Archaeology of Buddhism in the Maldives

Egil Mikkelsen, born in Oslo 1945, Ph.D. (1987), University of Oslo, is Professor emeritus in archaeology and former Museum director at that university. He has published monographs and articles on Scandinavian prehistory, the Viking Age and the Medieval period, relations with the Islamic world and the Buddhist Maldives.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsList of FiguresList of TablesAbbreviations1 Introduction to the Maldives2 Early Written Sources on the Maldives1 The First Settlers2 Some Early Written Accounts on the Maldives3 The Pre-Islamic Maldive Society and the Outside World, Based on Written Sources4 The Spread of Buddhism3 Maldive Archaeology1 Excavations Carried Out by Maldivians2 The Thor Heyerdahl Expeditions, 1983–19843 Mirani Litster, 20164 Shiura Jaufar, 2016–20175 Excavations at Kinolhas, North Maalhosmadulu (Raa) Atoll, 20176 Maldives Heritage Surveys4 Archaeological Excavations at Kaashidhoo, 1996–19981 Introduction to Kaashidhoo2 Excavation and Documentation Methods3 The Excavations of the Ruin Area4 The Cemetery: Graves and Buddhist Funerary Practice5 Building Stages6 Buddhist Monasteries: A Comparative Study between the Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka7 Architecture: Interpretations of the Structures at the Monastery at Kaashidhoo8 Artefacts: Coin, Metal Objects, Stone Artefacts, Ceramics, and Beads9 Chronology10 Faunal Remains: Bone Fragments and Molluscs11 Some Glimpses into Daily Life: The Laity and the Monks12 Trade5 Cowrie Shells in Maldive Buddhism6 The Spread of Cowrie Shells1 The Spread of Cowrie Shells in Asia2 The Spread of Cowrie Shells into Europe7 The Conversion to Islam8 Conclusions1 The Cowrie Shells2 Early Settlers—Different Religions3 A Buddhist Society in the Maldives—the Kaashidhoo Monastery as a Case Study4 The Conversion from Buddhism to Islam5 ChronologyAppendixA: Imported Stoneware Finds from China and South-East Asia by Ran Zhang, Durham University, United KingdomAppendixB: Catalogue of Decorated Earthenware from Kuruhinna TharaaganduAppendixC: An Archaeological Find of Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea (Schweigger 1812)) and Associated Finds of Sea Turtle, Domestic Fowl, and Fish from Kaashidhoo, the Maldives by Leif Jonsson, Gothenburg University, SwedenAppendixD: Buddhist (Pre-Islamic) Sites in the MaldivesAppendixE: Archaeological Finds of Buddhist Origin in the MaldivesReferencesIndex