Abstract: Early settlements grew along river banks and around water bodies. In arid and semiarid regions of India such as Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh where rainfall and surface water became scarce numerous water harvesting structures were constructed such as lakes, stepped ponds, stepwells and wells in various forms and sizes to collect and store water. This paper attempts to study a water harvesting structure which is the only one protected by the State Archeology Department of Madhya Pradesh built in 15th century CE in Chanderi town located in Ashoknagar District in the State of Madhya Pradesh, India. Chanderi lies in the semi-arid region hence rainfall is scarce. It is mainly known for its handlooms. Chanderi also has many archaeological heritage assets such as the mosques, temples, caravaraserais, wells, stepwells, stepped ponds and lakes. This paper puts forth a systematic methodology to explore the characteristics and function of the water harvesting structure. Its basic features and elements such as form, size, retaining walls and staircase morphology are considered to understand the function of elements that hold and access water and in identifying its typology. An attempt has also been made to identify its heritage values with the help of keyinformants and experts. Published on 2022-08-29 09:22:40
Abstract: The present report is the result of our intensive investigation conducted in the southern part of the Bargarh upland, Odisha with particular reference to an inselberg located close to the village of Kundakhai. The most interesting aspect of the lithic assemblage recovered from this site a pre-dominance of Levallois elements the assemblage includes cores, flakes, a very few blades and bladelets, a solitary example of a semi-handaxe of chert, The quartzite hammers were imported most probably imported from the Ong river valley, about 8 kilometers south of the Kundakhai site. Except the two hammers and the semi-finished handaxe imported from nearby sources located within a radius of about 8 kilometers, all other artefacts recovered from this site are made on silicified rock of which the inselberg is formed. The assemblage recovered from the site is predominantly flake-based, with a near absence of blades and bladlets. The flakes are exclusively made on locally available rock source. In terms of raw material use and other aspects, the studied assemblage completely differs from the Middle Palaeolithic sites widely distributed in the upper Jira River of the northern part of the Bargarh uplands, where artefacts are mostly made on medium-fine grained quartzite abundantly available in the Debrigarh-Lohara masiff, thus showing Middle Palaeolithic assemblage variability in the studied region. Published on 2022-08-04 10:09:41
Abstract: Seventeenth-century French travellers’ records ignited the curiosity of the Occidental world, especially the French imagination, because of their commercial and religious understanding of the Orient, mainly India. Among their authors, the most unresearched traveller is François de la Boullaye-le Gouz, who wrote a fabulous account about his voyage to India. His understanding of the Hindu religion ideologies and pictorial representations require analysis based on this hitherto unused manuscript. This article examines the distorted and under-researched facts about his biography, followed by scrutinizing Gouz’s perceptions of Hindu gods and goddesses and their significance in Hindu mythology. These observations, interpretations and misrepresentations of Hindu religious illustrations through Gouz’s perception are analyzed by examining printed French untranslated memoirs (printed in 1653) in comparison with Gouz’s abridged manuscript (codex). Varied approaches of scholars such as Subrahmanyam, Sapra, Beasley, Marsh, Dew and Teltscher have criticized Said’s Orientalism. Our research contributes fresh insight by undertaking an in-depth comparative study of this Oriental knowledge (Gouz’ Hindu mythology observations) with Oriental records, his narratives and codex. This ascertains the credibility of knowledge that formulated French’s Oriental image of India in early-modern Europe. Published on 2022-06-22 10:00:10
Abstract: This article details a retraction to the article: Auanasova, A., Nurpeisov, E., Auanassova, K., Kushenova, G. and Mukhlissov, N., 2021. The History of the Alash Party in the Context of the Impact on the Processes of Constitutional Acts. Ancient Asia, 12, p.14. DOI : http://doi.org/10.5334/aa.234. Published on 2022-06-14 10:56:35
Abstract: Following the discovery of ruins of Nālandā Mahāvihāra, multiple questions were raised, a plethora of speculations were made, and stifling conjectures were advanced about the origin, evolution, and decline of the greatest academic institution of the world. Multiple excavations through the years have yielded a lot of information about the structures and functions of the Mahāvihāra, which are well corroborated by the literary evidences. Though the bulk of the monastic sites is still not excavated due to habitation over the mounds and other factors. Still, scattered surveys and excavations have provided information revealing enough to facilitate a re-examination of the hypothesis developed on Nālandā. The knowledge furthered by the excavations and supplemented by the epigraphic and literary sources has raised many questions about some of the established myths related to the foundation/founder of the Mahāvihāra, the nomenclature of Nālandā, and origin of the structural form of Nālandā seals. Could Śakrāditya be the founder' Was Nālandā the first Mahāvihāra' This paper examines these questions with the support of new archaeological sources and literary arguments. Published on 2022-04-08 10:16:38
Abstract: Mayong in Morigaon district of Assam is known as a land of black magic, witchcraft, sorcery and tantric practices, spiritual healing and indigenous medicinal system since the medieval period. The area is also extremely rich in terms of archaeological remains and sites of historical importance. With an objective of documenting and mapping the archaeological landscape of the region, an extensive field survey was undertaken during 2020–21. This survey has resulted in the discovery of diverse archaeological remains including polished stone tools, early and late medieval rock-cut sculptures and temple ruins, specimens of sculptures belonging to the Pala-Sena period, archaeological mounds with pottery, brick and terracotta architectural pieces, metal objects belonging to Vajrayana religious sect, inscriptions, engravings, mason marks, ancient stone quarrying, battle ground, ramparts, cannons and cannon balls, water tanks, manuscripts, bronze and bell metal sculptures, Vaishnavite Satras (monasteries), Naamghars (prayer halls) and Thans (sacred places). This paper discusses these archaeological remains and their relevance for understanding the ancient cultural development in Mayong and the Kalang-Kapili Valley. Published on 2022-03-03 10:47:26
Abstract: Anatomical examination of animal bones found at archaeological sites can provide information that historical studies alone cannot. As related in this report, we performed morphological analyses on cattle and horse bones retrieved from Joseon-period ruins found at the Gongpyeongdong site (Seoul, South Korea). By anatomical and histological comparisons, we confirmed that the slaughter of Gongpyeongdong cattle and horses was done at a later age than is the case today. This was likely due to the fact that cattle and horses in Joseon society were raised primarily as beasts of burden and only secondarily for food; and so, the Joseon government strictly prohibited what it considered to be premature slaughter. Published on 2022-02-28 10:51:43
Abstract: The literary data revealed that the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh has not been explored extensively in the context of prehistoric archaeology. Therefore, present study is considered, keeping in view for the same. For this purpose, a systematic exploration of Panna district was conducted during seasons 2019–20. After exploration, a rock art and microliths assemblage site, Badedev (24°45’41.80” N 80°17’2.73”E), Rakseha was discovered at Panna district by the first author and recovered around 500 Microliths assemblages and 02 rock shelters with depiction of paintings. The major type of microliths artefacts identified are; core, flake, blade, bladelets, scraper, lunate, borer, burin, points, triangle, and debris. The typo-technological and morphological analyses of assemblages revealed that various types of stone artefacts used by prehistoric group of this area were made on locally available raw material and they have a sound knowledge of durability of raw material used for tool making, as we have identified more than 36% and 30% of agate and quartz type of microliths respectively among the whole artifacts collected, as both of these are hard as well as durable type of stones. Remains of microliths assemblages and debitage stone material also certified that Badedev prehistoric site was a tool manufacturing site at this area.In rock paintings, themes are most dominantly zoomorphic figurine, human figurine, handprints, and geometric and non-geometric design. For detail study of pictographs DStretch software was utilized. On the basis of rock art style, color, composition, technique, theme, subject matter; motifs such as hunting scenes and large number of animal groups, it is assumed that this site was inhabited by hunter-gatherer group. Finally we are in position to say that the discovery of prehistoric site Badedev Rakseha enhanced our knowledge about the prehistoric culture of central Indian region. Published on 2022-01-31 10:51:56
Abstract: Benoy K Behl is an art historian, photographer and film-maker whose work aims at presenting a wider perspective in understanding the art of India and Asia. This book was published based on the research output of a photographic exhibition of the same name that the author produced for the Japan Foundation, New Delhi and on a film titled “Indian Deities Worshipped in Japan” also produced by the author for the External Publicity Division of The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Published on 2022-01-12 15:37:06
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