This study investigates occlusal microwear texture patterns of two sequential bioarchaeological populations from sites in western and northern India, each representing a different phase of the same culture: Juna Khatiya (Early Harappan, n = 12) and Rakhigarhi (Mature Harappan, n = 10). These populations, spanning the interval between approximately 3200 BCE and 1900 BCE, were both agro-pastoral, but showed intensified urbanization in the Mature Harappan phase, with concomitant increases craftsmanship and trade. It has been reported that rural peoples in India today consume less processed, more mechanically challenging foods than those living in cities, which has led to the hypothesis that dental microwear may be a useful proxy for tracking settlement pattern in bioarchaeological populations in South Asia. While lower microwear texture complexity was predicted to follow urbanization, recent analysis of two South Indian bioarchaeological populations actually showed the more rural sample to have lower microwear complexity (contra expectation). Here we reevaluate urbanization as a possible driver of microwear texture pattern for agricultural populations in India using two other well-studied populations in different parts of the country. Results indicate that in this case, as predicted, the more urbanized population did have lower microwear texture complexity. This suggests that in some cases, dental microwear texture may be useful as a measure of urbanization but also supports the notion that other factors play an important role in microwear patterning.

Studies of the role played by crucible steel in the evolution of early iron technology in India lag far behind its long-standing reputation as a key historical material with unique functional properties. A comparative metallographic study found evidence of a crucible steel-driven technological transition reflected in the numerous awl-shaped iron objects from two archaeological sites in Maharashtra, India. Those in the first group were recovered from the early 1st millennium bc megalithic burials at Raipur, while the others were from the 2nd century bc settlement at Junnar. The former, products of bloomery iron fraught with nonmetallic inclusions, were forged into a desired shape and then carburized, if necessary, so that their carbon level ranged from zero to the eutectoid. In contrast, the latter contained few nonmetallic inclusions, and their carbon level was uniformly set at the eutectoid throughout the entire object. In addition, evidence of varying thermal treatments causing the formation of martensite, whether in its fresh or tempered state, was observed. We suggest that the shift evident in the foregoing results transpired gradually over centuries with the increased use of various high-carbon steels until crucible-based technology was a regular practice visible in archaeology.

This multimedia article follows the commissioned construction of a chhot boat, a largely vanished shell-built fishing vessel formerly widespread in inshore waters of West Bengal, India. It belongs to a tradition found across historic Bengal, whereby planking is edge-joined using double-ended steel staples applied over half-lap joinery. Most hull strakes are, meanwhile, laid 'parallel': the ends of each being scarfed up into a straight-laid sub-sheer strake rather than into the posts. The project has generated an open-access digital archive hosted by the British Museum; the vessel itself is destined for the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, Gujarat.

Bangles represent one of the few Bronze Age metal objects that survived the bronze-to-iron transition in Indian antiquity. Thirty-six bangles excavated from the megalithic burials at Raipur, India, were examined for their role in the evolution of Indian bronze technology. These objects were all made of binary copper-tin alloys, with the average tin level set at 9.3

Movement of resources was essential to the survival and success of early complex societies. The sources and destinations of goods and the means of transportation – be it by boats, carts and/or foot – can often be inferred, but the logistics of these movements are inherently more difficult to ascertain. Here, we use strontium isotopic analysis to test hypotheses about the role of animal and animal-powered transport in medium and long-distance movement and exchange, using the Indus Civilization as a case study. Across the wide geographical spread of the Indus Civilisation, there is strong evidence for long-distance exchange of raw materials and finished objects and this process is presumed to involve boats and animal-driven transport, although there is little evidence as to the relative importance of each mode of movement. Strontium isotopic analysis of animal remains from four sites analysed for this study combined with results from nine other sites indicates limited long-distance animal movement between different geological zones within the Indus Civilisation. These findings suggest that individual animals primarily moved short- or medium-distances, though there are several significant exceptions seen in some pigs and cattle found at two large urban sites. We infer that long-distance transport of goods, be it raw materials, finished objects, other goods, or the animals themselves, could have occurred through the use of boats and waterways, by traction animals moving over long distances that did not end up in the archaeological record, and/or by different animals participating in many short to medium-distance movements.

This article critically reviews four decades of development of maritime and underwater archaeology in India (MUAI). Established in 1981, the first Marine Archaeology Centre at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research—National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, India, has conducted a series of maritime and underwater investigations. The country has also attracted international collaborations mainly focused on maritime ethnographic studies. As such, the discipline has seen steady growth, but its progress unfortunately remains slow and is struggling to keep pace with the developments happening within the discipline globally. A significant setback was in 2015 when the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India was defunct. Furthermore, India is not a signatory to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. This raises the question—what does the future hold for the MUAI? The government’s plan to establish the country’s first National Maritime Museum to display maritime past and its intention to revive the UAW to boost research indicates some optimism towards the survival of the field. Nonetheless, there exists gaps in research approaches and methodologies adopted so far and problems and challenges faced by the discipline that are hindering its growth. Along with discussing the aforementioned issues, this paper concludes with prospects for the future of MUAI.

Ancient DNA (aDNA) research first began in 1984 and ever since has greatly expanded our understanding of evolution and migration. Today, aDNA analysis is used to solve various puzzles about the origin of mankind, migration patterns, and the spread of infectious diseases. The incredible findings ranging from identifying the new branches within the human family to studying the genomes of extinct flora and fauna have caught the world by surprise in recent times. However, a closer look at these published results points out a clear Global North and Global South divide. Therefore, through this research, we aim to emphasize encouraging better collaborative opportunities and technology transfer to support researchers in the Global South. Further, the present research also focuses on expanding the scope of the ongoing conversation in the field of aDNA by reporting relevant literature published around the world and discussing the advancements and challenges in the field.

The present paper deals with the preliminary identification of mason’s marks found in some of the historicalstructures of the Panchmahal district, Gujarat. Unlike other historical and archaeological research fields, mason’smarks represent a less known field in Indian academia. In very general terms, one can define a mason’s mark asany signs ranging from short inscriptions to any form of alpha-numeric values inscribed on architectural elements.In this paper, the authors discuss a series of such marks recorded at isolated historical buildings of the district,trying to explain why inquiry into mason’s marks can be deemed an integral part of architectural studies. A briefdescription of the study area and adapted methodologies is followed by the detailed accounts of the monumentsand the related finds in tabular format.

The systematic archaeological survey was carried out around the 0-10 km radius of Mahalena cave site. Documentation of natural resources available within the estimated radius. A few satellite settlements or supportive settlements were identified within the radius of Mahalena cave. The chief aim of this research is to understand the suitability of the landscape and natural resources available within the vicinity of this archaeological site. Mahalena cave site was subjected to large-scale excavation for several seasons by Sri Lankan and Indian archaeologists. A Few seasons of detailed excavations have provided us with sufficient data to study the resource exploitation pattern around the Mahalena cave. The study of the resource exploitation pattern or site catchment study is one of the important tools to reconstruct the economy of ancient settlers of any particular region. Resources lying within the economic range of individual archaeological sites support ancient inhabitants for their day-to-day living. The current research will be helpful in identifying suitable factors which lead the Prehistoric and Early Historic inhabitants of the Mahalena cave to choose this particular location for their settlement.