Dr Christopher Davis

(email at christopher.davis@durham.ac.uk)

Chris undertook both his BA and MA in Archaeology at Durham University and continued his studies in the Department of Archaeology with an AHRC funded PhD. His thesis, ‘Early Buddhist Monasteries in Sri Lanka: a landscape approach’, was linked to an AHRC-funded investigation of the hinterland of Anuradhapura, in the Northern Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. This study integrated archaeological evidence from excavations and landscape survey with epigraphic, textual and ethnographic sources to investigate the social, administrative and economic functions of Buddhist monasteries, including the role of monastic enterprise in the colonisation of marginal land, around the city of Anuradhapura between c. 340 BCE to 1200 CE.

Working within the UNESCO Chair in Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage, Chris’ research relates to the archaeology of South Asia, with a continued focus towards the development of religious institutions. Located at the interface between archaeology, epigraphy, ethnography and heritage management, these elements are combined through site and landscape based approaches to provide understandings on the development of societies in the past as well as the ramifications for heritage in the present.

Chris is a member of UNESCO-sponsored archaeological investigations in the natal landscape of the Buddha, refining and characterising archaeological sequences at the sites of Lumbini and Tilaurakot (Nepal). He is part of a team that is now developing these methodologies across the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property (Nepal) in multi-disciplinary post-earthquake archaeological responses to heritage damaged and destroyed in the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. These investigations are identifying and characterising archaeological sequences and assessing foundations of collapsed monuments to guide future development and reconstruction, whilst protecting cultural heritage. This methodology has now been developed through British Academy sponsored fieldwork at Jaffna Fort, in Northern Sri Lanka, where damaged heritage is assessed and the earliest sequences of the site are being uncovered and linked to Indian Ocean trade networks. 

In addition to fieldwork in Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruva, Jaffna) and Nepal (Lumbini, Tilaurakot and Kathmandu Valley), Chris has been part of archaeological projects in Bangladesh (Bagerhat, Mahasthangarh and Paharpur), India (Champaner-Pavagadh), Iran (Sialk) and Cambodia (Siem Reap – Angkor).

Research Groups

Department of Archaeology

• Heritage and Built Environment Research Group

Research Projects

Department of Archaeology

• Archaeological Investigations of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pashupati (Nepal)
• Benchmarking the Social and Economic Impacts of Cultural Heritage in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, India
• Exploring the Medieval Hinterland of Polonnaruva
• Post-Conflict Archaeology of the Jaffna Peninsula
• Post-Earthquake Rescue Archaeology in Kathmandu
• Promoting the Protection of Heritage Sites in Nepal
• Reducing Disaster Risk to Life and Livelihoods by Evaluating the Seismic Safety of Kathmandu's Historic Urban Infrastructure
• The Natal Landscape of the Buddha, Phase I: Lumbini
• The Natal Landscape of the Buddha, Phase II: Tilaurakot

Selected Publications

Chapter in book

• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Kunwar, R.B., LaFortune-Bernard, A., Tremblay-Fitton, J., Schmidt, A. & Simpson, I.A. (2018). Apres le Deluge: observations and recommendations from a post-disaster mission to the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site in October and November 2015. In The Cultural Heritage of Nepal, Before, During and After the 2015 Earthquakes: current and future challenges. Richon, M. Vajra Books. 92-103.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Kunwar, R.B., Davis, C.E., Manuel, M.J., Simpson, I.A., Strickland, K.M., Hale, D., Tremblay, J. & Lafortune-Bernard, A. (2018). Excavating ancient Kapilavastu: the childhood home of Lord Buddha. In Buddha Rashmi Vesak Volume 2018: Essays in Buddhism and Buddhist Monastic Archaeology. Gunawardhana, P. & Coningham, R.A.E. Colombo, Sri Lanka Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. 8-25.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Weise, K., Kunwar, R.B. & Simpson, I.A. (2018). Look Down, Not Up: Protecting the Post-disaster Subsurface Heritage of the Kathmandu Valley’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Evolving Narratives of Hazard and Risk The Gorkha Earthquake, Nepal, 2015. Bracken, L.A., Ruszczyk, H. & Robinson, T. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. 159-181.
• Davis, C.E. (2018). Patterns of Patronage: a reanalysis of the contents and distribution of inscriptions in Sri Lanka. In Buddha Rashmi: Vesak Volume: essays in Buddhism and Buddhist monastic archaeology. Gunawardhana, P. & Coningham, R.A.E. Colombo, Sri Lanka Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. 53-66.
• Davis, C.E., Gunawardhana, P., Coningham, R.A.E., Pushparatnam, P., Schmidt, A., Manuel, M.J., Namalgamuwa, H., Senanayaka, J. & Bandara, K.G.Y. (2018). Recent excavations and survey at Jaffna Fort in 2017 and reflections on the antiquity of Indian Ocean trade. In Buddha Rashmi Vesak Volume 2018: Essays in Buddhism and Buddhist Monastic Archaeology. Gunawardhana, P. & Coningham, R.A.E. Colombo, Sri Lanka Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. 67-78.
• Manuel, M.J., Gunawardhana, P., Coningham, R.A.E., Davis, C.E., Namalgamuwa, H., Senanayaka, J, Rammungoda, U.R. & Bandara, K.G.Y. (2018). Ritual and economy reconsidered at Siva Devale No. 2, Polonnaruva. In Buddha Rashmi: Vesak Volume: essays in Buddhism and Buddhist monastic archaeology. Gunawardhana, P. & Coningham, R.A.E. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Central Cultural Fund. 33-44.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Manuel, M.J., Davis, C.E. & Gunawardhana, P. (2017). Archaeology and Cosmopolitanism in Early Historic and Medieval Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka at the Crossroads of History. Biedermann, Z. & Strathern, A. London: UCL Press. 19-43.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Kunwar, R.B., Manuel. M.J., Davis, C.E. & Lafortune-Bernard, A. (2017). Promoting the Protection, Preservation and Presentation of the Natal Landscape of the Buddha in Nepal. In Buddha Rashmi Vesak Volume: Essays in Buddhism and Buddhist Monastic Archaeology. Gunawardhana, P., Coningham, R.A.E. & Nampoothiri, K. Central Cultural Fund of Sri Lanka. 13-26.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P. & Davis, C.E. (2015). Archaeological Evidence and the Historicity of the Buddha: Lumbini. In Vesak, Peace and Harmony: Thinking of Buddhist Heritage. Degalle, M. Nagananda International Buddhist University. 59-82.
• Manuel, M.J., Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana, P., Adikari, G., Strickland, K.M., Young, R.L., Davis, C.E., Jones, J., McDonnell, G., Rammungoda, U.R., Namalgamuwa, H. & Senanayake, J. (2013). Construction and Building Materials, Stone, Glass, Metal, Archaezoological, Archaeobotanical and Plastic Objects. In Anuradhapura Volume III: The Hinterland. Coningham, R.A.E. & Gunawardhana, P. Archaeopress (BAR International Series 2568). 393-444.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana, P., Adikari, G., Manuel, M.J. , Davis, C.E. & Simpson, I.A. (2013). Discussion. In Anuradhapura Volume III: The Hinterland. Coningham, R.A.E. & Gunawardhana, P. Archaeopress (BAR International Series 2568). 459-479.
• Davis, C.E. , Coningham, R.A.E. , Gunawardhana, P. & Manuel, M.J. (2013). Epigraphy in the hinterland. In Anuradhapura Volume III: The Hinterland. Coningham, R.A.E. & Gunawardhana, P. Archaeopress (BAR International Series 2568). 445-458.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana, P., Adikari, G., Krishnan, K., Davis, C.E., Manuel, M.J., Rammungoda, U.R., Namalgamuwa, H.,, Senanayake, J. & Stern, B. (2013). Glazed and Unglazed Ceramics. In Anuradhapura Volume III: The Hinterland. Coningham, R.A.E. & Gunawardhana, P. Archaeopress (BAR International Series 2568). 229-332.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana, P., Adikari, G. Manuel, M.J. & Davis, C.E. (2013). History of Research. In Anuradhapura Volume III: The Hinterland. Coningham, R.A.E. & Gunawardhana, P. Archaeopress (BAR International Series 2568). 9-20.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana, P. Adikari, G. Davis, C.E. , Manuel, M.J. , Bailiff, I. , Batt, C.M. Namalgamuwa, H. Senanayake, J. & Rammungoda, U.R. (2013). Phasing the Hinterland. In Anuradhapura Volume III: The Hinterland. Coningham, R.A.E. & Gunawardhana, P. Archaeopress (BAR International Series 2568). 31-48.
• Coningham, R.A.E. , Gunawardhana, P. Davis, C.E. , Manuel, M.J., Strickland, K.M., Namalgamuwa, H. Senanayake, J. & Rammungoda, U.R. (2013). Terracotta Objects. In Anuradhapura Volume III: The Hinterland. Coningham, R.A.E. & Gunawardhana, P. Archaeopress (BAR International Series 2568). 333-392.
• Coningham, R.A.E. & Davis, C.E. (2010). The Durham Bodhisattva. In Treasures of the Oriental Museum Durham University. Barclay, C., Grocke, R. & Armstrong, H. London: Third Millennium Publishing Limited. 74-75.

Journal Article

• Davis, C.E., Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana, P., Pushparatnam, P., Schmidt, A. & Manuel, M.J. (2019). The antiquity of Jaffna Fort: new evidence from post-disaster archaeological investigations in northern Sri Lanka. Antiquity 93(368): e13.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Manuel, M.J., Davis, C.E. , Kunwar, R.B., Simpson, I.A., Strickland, K.M., Smaghur, E., Tremblay, J. & Lafortune-Bernard, A. (2018). Archaeological investigations at Tilaurakot-Kapilavastu, 2014-2016. Ancient Nepal 197-198: 5-59.
• Davis, C.E. & Coningham, R.A.E. (2018). Pilgrimage and Procession: Temporary gatherings and journeys between the tangible and intangible through the archaeology of South Asia. World Archaeology 50(2): 347-363.
• Strickland, K.M., Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Schmidt, A., Simpson, I.A., Kunwar, R.B., Tremblay, J., Manuel, M.J., Davis, C.E., Krishna Bahadur, K.C. & Bidari, B. (2016). Ancient Lumminigame: A Preliminary Report on Recent Archaeological Investigations at Lumbini’s Village Mound (Nepal). Ancient Nepal 190: 1-17.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Strickland, K.M., McDonnell, G., Tremblay, J., Manuel, M.J. & Bidari, B. (2016). Defining the Chronological and Cultural Sequence of Mound V Tilaurakot (Nepal) a report on pilot excavations conducted in 1999. Ancient Nepal 190: 18-29.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Manuel, M.J., Kunwar, R.B., Hale, D., Tremblay, J., Gautam, D. & Mirnig, N. (2016). Exploring Ancient Pashupati: Preliminary Results of Archaeological Surveys and Excavations at Bhandarkhal, Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property (Nepal). Ancient Nepal 191-192: 93-112.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Kunwar, R.B., Tremblay, J.C., Schmidt, A., Simpson, I. & LaFortune-Bernard, A. (2016). Post-Disaster Rescue Archaeological Investigations, Evaluations and Interpretations in the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property (Nepal): Observations and Recommendations from a UNESCO mission in 2015. Ancient Nepal 191-192: 72-92.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Kunwar, R.B., Simpson, I.A., Schmidt, A. & Tremblay, J.C. (2016). Preliminary Results of Post-Disaster Archaeological Investigations at the Kasthamandap and within Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property (Nepal). Ancient Nepal 191-192: 28-51.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Kunwar, R.B., Tremblay, J.C., Schmidt, A. & Simpson, I. (2016). Preliminary Results of Post-Disaster Archaeological Investigations at the Vatsala Temple and within Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square, Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property (Nepal). Ancient Nepal 191-192: 3-27.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Kunwar, R.B., Tremblay, J.C., Simpson, I.A. & Schmidt, A. (2016). Preliminary Results of Post-Disaster Archaeological Investigations at the Char Narayan Temple and within Patan’s Durbar Square, Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property (Nepal). Ancient Nepal 191-192: 52-71.
• Davis, C.E., Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Simpson, I.A., Tremblay, J., Kunwar, R.B., Manuel, M.J., Krishna Bahadur, K.C. & Bidari, B. (2016). Re-investigating Tilaurakot’s Ancient Fortifications: a preliminary report of excavations through the northern rampart (Nepal). Ancient Nepal 190: 30-46.
• Strickland, K.M., Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Dahal, B.N., Davis, C.E., Kunwar, R.B., Tremblay, J., Simpson, I.A., Jones, J., Hale, D., Krishna Bahadur, K.C. & Bidari, B. (2016). Recent archaeological excavations at Tilaurakot’s southern Industrial mound (Nepal): a preliminary report. Ancient Nepal 190: 47-58.
• Bailiff, I.K., Lacey, H.R., Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana, P., Adikari, G., Davis, C.E., Manuel, M.J. & Strickland, K.M. (2013). Luminescence dating of brick stupas: an application to the hinterland of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Antiquity 87(335): 189-201.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P, Strickland, K.M., Davis, C.E., Manuel, M.J, Simpson, I.A., Gilliland, K., Tremblay, J., Kinnaird, T.C. & Sanderson, D.C.W (2013). The Earliest Buddhist Shrine: Excavating the Birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini (Nepal). Antiquity 87(338): 1104-1123.
• Coningham, R.A.E., Gunawardhana,P., Davis, C.E., Adikari, G., Simpson,I.A., Strickland, K.M, Gilliland, K. & Manuel, M.J. (2012). Contextualising the Tabbova-Maradanmaduva 'culture': Excavations at Nikawewa, Tirappane, Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. South Asian Studies 28(1): 1-14.
• Coningham, R.A.E, Gunawardhana, P., Manuel, M.J., Adikari, G.A., Young, R.L., Schmidt, A., Krishnan, K., Simpson, I.A., Davis, C.E & Batt, C.M. (2011). Response to Goonatilake. Antiquity 85(329): 1065-1067.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• Coningham, R.A.E., Acharya, K.P., Davis, C.E., Kunwar, R.B., Schmidt, A. & Simpson, I. (2017). Below the Surface in Bhaktapur: Post-Earthquake Archaeological Assessment of the Vatsala Temple and Bhaktapur's Durbar Square. SPACES 12(11): 44-54.

Show all publications