Recommended readings:
Fogelin, Lars: Archaeology of Early Buddhism, 2006. Lanham etc.: Altamira Press. p. 1-10. Fulltext.
Norman, K. R.: "Buddhism and A?oka", in: K. R. Norman: A Philological Approach to Buddhism. The Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai Lectures 1994, 2006. Lancaster: The Pali Text Society. p. 147-169. Fulltext.
Schlingloff, Dieter: "K?nig Asoka und das Wesen des ?ltesten Buddhismus", Saeculum 36, 1985. p. 326-333. Fulltext.
Schmithausen, Lambert: "An Attempt to Estimate the Distance in Time between A?oka and the Buddha in Terms of Doctrinal History", The Dating of the Historical Buddha. Die Datierung des historischen Buddha, ed. Heinz Bechert, Bd. 2, 1192. G?ttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. p. 110-147. Fulltext.
Skilling, Peter: "Redaction, recitation, and writing: transmission of the Buddha's teaching in India in the early period", Buddhist Manuscript Cultures. Knowledge, ritual and art, ed. Stephen C. Berkwitz, Juliane Schober, and Claudia Brown, 2009. London/New York: Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism, 52. p. 53-75. Fulltext.
Skilling, Peter: Scriptural Authenticity and the ?rāvaka Schools: An Essay towards an Indian Perspective, 2010. Eastern Buddhist 41.2. p. 1-47. Fulltext.
Skilling, Peter: Theravāda in History, 2009. Pacific World 11. p. 61-93. Fulltext.
Optional readings:
Falk, Harry: A?okan Sites and Artefacts. A Source-book with Bibliography, 2006. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern. (MIAKP, 18).