Foreword. Sri Ksetra Museum Collection Inventory

The Pyu Ancient Cities of Myanmar—Halin, Beikthano, and Sri Ksetra—stand as pivotal examples of the transition from Bronze-Iron Age chiefdoms to early Buddhist kingdoms in Southeast Asia. These sites, inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014, showcase over a millennium of Pyu cultural dominance (B.C. 200–A.D. 900) and their unique artistic evolution, blending Indian traditions with distinct local innovations. Sri Ksetra, the largest city, houses the Sri Ksetra Archaeological Museum, which preserves 265 artifacts, including burial urns, Buddha images, and ritual pottery adorned with auspicious symbols reflecting Hindu-Buddhist influences. The cities also illustrate regional exchange and cultural linkage in Myanmar, offering a rare glimpse into early Pyu statuary, beadwork, and architectural craftsmanship.

(Ed.). (2022). Foreword. Sri Ksetra Museum Collection Inventory, v–v. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110674064-201