Archéologie indienne et mouvement migratoire

Abstract

This article draws a relation between the works undertaken by the members of the Asiatic Society of Bengal at the end of the 18th century and the later development of Indian archaeology, through the promotion of an interpretive model grounded on migratory movement. This model was derived from the mosaic narrative of the peopling of the ancient world and was the outcome of British Orientalists’ will to conciliate Biblical and Indian sources. Two examples throw some light on its influence. The theory of an African origin of the Buddha had a great impact on the study of Buddhist statuary at the end of the 18th century and early 19th century. As for Indian megaliths, they drew attention from the beginning of the 19th century onwards on account of their alleged resemblance to those of Europe, which gave credit to the idea of a common origin.

Keywords

• indian archeology
• asiatic society of Bengal
• buddhism
• megaliths
• orientalism