Elizabeth Errington
580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
Charles Masson and the Buddhist Sites of Afghanistan: Explorations, Excavations, Collections 1832–1835, British Museum Research Publication 215, London 2017
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Abstract
From 1833–8, Charles Masson (1800–1853) was employed by the British East India Company to explore the ancient sites in southeast Afghanistan. During this period, he surveyed over a hundred Buddhist sites around Kabul, Jalalabad and Wardak, making numerous drawings of the sites, together with maps, compass readings, sections of the stupas and sketches of some of the finds. Small illustrations of a selection of these key sites were published in Ariana Antiqua in 1841. However, this represents only a tiny proportion of his official and private correspondence held in the India Office Collection of the British Library which is studied in detail in this publication. It is supplemented online by The Charles Masson Archive: British Library and British Museum Documents Relating to the 1832–1838 Masson Collection from Afghanistan (British Museum Research Publication number 216). Together they provide the means for a comprehensive reconstitution of the archaeological record of the sites. In return for funding his exploration of the ancient sites of Afghanistan, the British East India Company received all of Masson's finds. These were sent to the India Museum in London, and when it closed in 1878 the British Museum was the principal recipient of all the 'archaeological' artefacts and a proportion of the coins. This volume studies the British Museum's collection of the Buddhist relic deposits, including reliquaries, beads and coins, and places them within a wider historical and archaeological context for the first time. Masson's collection of coins and finds from Begram are the subject of a separate study. Elizabeth Errington first began working on the archaeological records of Charles Masson during research for her doctoral thesis on the 19th-century discovery of the Buddhist sites of Gandhara. She was a curator of South and Central Asian coins in the British Museum (1993–2011) and from 1993 onwards has served as the coordinator and principal researcher for the British Museum's Masson Project.
FAQs
AI
What archaeological methods did Charles Masson employ during his explorations?
Charles Masson utilized surveys, maps, and compass readings to document over a hundred Buddhist sites between 1832 and 1835. His meticulous drawings and sketches provided a comprehensive archaeological record attributed to these sites.
How does Masson's collection contextualize Buddhist relics in Afghanistan?
The publication analyzes the British Museum's collection of Masson’s finds, including reliquaries and coins, integrating them into broader historical and archaeological frameworks. This marks the first comprehensive study of these Buddhist relic deposits.
What impact did Masson’s findings have on the British Museum's collections?
Following the closure of the India Museum in 1878, the British Museum became the principal receiver of Masson’s archaeological artefacts. This significant transfer included a considerable number of coins and religious relics.
How do current studies utilize Masson's original correspondence and records?
Errington's research leverages Masson's extensive official and private correspondence stored in the India Office Collection, supplementing it with resources from The Charles Masson Archive. This approach aims to reconstruct the full archaeological narrative of the explored sites.
What was Elizabeth Errington's role in researching Masson's archaeological contributions?
Errington, who worked at the British Museum from 1993 to 2011, coordinated the Masson Project and conducted foundational research on his findings. Her doctoral thesis focused on Masson's explorations of Buddhist sites, driving subsequent analysis in the field.