Is there any other *evidence* outside the Early Buddhist Texts, that the Gotama Buddha taught the Noble Eightfold Path?

There is plenty of evidence in the Early Buddhist Texts common to both the major schools of Buddhism, that the Noble Eightfold Path was an accepted teaching, by the "Third" Buddhist Council at least, but it is only from the time of that Council that we have archeological evidence likely linking to this version of the Path. That is, by the likely supposition, that the 8 spoked wheel in Asokan pillars is representing this version of the Path, as the traditions hold. The eight spoked wheel has not been found in Earlier Buddhist art. Right View is known not to be Wisdom, from comparison of the Noble Eightfold Path with what can be called the Noble Tenfold Path, which differs only by having the extra two steps at the end: Right Insight and Right Liberation. Insight is known to be synonymous or at least directly related to Wisdom. Thus the 'Tenfold' Path fits perfectly the Three Trainings and one does not have to change the order either of the steps or the Three Trainings, as done by Bh. Dhammadinna [MN 44](https://suttacentral.net/mn44/) , which is followed by the commentator Bh. Buddhaghosa in his Visuddhimagga. The Three Trainings are accepted in both Mahayana and Theravada as a summary of the Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is only one of over 50 ways of presenting the Path in the Pali Early Buddhist Texts and there are only six others, which do not include the Training in Wisdom - [2025 path analysis lists (spreadsheet)](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Pyv1FOOqmRhHil-FXT6ejuKlMUtSude-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116204971514462608468&rtpof=true&sd=true) - [50+ Possible Variations of the Gradual Path In the Early Pāli Suttas](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1acDIhERcjDfGYof2v45tqdXOipIh09_OYUfHwXWpVTY/edit?usp=sharing) The Buddha reportedly said he does not have a secret teaching, or the closed fist of a teacher ([DN16](https://suttacentral.net/dn16/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin#2.25.9)) and he only teaches what is necessary ([SN 56.31](https://suttacentral.net/sn56.31/)) . Therefore, the Three Trainings are all necessary and he would teach them to everyone. That is what we see in the other over 40 ways he taught the path, with all the Three Trainings, to lay people and mendicants (see links above). Therefore those 7 ways of presenting the Path, could not be from the Buddha. Early Buddhism, by the time of the 'Third' Council and still today in some Buddhist countries, only really teaches Ethics and Generosity as the practice of the layperson. We can see this was established by the 'Third' Council, as I have not found the Noble Eightfold Path, taught to any layperson in the Pali Early Buddhist Texts. Therefore it was taught to mendicants only, which supports the theory that the second and third training, had lost their relevance by the 'Third' council. Hoping for other clear evidence, not just closed minded claims, sectarian propaganda, or restating the point I already made that there would not much or no evidence before Asoka. The tradition teaches the Buddha taught in different ways, but these days we only hear of the Noble Eightfold Path. According to it's own records, the Pali tradition does not follow the instructions the Buddha gave for holding councils in order to keep his teaching pure (in DN 29). That is to recite in harmony *and* to compare phrase by phrase. The only example I have found of the Buddha doing this is in the Discourse on Mindfulness with Breathing, where he compares the 16 steps with the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and shows that following either teaching means you have followed the other and have walked the path (of both Calm and Insight). This shows these two teachings are yet another two ways he taught the whole Path. My theory is the Noble Eightfold Path was created after the Buddha passed away and likely close to the time of the Asokan Council, probably after which he made the edict mentioning specific texts. It seems to me that this was a time that the understanding of the Path had degraded, as there is no Wisdom training in the Noble Eightfold Path and I can't find a specific teaching of it to laypeople. So, even the second Samadhi training was thought to be for mendicants only. As I see the Path generally taught in Ethnic Buddhist circles, they are really only taught Ethics, equated with the 5 Precepts, which I see as the Third Fetter, and dana - generosity to support the mendicants, generally interpreted to be Sangha, the Third Refuge, instead of the noble ones in the four assemblies of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Best wishes Joe