Through a nearly year-by-year analysis of their development, Spink (emeritus history of art, U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor) challenges some commonly held views about the Hinayana Buddhist site Ajanta and related caves. His account should also magnify the image of the emperor Harisena, arguing that he was responsible for the startling and final florescence of the great Vakataka empire in central India during his brief reign about 460-477 AD. He looks at whether patronage of the site was consistent or collapsed, and the patronage associated with redecoration of the caves in Vakataka times. Inscriptions from the cite are appended. There is no index. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)