Interactions between Sri Lanka and South India in the Early and Middle Historic through the perspective of personal adornment
The present research investigates the interaction between Sri Lanka and its closest neighbouring region, South India, during the Early and Middle Historic periods. This connection has often been studied based on the textual evidence available on either side with little regard for the material evidence. Therefore, previous studies have fallen short of providing an objective understanding of the interactions. Furthermore, the focus of previous studies has been large-scale, state-mandated interaction. In contrast, this study has adopted a novel approach through the perspective of personal adornment and has been able to trace far closer contact between the two regions than official interaction suggests. To understand interpersonal interactions between the two regions, objects of personal adornment from seven different sites in Sri Lanka and South India were analysed. The patterns that emerge from assemblages of objects of adornment, including beads and other non-bead adornments were observed. The rationale behind this analysis was that body beautification expresses the individual and social identities of people across time and space. Consequently, it was anticipated that, by observing artefacts that are expressions
Gunasena, Kaushalya Gangadari
South Asian Archaeology ; Sri Lanka-South India Studies ; beads ; personal adornment
Interactions between Sri Lanka and South India in the Early and Middle Historic through the perspective of personal adornment. The present research investigates the interaction between Sri Lanka and its closest neighbouring region, South India, during the Early and Middle Historic periods. This connection has often been studied based on the textual evidence available on either side with little regard for the material evidence. Therefore, previous studies have fallen short of providing an objective understanding of the interactions. Furthermore, the focus of previous studies has been large-scale, state-mandated interaction. In contrast, this study has adopted a novel approach through the perspective of personal adornment and has been able to trace far closer contact between the two regions than official interaction suggests. To understand interpersonal interactions between the two regions, objects of personal adornment from seven different sites in Sri Lanka and South India were analysed. The patterns that emerge from assemblages of objects of adornment, including beads and other non-bead adornments were observed. The rationale behind this analysis was that body beautification expresses the individual and social identities of people across time and space. Consequently, it was anticipated that, by observing artefacts that are expressions
interactions sri_lanka south_india early middle historic perspective personal_adornment present_investigates interaction sri_lanka close neighbour_region south_india early middle historic period connection often study_base textual_evidence available either_side little regard material_evidence therefore previous_study fall_short provide objective interaction furthermore focus previous_study large_scale state interaction contrast study adopt novel perspective personal_adornment able trace far closer contact two_region official interaction suggest interpersonal interaction two_region object personal_adornment different_site sri_lanka south_india analyse pattern_emerge assemblage object adornment include bead non bead adornment observe rationale behind analysis body express individual social_identity people across_time space consequently anticipate observe artefact expression