Oishi Roy (b. 1985) did her masters from Rashtrasant Tukdaoji Maharaja Nagpur University (2006-08) in Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology. Having done her under graduation in History from Presidency College, Kolkata (2003-06) she was always interested in knowing the roots of our civilization. She started specialization in Ancient Technologies from her Post-Graduate Diploma days at Deccan College Pune (2008-09). She has done her PhD in Ancient Iron Technology of Early Iron Age from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (2011-2018). During her association with MS University she was an exchange researcher at the University of Exeter under the guidance of Dr Gillian Juleff and gained an insight into phytolith analysis which aided in strengthening her base in archaeological research. During her doctorate she worked in close contacts with the Gond tribe of Gadchiroli region of Vidarbha. She strongly believes ethno-archaeology and experimental archaeology are the two most important tools to understand the lifestyle of primitive societies vis-à-vis Scientific Archaeology. She worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Archaeological Sciences Centre at IIT Gandhinagar from 2018 – 2020 and continues her research on the remnants of ancient iron technology of Vidarbha, Maharashtra and also the trade mechanism that was followed by these societies. From 2020 – 2024 she was employed as Assistant Archaeologist at Bihar Heritage Development Society, Patna and was involved in the famous Telhara Excavation. From 2024 June she is employed as Post Doctoral Fellow at the Palaeo – Arch Lab under Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IISER Mohali and is currently looking at the indigenous iron smithery community.
In 2019 she was awarded with the prestigious H.D Sankalia Young Archaeologist Award for her research paper on Evidence for Steel Making at Naikund and its Relationship with Mahurjhari, Borgaon and Khairwada.
“I would like to interact and work with archaeometallurgist and ethnoarchaeologists from all over the world and broaden my horizon. I have recently co-authored an excavation report, ‘ Sri Prathamasivapura Mahavihara: Excavating an Early Medieval Buddhist Monastery at Telhara in Magadh (Eastern India) 2020-2022 which has been already published.”
Education
A doctorate in Archaeology from Maharaja Sayajirao University Baroda, Vadodara
Specialization
I have specialized in Archaeo – Metallurgy especially ancient iron technology and ethno-archaeology. My area of specialization is Early Iron Age of Vidarbha.
Present Status
I am currently engaged as Post – Doctoral Fellow at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali under the Palaeo – Arch Lab. My current research revolves around indigenous smithy techniques and the smithy communities of Eastern India.
Besides being an archaeometallurgist I have excavated multiple sites ranging from Lower Palaeolithic to Early Medieval. I Love working on the microscope.