

10

(6)

Positive approaches to archaeology and world religion

16

(7)

The individual chapters

23

(5)

References

28

(5)

The archaeology of Hinduism

33

(28)

Dilip Chakrabarti

Introduction. A difference in perception: the West vis-a-vis the practising Hindu

33

(2)

The problem of delimiting an archaeological approach

35

(1)

Archaeological evidence for rituals, symbols, and deities known to modern Hinduism

35

(16)

The implications of the archaeological evidence

51

(2)

Sacred space and continuity. The dimensions of sacred space in the Indian countryside

53

(2)

Sacred space and archaeology

55

(2)

The variables behind the growth and continuity of a major pilgrim centre: ancient Varanasi

57

(1)

Conclusions

58

(1)

References

59

(2)

The archaeology of Buddhism

61

(35)

Robin Coningham

Introduction

61

(2)

The life of the Buddha: a textual narrative

63

(2)

The life of the Buddha: an archaeological narrative

65

(5)

A review of the typology of Buddhist monuments

70

(10)

The case studies

80

(7)

Conclusion: towards an archaeology of Buddhism

87

(4)

References

91

(5)

The archaeology of Judaism

96

(27)

Rachel Hachlili

Introduction

96

(1)

The synagogue

97

(8)

Jewish burial customs

105

(7)

Iconography and symbolism

112

(5)

Inscriptions

117

(2)

Dietary remains

119

(1)

The traditional domestic environment

119

(1)

Conclusions

120

(1)

References

121

(2)

The archaeology of Islam

123

(25)

Timothy Insoll

Introduction

123

(1)

Islam - unity and diversity

124

(1)

The mosque

125

(4)

The Muslim burial

129

(2)

Muslim diet

131

(2)

The traditional domestic environment

133

(4)

The community environment

137

(2)

A case study: the Cambridge mosque and cemetry

139

(5)

Conclusions

144

(1)

References

145

(3)

The archaeology of Christianity in global perspective

148

(34)

Paul Lane

Introduction

148

(1)

Archaeological approaches to the study of Christianity

149

(2)

Interpreting Christian burials and iconography

151

(2)

Mission, conversion, and the 'colonisation of consciousness'

153

(6)

Churches and the archaeology of 'cult'

159

(5)

Transformations of sacred space

164

(6)

Monasticism and pilgrimage

170

(4)

Time and the emergence of a Christian core

174

(2)

Conclusions

176

(1)

References

177

(5)

Ethics and the archaeology of world religions

182

(11)

Anders Bergquist

Introduction

182

(1)

Religion, archaeology, and the sacred

182

(4)

Case studies

186

(4)

Conclusions

190

(1)

References

191

(2)

Gender in the archaeology of world religion?

193

(10)

Rachel MacLean

Introduction

193

(1)

Gender and world religion

194

(1)

Gender and the archaeology of world religion

195

(4)

Gods and goddesses/goddesses and gods

199

(1)

Conclusions

200

(1)

References

201

(2)

Death, being, and time: the historical context of the world religions

203

(18)

Mike Parker Pearson

Introduction

203

(1)

Technologies of belief

204

(1)

Late Victorian theories of the origin and evolution of religion

205

(3)

Death, being, and time

208

(1)

Changing conceptions of the supernatural in the last 5,000 years

209

(1)

The quest for immortality on earth

210

(3)

The rise of the world religions

213

(1)

The rise of secular beliefs

214

(1)

Conclusions

215

(3)

References

218

(3)

Index

221

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Archaeology and World Religion

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials