India - Himalayan Myths and Reality - Institute for Field Research


Location: Jong Village, India

Season: 
July 15, 2019 to August 14, 2019

Application Deadline: 
Friday, April 5, 2019

Deadline Type: 
Rolling

Website: 
http://ifrglobal.org/program/india-himalaya/

Program Type

Field school

RPA certified

no

Affiliation:

Institute for Field Research, Connecticut College, UCLA, IISER, Mohali, Punjab, India

Project Director:

Dr. Sonali Gupta-argawal, Dr. Parth Chauhan

Project Description

Historical archaeology studies material culture with the aid of historical records. Written records contextualize materiality but may or may not corroborate archaeological evidence. Kullu valley lies in the heart of the Himalayas in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh and is rich in archaeological sites and historical records relating to the sites. The valley is a focal point for many ancient myths in the Himalayas. As texts were frequently revised and chronologically problematic, an assessment of myths and their reality cannot be done on the basis of textual sources alone. There is an absence of early historic excavated sites in the valley, therefore, a historical archaeology and applied anthropological approach is useful for the study of religious art, architecture, oral traditions within the context of the landscape. Such an approach aids in evaluating the manifestation of myths and their reality in the Kullu valley.

The research goals aim at understanding the role of myths in the Kullu valley and how they influence architecture, rituals and use of space. The project will also help understand the interaction of contemporary people with sacred sites in the Himalayas where such myths are depicted and form a part of their daily life.

Period(s) of Occupation: Historical Archaeology

Project size: 
1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Participants are required to stay for the full duration of the field school.

Minimum age: 
18

Experience required: 
No prior experience is required to participate in this field school.

Room and Board Arrangements

Students will be housed in cottages where each room can accommodate two individuals with a shared a bathroom. Each cottage has internet connectivity, television, a common kitchen with refrigerators, solar powered hot water. Bedding will be provided. Students are free to stroll within the perimeter of the property. The cottages are nestled on a sprawling green hill filled with Himalayan pine, fir and fruit trees.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on work days will be served in the common dining area at designated hours. The cooks are equipped to cook a variety of food options both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, local and international cuisine and can easily accommodate vegans or lactose intolerant meals. The cooks would need to know dietary restrictions and preferences beforehand to accommodate diets. Beef is the only item which will not be provided.

Sundays being days off, students may order reasonably priced food at the facility or may cook on their own – all cottages have kitchens. Laundry services are available at nominal cost. The local market is nearby.

Cost: 
Room and board are included in the tuition of the field school.

Academic Credit

Name of institution offering credit: 
Connecticut College
Number of credits offered 8 Semester Credits
Tuition: 
$4,270

Location

Contact Information
Insitute for Field Research
2999 Overland Ave. Suite 103
Los Angeles
CA
USa
90064
info@ifrglobal.org
Telephone: 
424-209-1173
Recommended Bibliography: 

The readings will be posted of a Dropbox shared folder with an access to all enrolled students.

Chakrabarti, Dilip 2001 India-An Archaeological History: Paleolithic beginnings to Early Historic Foundations. Oxford University Press, New Delhi (Chapters 1 & 7)

Hall, Martin, and Stephen W. Silliman 2006 Historical archaeology. Blackwell. Malden. MA. (chapters 1, 3, 4)

Handa, O.C 2015 Kullu, Its early History, Archaeology and Architecture. Pentagon Press, New Delhi (Chapter 1 & 2)

Lal, B.B 2013 Historicity of the Mahabharata: Evidence of Literature, Art and Archaeology. Aryan Books International. (Chapters 1,5,6 & 7)

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Berger, P 2012 Theory and ethnography in the modern anthropology of India. Journal of Ethnographic theory 2(2): 325-57

Bourdieu, P 1977 Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Doniger, Wendy 2010 The Hindus: An Alternative History. Oxford University Press.

Freund, Richard 2009 Searching for Jesus in Galilee and Babylonia in Digging through the Bible. pp. 147-182. Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham MD.

Ganguli, K.M 1893 Mahaprasthanika Parva. The Mahabharata, Translation

Gupta, S. P. 1996 If only the court had examined the evidence. In Dasgupta, Swapan. The Ayodhya Reference: Supreme Court Judgement and Commentaries. Voice of India.

Handa, O.C 2009 Himalayan Traditional Architecture. Rupa & Co, New Delhi

Kersel, Morag and Austin Hill 2015 Landscapes of the Dead: Mapping, Survey, and Site Monitoring at Fifa, Jordan. tDAR id: 395035

Lal B.B 2008 Rama, His Historicity, Mandir and Setu: Evidence of Literature, Archaeology, and other Sciences. Aryan Books.

Patton, Laurie and Wendy Doniger 1996 Myth and Method. University of Virginia Press, 1996

Sinha, Amita 2011 Landscapes in India: Forms and Meanings. Asian Educational Services Press, New Delhi