Revisiting the Chronology of the Early Sculptural Art of Kashmir, India
Revisiting the Chronology of the Early Sculptural Art of Kashmir, India
M.A. Shah.
In the absence of any scientifi c dates available for the chronology of the early sculptural art of the Kashmir valley, it is important to mention that this particular subject has long been a bone of contention among scholars. Many theories have been propounded regarding the dates of the early terracotta sculptures excavated over the past 100 years in the Kashmir valley. Due to the very nominal archaeological investigations that have been carried out in the Kashmir valley, these theories have never been questioned. Over the past few decades certain excavations and accidental discoveries have provided useful data on the sculptural art of the Kashmir valley. This new data has been utilized in order to present a clear picture of the chronology of the sculptural art. Moreover, literary data and previously established theories have been also taken into consideration to give a new more plausible interpretation in the light of archaeological investigations which are carried out from time to time. Hence, this paper seeks a close comparison with other excavated sites in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia revisiting, reinvestigating, and reinterpreting data in order to establish the chronology of the early sculptural art of the Kashmir valley.
