Raymond Allchin (1923–2010)

"The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia" brought together a number of scholars who had been working on issues relating to Early Historic archaeology since the 1960s. F.R. Allchin, the volume's editor, can be credited with contributing several earlier volumes to the same topic. This volume differs somewhat, in providing contributions from Robin Coningham (of Durham University), Dilip Chakrabarti, B. Allchin and Erdosy. The problems posed and methodologies employed by these various researchers differ considerably, and so the entire volume provides an interesting overview that ranges from palaeoecology, textual archaeology, settlement survey and excavation, drawing on various strands of international research conducted between the late 19th and late 20th centuries. F.R. Allchin and R. Coningham present a summary of excavation results from Anuradhapura, condensing considerably the major site reports (1999, 2006).

In many regards, however, this remains an "introductory" text, rather than one positioning new questions and research. Such a study had been missing until 1995 (though Chakrabarti published his "Ancient Indian Cities" in the same year). In recent years, however, research approaches, techniques and understandings have shifted considerably. These can be followed in the proceedings of the association of South Asian Archaeologists, though these volumes suffer from an inconsistent and largely slow rate of publication. The image that we have of Early Historic urbnanism today is, therefore, not represented in this volume. Allchin, Allchin, Chakrabarti and Erdosy have all worked toward more generalised research agendas, providing the broad overview which other studies tend to miss. It would be time for a new volume to be published.

In conclusion, Allchin (et al's) volume is a positive contribution to Early Historic archaeology in South Asia. While it is dated in some regards (many findings having since been altered or reformed), the contributions remain peerless examples of archaeological narrative-writing, drawing on many volumes, sources and results that are not readily available even from specialist archaeology libraries. The volume provides a solid introduction to the major questions which we are, to a large extent, still working in the shadow of. Ultimately, Chakrabarti and F.R. Allchin, especially, contribute thoughtful, balanced and exceptionally lucid accounts of a sub-field of archaeology (Early Historic India) that demands histories of its own.… (altro)