An exciting new project aims to delve into early medieval writings in South Asia, offering fresh insights into a pivotal historical period. This groundbreaking research will reveal long-forgotten aspects of the region’s past.
From the sixth to the tenth century AD, a significant historical transformation unfolded in what is now Pakistan: a predominantly Buddhist society gradually shifted to Hinduism, only to be succeeded by the Muslim invasions. Despite the profound nature of this change, much about the social, economic, and cultural aspects of this transitional period remains shrouded in mystery.
Advertisement
But this is about to change, thanks to the pioneering efforts of Kathrin Holz, Junior Professor of Indology at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) in Bavaria, Germany, and her colleague Professor Ingo Strauch from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Together, they are embarking on an ambitious project to shed light on this pivotal era using inscriptions and manuscripts written in the Proto-Sarada script—a writing system prevalent in northwest India during this time.
A small birch bark scroll with a seal. (Photo: Ingo Strauch / University of Lausanne)
Revealing Hidden Histories Through Proto-Sarada Script
For the first time, Holz and Strauch will systematically collect, document, and scientifically analyze historical evidence inscribed in Proto-Sarada. Their goal is to reconstruct the development and usage of this ancient script and explore the historical and material contexts of these writings. The project, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), aims to build a comprehensive edition of Proto-Sarada inscriptions.
Advertisement
At the heart of their research is a remarkable private collection of historical documents that have yet to be analyzed by scholars. This collection includes:
35 folders
43 large and 205 small birch bark scrolls
203 clay seals
This cache of documents is an invaluable resource, as surviving examples of the Proto-Sarada script are exceptionally rare. “This is because the birch bark, on which most of the writing was done, is not particularly durable in the tropical climate,” says Kathrin Holz.
Looking Ahead: Research and Exploration
The Proto-Sarada Project will also extend its reach to other known Proto-Sarada texts across the globe. The research team plans to undertake a study trip to Pakistan in autumn 2024 to visit key museums and collaborate with local experts from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Lahore.
The Proto-Sarada Project: Towards the Edition of a New Collection of Administrative Letters and Documents from Pre-Modern South Asia will officially commence on August 1, 2024, and will continue for three years. The DFG is contributing approximately 368,000 euros, while the SNF is providing 526,000 Swiss francs to support this groundbreaking research endeavour.
Advertisement
Top Image: This is what the ancient Indian Proto-Sarada script looks like, here on a 14-centimetre-wide piece of birch bark. The terms “market” and “merchant” appear in the text, which indicates an economic context. (Photo: Ingo Strauch / University of Lausanne)
An exciting new project aims to delve into early medieval writings in South Asia, offering fresh insights into a pivotal historical period. This groundbreaking research will reveal long-forgotten aspects of the region’s past.
From the sixth to the tenth century AD, a significant historical transformation unfolded in what is now Pakistan: a predominantly Buddhist society gradually shifted to Hinduism, only to be succeeded by the Muslim invasions. Despite the profound nature of this change, much about the social, economic, and cultural aspects of this transitional period remains shrouded in mystery.
But this is about to change, thanks to the pioneering efforts of Kathrin Holz, Junior Professor of Indology at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) in Bavaria, Germany, and her colleague Professor Ingo Strauch from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Together, they are embarking on an ambitious project to shed light on this pivotal era using inscriptions and manuscripts written in the Proto-Sarada script—a writing system prevalent in northwest India during this time.
A small birch bark scroll with a seal. (Photo: Ingo Strauch / University of Lausanne)
Revealing Hidden Histories Through Proto-Sarada Script
For the first time, Holz and Strauch will systematically collect, document, and scientifically analyze historical evidence inscribed in Proto-Sarada. Their goal is to reconstruct the development and usage of this ancient script and explore the historical and material contexts of these writings. The project, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), aims to build a comprehensive edition of Proto-Sarada inscriptions.
At the heart of their research is a remarkable private collection of historical documents that have yet to be analyzed by scholars. This collection includes:
This cache of documents is an invaluable resource, as surviving examples of the Proto-Sarada script are exceptionally rare. “This is because the birch bark, on which most of the writing was done, is not particularly durable in the tropical climate,” says Kathrin Holz.
Looking Ahead: Research and Exploration
The Proto-Sarada Project will also extend its reach to other known Proto-Sarada texts across the globe. The research team plans to undertake a study trip to Pakistan in autumn 2024 to visit key museums and collaborate with local experts from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Lahore.
The Proto-Sarada Project: Towards the Edition of a New Collection of Administrative Letters and Documents from Pre-Modern South Asia will officially commence on August 1, 2024, and will continue for three years. The DFG is contributing approximately 368,000 euros, while the SNF is providing 526,000 Swiss francs to support this groundbreaking research endeavour.
Top Image: This is what the ancient Indian Proto-Sarada script looks like, here on a 14-centimetre-wide piece of birch bark. The terms “market” and “merchant” appear in the text, which indicates an economic context. (Photo: Ingo Strauch / University of Lausanne)
Related Posts
Subscribe to Medievalverse