Réinterprétation des plus anciennes stèles funéraires islamiques nousantariennes : III. Sri Lanka

Ludvik Kalus, Université Paris IV - Sorbonne & Claude Guillot, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Paris Réinterprétation des plus anciennes stèles funéraires islamiques nousantariennes. III. Sri Lanka This paper is the third part of a series in which the authors endeavour to reconsider the oldest Islamic inscriptions found in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean. Nine inscriptions, dating from the 8th to the 16th century, are dealt with here. Most of the oldest ones present original stylistic features but none of them was found in situ and some bear clear marks of having been used for other purposes than as tombstones. In spite of a lack of definite evidence, the authors believe that the oldest funeral slabs have to be regarded as testimonies of Muslim communities in Sri Lanka. However they are less affirmative although still doubtful about the more recent group of stones carved in Cambay and found in Trincomalee.Kalus Ludvik, Guillot Claude. Réinterprétation des plus anciennes stèles funéraires islamiques nousantariennes : III. Sri Lanka. In: Archipel, volume 72, 2006. pp. 15-68