Valérie Gillet

Valérie Gillet is a Lecturer in History and Archaeology of the Indian World at the French School of the Far East (EFEO) since 2007. She was based at the EFEO Pondicherry Center from 2007 to 2016, serving as its Head until February 2016, after which she focused exclusively on research in India.

• Education: PhD in Indian Studies (2006), University of Paris III-Sorbonne Nouvelle

Her research centers on South Indian religious monuments (Pallava, Pāṇḍya, and minor dynasties, 1st millennium CE), analyzing epigraphy, iconography, and temple archives to reconstruct socio-political and religious history. Key interests include sacred space construction, Subrahmaṇya cults, minor dynasties' artistic production, and temple renovation processes.

Recent publications examine Rāmāyaṇa narratives in Pallava temples, Pāṇḍya royal donations, and medieval Tamil script evolution. She co-organized international workshops on the Archaeology of Bhakti and temple epigraphy, featuring collaborations with institutions like Pondicherry University and EPHE Paris.

• Scientific Networks: Collaborations with Emmanuel Francis, Charlotte Schmid, and the ANR Project Netcher

Gillet leads the SITA (South Indian Temple Archives) digital photo-archive and has presented at institutions including Yale University, Southern Methodist University, and the GIS Asie Congress. Her work bridges archaeology, literary analysis, and digital humanities to explore temple-centric histories.