KATHMANDU, MAY 2
Archaeologists from the University of California are all set to explore the idea of beyuls in the Rasuwa drainage.
Lead scientist Mark Aldenderfer from the University of California said the archaeologists in coordination with the Department of Archaeology in Nepal would try to find out whether beyuls in the Rasuwa drainage were occupied more intensively from the 14th to early 19th century by refugees from the Tibetan plateau.
"We aim to conduct intensive archaeological research in the Rasuwa drainage within the next five years,"
Aldenderfer, also the Edward A Dickson Emeriti Professorship Endowed Chair, told THT.
According to him, beyuls in Tibetan Buddhist belief are places of refuge for believers to retreat to during periods of political, social, or environmental strife.
"The Buddhist literature on beyuls became important starting in the 14th century, a period coinciding with the onset of the Little Ice Age, which was a period of significant cooling across the northern hemisphere that led to famines, political upheaval, and social strife across much of the world," he said.
The specific hypothesis of the exploration is that many beyuls were occupied more intensively from the 14th to early 19th century by refugees from the plateau. "Our goal here will be to evaluate this hypothesis by conducting survey and test excavations in the drainage," the distinguished professor emeritus of anthropology added.
American archaeologists also want to continue their work in Upper Mustang to explore sites with mounds that are likely to reflect the presenceof the Tibetan empire in the 7th-8th century AD. "We tried excavating a mound complex in Thingkar in Mustang last year, but that ran into local political opposition. We hope to move this project to a different location in Upper Mustang in the coming year," Aldenderfer said.
One of the goals with the new memorandum of understanding, which was signed between UC and DoA on April 27, is to find ways to engage more constructively with local people no matter where we decide to work, according to Aldenderfer.
"We want to avoid the problems we faced last year. What I hope to do is to work with the DoA to engage local peoples before working there so that they understand why we are there and what we hope to accomplish," he said.
With the extension of MoU's time period for the next five years, Damodar Gautam, director general at the Department of Archaeology, said archaeologists from UC would be allowed to explore, excavate, and survey in Rasuwa, Manang, Mustang, Dolpa, and Humla districts. During the research, archaeologists will also be engaged in mapping archaeological sites in these districts.
"Archaeological as well as historical research will take place at mounds near Dhakmar of Lo-Mangthang in Mustang. The team will also conduct analysis of abandoned fields and archaeological remains near the village of Limi in Humla district,"
Gautam added.
Founder Chairman of the Shangri- La Nepal Foundation Jiban Ghimire said the foundation was closely coordinating with the UC and DoA for archaeological research in Nepal. "We will try our best to engage locals in the research process to avoid any misunderstanding at the grassroots level," he said.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 03, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
