Lars Fogelin

Lars Fogelin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Arizona, specializing in the archaeology of Buddhism in South Asia. His work bridges archaeology, religious studies, and the philosophy of science, with a focus on early Buddhist architecture, ritual practices, and theoretical frameworks.

His research interests include the archaeology of religion, South Asian Buddhism, and methodological debates in archaeological theory. Fogelin has conducted extensive fieldwork in India, particularly in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, examining Buddhist monastic sites like Thotlakonda and investigating the material manifestations of religious practices.

Key contributions include studies on Buddhist stupas' architectural evolution, ritual practices in mortuary contexts, and the application of philosophical principles to archaeological reasoning. He has authored influential books such as An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism (2015) and edited volumes exploring the intersection of archaeology and religion.

Fogelin's work emphasizes methodological rigor and interdisciplinary approaches, addressing how material culture reflects social, religious, and ideological dynamics. His research also critiques essentialist interpretations in archaeological studies, advocating for context-sensitive analyses of ritual and religious practices.