Ancient inscriptions and climate change: a study of water management at the ancient capital of Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan (11th to 14th Century C.E.) was a capital as well as a cosmological and ritual epicenter of Theravada Buddhism for the Classical Burmese Empire. Integral in the Buddhist belief system is the notion of merit; achieved through good deeds or donations to the Buddhist Church. This often took the form of developing or renovating water management infrastructure throughout Bagan’s peri-urban zone. These were important endeavors given the semi-arid environment and limited water resources which characterize this region. This ancient landscape was also shaped by two significant climatic events during the occupation of Bagan; the Medieval Climate Anomaly (900–1300 C.E.) and Little Ice Age (1300–1570 C.E.). In this pursuit for merit, donations were inscribed on stone monuments endowing the donor with social recognition and spiritual benefits. Recorded within these stone inscriptions are references to types of water management features, construction techniques, locations, dates, donors, and recipients. The quantitative analysis of these inscriptions provides will address the shifting management strategy in response to changing water availability due to climatic fluctuations.