Archaeology, the magazine of the Archaeological Institute of America features the discovery of a structure dating back to the sixth century B.C at Lumbini, birthplace of Buddha, as world’s top 10 discoveries of 2014. An international team of archaeologists, led by Professor Robin Coningham of Durham University, UK and Kosh Prasad Acharya, Senior Archaeologist of Nepal, undertook
pioneering excavations within the Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which uncovered evidence of a structure dating to the sixth century B.C. This is the first archaeological material linking to the life period of the Buddha. This archaeological investigation under a UNESCO project, aiming at strengthening the conservation and management of Lumbini, is funded by the Government of Japan and implemented with the Government of Nepal, in particular, the Department of Archaeology and the Lumbini Development Trust.
Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative to Nepal, stated that “UNESCO is proud to be associated with this important discovery in Lumbini which has been featured among the top ten discoveries of 2014”. Lumbini in Nepal is one of the four key sites associated with the life of the Buddha; others in India are Bodh Gaya, where he became a Buddha or enlightened one; Sarnath, where he first preached; and Kusinagara, where he passed away. The Mayadevi Temple at Lumbini
remains a living shrine and is visited by Buddhist all around the world.
In the medieval period Lumbini was lost and overgrown, it was rediscovered in 1896 by General Khadga Shumsher and Archaeologist Anton Führer, and identified as the birthplace of Buddha on account of the presence of a third-century B.C. sandstone pillar, bearing an inscription documenting a visit by Emperor Ashoka to the site and testifying Lumbini as the birthplace of Buddha.
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Publisher:
UNESCO
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(2015
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Type / Script:
Press Release
in English
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Keywords:
WORLD HERITAGE SITE, BUDDHISM, HISTORIC SITES AND MONUMENTS, CULTURAL PROPERTY, CULTURAL VALUES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, LUMBINI, INVESTIGATION, EVIDENCE OF A STRUCTURE, NATIONAL ASSET, ARCHAEOLOGIST, BIRTHPLACE OF BUDDHA, TESTIFYING LUMBINI
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Thematic Group:
UNESCO
:
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
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Thesaurus:
15.00.00
- Cultural Development
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