Charlotte Coull (Manchester): The Science of Historical Archaeology
The Observation of Text and Stone in 19th century India
24.01.2019
wann: Donnerstag, 24.01.2018, 16-18 Uhr
wo: Historicum, Schellingstr. 12, Raum K026
Vortrag im Rahmen des Oberseminars "Perspektiven der Wissenschaftsgeschichte"
This lecture discusses ways of knowing stone in British archaeological scholarship in nineteenth century India, exploring British reactions to the tombs, temples and megaliths that dotted the landscape and provided an insight into Indian history. These reactions span from what could be considered more ‘scientific’ (the excavation of megalithic sites) to the more ‘romantic’ (a fascination with the temporality and atmosphere evoked by ruins). The presence of a variety of these reactions in published scholarship can be used to move beyond the label ‘historical archaeology’ and explore how the subject at this point incorporated both scientific and humanistic aspects.