Archipelago-Subcontinent Ties Ancient

Jakarta Post ^ | 9-26-2005 | Rita A. Widiadana

[blam]

Archipelago-subcontinent ties ancient

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

A global trade system involving Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Mediterranean basin might have existed since pre-historic times based on various archaeological findings on the island of Bali and several archaeological sites across Indonesia, a noted archaeologist says.

I Wayan Ardhika, professor of archaeology at the University of Udayana in Denpasar, theorized that the findings in northeastern coast of Bali, especially at the pre-historic sites of Sembiran and Pacung revealed innumerable Indian ceramics, believed to be the largest collection of ancient Indian-made roulette ware (between 150 BC and AD 200) in Indonesia.

Further evidence includes glass beads, carnelian beads (believed to be brought from India) and gold foil eye covers found in Gilimanuk, West Bali, and in sarcophagus burial sites in Pangkungliplip, the professor said.

"Archaeological finds suggest that there were strong indications of contacts between India and Indonesia, particularly Bali. These contacts might have been stimulated by the emergence of an ancient trade system in the region," he told a seminar here on Saturday.

Jointly organized by the Indian Embassy, the Indian Cultural Center in Bali and the University of Udayana, the seminar titled India-Indonesia Cultural Relations, was part of the state university's anniversary.

"The seminar is another milestone in efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries," Indian Ambassador to Indonesia H.K. Singh said while opening the one-day seminar attended by scholars from India and Indonesia.

"Friendly relations between India and Indonesia have been strong since ancient times and have continued to be so in modern times," the ambassador told The Jakarta Post after the seminar.

While in the past, Indian influences were obvious in many fields including religion, culture, arts and architecture, the present relations between the two nations are marked by various joint projects in several sectors including science and technology, education, human resource development, information technology, trade and investment and many other fields of cooperation.

"We are happy to be able to take part in human resource development cooperation by providing training and education for Indonesian government officials in diverse kinds of courses and workshops in areas of governance such as mass communications, auditing, accounting, etc.," the envoy explained.

In the field of education, the Indian government has doubled its scholarship programs from 75 in the last two years to 150 scholarships a year for under-graduate, graduate and post graduate programs in universities across India and specialized training programs.

"Indonesia is among the largest recipients of India's scholarship programs. We are eager to increase the quota in the coming years," he said.

Three books were launched on the occasion. They were published by an industrialist from Mumbai and chairman of the Somaiya trust, Dr. S.K. Somaiya, who came from India for the occasion. The first was Dictionary of Sanskrit words in Southeast Asia, of which the Indonesian section was jointly compiled by Prof. Edi Sedyawati and Dr. Somvir. The other two books written by Dr. Somvir are Niti Sataka and 108 Vedic hymns.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[SunkenCiv]

Yipes! Another one? ;') Thanks Blam.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[English Nationalist]

I'd thought the presence of lapis lazuli in Egyptian tombs was already pretty strong evidence for this.

[RightWhale]

There was a lot of sea trade. Probably most of the ships didn't complete their journey, pirates and weather being active, but those that did were tremendously profitable. A sea captain had to be tough in those days.

[adam_az]

Anyone watch "Rome" on HBO last night? The Hindu characters were interesting.

[Bernard Marx]

I'd thought the presence of lapis lazuli in Egyptian tombs was already pretty strong evidence for this.

Lapis in Egypt is definitely proof of 'Silk Road' trade ties, but since its main source is in northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan it doesn't necessary imply direct trade with India.

Better evidence of early India trade with the Med, I think, comes from the use of diamonds in gravers and drills manufactured by the Romans. The only reported sources of diamond during that period were the fabled Golconda mines in India and mines in Indonesia.

[indcons]

Note to self: Read later

[fqued]

An Indian goddess figure from easern India was found in the excavations at Pompeii--very interesting, and evidence that trading went on between the Romans and the farther reaches of India.

[blam]

Hey Bernard. You may find this DNA map interesting:

Journey Of Mankind

[Bernard Marx]

Thanks Blam -- that's Super-Neat! It takes into account catastrophism unlike most 'big picture' explanations. Much is left out and unknown, of course, but it explains a lot.

[blam]

"It takes into account catastrophism unlike most 'big picture' explanations. Much is left out and unknown, of course, but it explains a lot."

The rest of the answers are found in the books by Professor Stephen Oppenheimer the author of the map. I've read two of his books, excellent.

[JimSEA]

Thanks, it fits nicely with the timing 100 to 300 BC move of Mon into Burma and Thailand, the Buddhist influence in the Nakon Phanom (SP?)/ Great Chedi area (which included finds of Roman coins but the dating at the time of the find was difficult -- probably about 200 AD).

[norton]

Whether or not I agree with the general assumption of early and wide spread trade/immigration...

Anything that includes ""Friendly relations between India and Indonesia have been strong since ancient times and have continued to be so in modern times," loses points without further consideration.

[vannrox]

Nice Map, however, this does not take into account the odd-ball historical finds that do not fit into this theory. I wonder if they are isolated events, or if the history as we know it is actually true. Certainly does not take into account the sea faring ability of primitive peoples.

My point...if you watch the map shown, most of the time the people wandered along the coatline. I find it hard to believe that for 200,000 years no one thought about making a boat or riding on a log.

[blam]

"Nice Map, however, this does not take into account the odd-ball historical finds that do not fit into this theory."

There will be a lot of suprises in the next few years, I just hope I live long enough to see them.

Dr Robert Schoch's book: Voyages Of The Pyramid Builders fills in some of the blanks.

"From Publishers Weekly The great pyramids of Egypt provide a wonderful glimpse of the artistry, skill and imagination of the ancient world. But pyramids can be found in India, China, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico and Ireland. In this provocative book, geologist Schoch (noted for his work in redating the Sphinx, which was recounted in his Voices of the Rocks) wonders how so many diverse cultures built such similar structures with similar purposes. Using geological, linguistic and geographical evidence, he contends that a protocivilization of pyramid-building peoples was driven out of its homeland, the Sundaland, which geologists believe connected Southeast Asia with Indonesia, by a rise in sea level caused by comet activity between 6000 and 4000 B.C. Fleeing their homeland, these peoples took their knowledge of pyramid building with them into Sumeria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and Peru. Schoch hypothesizes that the pyramids were built to reach into the skies and to penetrate the mystery of the heavens, source of catastrophe. Schoch also asserts that the pyramids point to unity and symbolize the deep concerns shared by all humans. Schoch builds his engrossing case on geological details of the pyramid sites he has examined around the world. In the end, however, even he admits his evidence of a Sundaland protocivilization is speculative. As controversial as this book is bound to be, Schoch's evocation of the pyramids forcefully reminds us of their enduring power as monuments to the spirit of human creativity. 16 pages of color photos not seen by PW. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc."

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
· Google · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·