Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Buddha Lived in 6th Century BC: Archaeologists

by Rukmani Krishna on November 29, 2013 at 11:54 PM
 Buddha Lived in 6th Century BC: Archaeologists

Archaeologists says the discovery of an previously unknown wooden structure at the Buddha's birthplace suggests the sage might have lived in the 6th century BC, two centuries earlier than thought.

Traces of what appears to have been an ancient timber shrine was found under a brick temple that is itself within Buddhism's sacred Maya Devi Temple at Lumbini, in southern Nepal near the Indian border.

Advertisement

In design it resembles the Asokan temple erected on top of it. Significantly, however, it features an open area, unprotected from the elements, from which it seems a tree once grew -- possibly the tree where the Buddha was born.

"This sheds light on a very very long debate" over when the Buddha was born and, in turn, when the faith that grew out of his teachings took root, said archeologist Robin Coningham in a conference call.
Advertisement

It's widely accepted that the Buddha was born beneath a hardwood sal tree at Lumbini as his mother Queen Maya Devi, the wife of a clan chief, was traveling to her father's kingdom to give birth.

But much of what is known about his life and time has its origins in oral tradition -- with little scientific evidence to sort out fact from myth.

Many scholars contend that the Buddha -- who renounced material wealth to embrace and preach a life of enlightenment -- lived and taught in the 4th century BC, dying at around the age of 80.

"What our work has demonstrated is that we have this shrine (at Buddha's birthplace) established in the 6th century BC" that supports the hypothesis that the Buddha might have lived and taught in that earlier era, Coningham said.

Radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence techniques were used to date fragments of charcoal and grains of sand found at the site.

Geoarcheological research meanwhile confirmed the existence of tree roots within the temple's central open area.

Coningham co-directed an international team of archeologists at Lumbini that was funded in part by the Washington-based National Geographic Society, which plans to telecast a documentary, "Buried Secrets of the Buddha," worldwide in February.

The team's peer-reviewed findings appear in the December issue of the journal Antiquity, ahead of the 17th congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies in Vienna in August next year.

Lumbini -- overgrown by jungle before its rediscovery in 1896 -- is today a UNESCO world heritage site, visited by millions of pilgrims every year. Worldwide, Buddhism counts 500 million followers.

In a statement, UNESCO director general Irina Bokova called for "more archeological research, intensified conservation work and strengthened site management" at Lumbini as it attracts growing numbers of visitors.

UNESCO and the Nepalese government had invited Coningham, Britain's leading South Asian archeologist, to join Nepal's former director general Kosh Prasad Acharya to steer the Lumbini effort.

Since it's a working temple, the archeologists found themselves digging in the midst of meditating monks, nuns and pilgrims.

It's not unusual in history for adherents of one faith to have built a place of worship atop the ruins of a venue connected with another religion.

But what makes Lumbini special, Coningham said, is how the design of the wooden shrine resembles that of the multiple structures built over it over time.

Equally significant is what the archeologists did not find: signs of any dramatic change in which the site has been used over the ages.

"This is one of those rare occasions when belief, tradition, archeology and science actually come together," he said.

Source: AFP
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

Workaholic Blues: Strained Despite Working Hard
Work addicts don't always find more joy in work. Workaholism mirrors addictions like gambling or alcoholism, debunking common beliefs.
Social Media Reshapes New Parenting Journeys
Amid the challenges of caring for newborns and toddlers, a study notes a rising trend of new parents seeking social media's help for managing their children.
Social Isolation With No Family & Friends Visits Linked to Mortality Risk
Lack of friends and family visits is tied to a 39% increased risk of mortality that can be used to develop effective therapies associated with social isolation.
Sunscreen & Its Pseudoeffects of Sun Protection
Compared to wearing sun-protective clothes and avoiding the sun, using sunscreen is the least effective way to prevent sunburn on the skin.
How Fruit & Vegetable Microbiomes Benefit Human Gut Health?
Bacterial diversity in the human gut is benefited by eating fruit and vegetables with microorganisms of probiotic and health-promoting characteristics.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Buddha Lived in 6th Century BC: Archaeologists Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests