Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
Dr R S Fonia, Former Additional Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, India; rsfonia@gmail.com
Dr Ganga Rajaniee Dissanayaka, Visiting lecturer, University of Visual and Performing Arts and the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka; gangarajinee@gmail.com
Ms Moumita Dhar, Research Officer, Assistant Curator, National Museum, New Delhi, India; curatormoumita@gmail.com
This session seeks to examine the rich and dynamic archaeological record of Asia, highlighting its role as a critical indicator of human settlement, migration, interaction, and the evolution of complex societies. Asia’s diverse geography, resources, and cultural history offer unparalleled insights into the processes that shaped human civilisations, from the earliest hunter-gatherer culture to agro-pastoral communities and advanced dynastic states. We will delve into the factors influencing settlement choices, such as cultural, geography, resources, and climate. By analysing archaeological sites and material culture, we will trace the emergence and transformation of societies across different periods, from the Palaeolithic to historical time.
Formation of human society was possible due to the search for better, more favourable conditions. Ample evidence of lithic settlements is found across the continent. Domestication of plants and animals, exploitation of nature and craftsmanship added a new course to societal evolution. Trade and cultural exchanges along ancient routes, including the Silk Route, Grand Trunk Road and maritime routes resulted in vibrant Asian cultures. This session would also like to discuss the lesser-known routes and interaction in a local context. These pathways not only facilitated the exchange of goods but also ideas, technologies, and philosophies that influenced kingship, governance, and regional identities. A critical focus will also be placed on how migration and exchange shaped socio-economic transformations, cultural diffusion, and technological innovations, providing a framework to understand Asia’s shared and unique cultural trajectories. In addition, the session will explore connections between Asian and non-Asian cultures, enriching our understanding of cultural entanglements on a broader scale.
This session invites contributions that highlight different case studies covering human settlement, migration, and formation of complex societies. By integrating diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches, this session aims to provide a nuanced understanding of Asia’s historical landscapes, shared heritage and celebrate its dynamic narratives.
Papers:
Communicating with the Past: Cultural Biographies of Historical Monuments Challenging Their Archaeological Biographies
Ganga Rajinee Dissanayaka, Deputy Coordinator-AHEAD-DOR-HEAMS-World Bank Funded Project, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
This research focuses on three archaeological monuments that emerged from Sri Lankan society. By exploring the cultural biographies of these monuments, we aim to understand the local socio-ecological systems and the foreign influences that shaped them. Cultural biographies of physical objects arising from traditional roots symbolise the cultural heritage of people, embodying their desires, memories, and beliefs, which contribute to the social definition and future trends of society. This examination will elucidate how these monuments reflect the intersection of local traditions and external impacts, providing insight into the broader cultural and historical narratives of the region. By delving into the historical contexts, construction techniques, and symbolic meanings associated with these monuments, we reveal the dynamic processes through which local communities adapted and integrated foreign elements into their cultural fabric. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of material culture in shaping social identity and continuity, highlighting the intricate interplay between indigenous heritage and external influences. Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of preserving and interpreting archaeological monuments as vital components of our shared human history.
Early Iron Age Settlement Patterns and Iron Smelting Technology in the Vindhya-Kaimur Region
Yogesh Raj, Research Scholar, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Prabhakar Upadhayay, Associate Professor, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Iron has been pivotal in human history and remains one of the most extensively utilised metals worldwide. Archaeological and historical evidence suggests that Indian cultures have produced diverse iron artefacts for thousands of years. The Vindhya-Kaimur region, in particular, served as a significant hub for procuring iron ore and as an abode for iron-smelting tribes in northern India. Archaeological sites such as Latifshah, Agiabir, Raja-Nal-Ka-Tila, Raipura, Senuwar, and Malhar provide crucial evidence of iron-smelting practices.
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of Early Iron Age sites in the respective region and to analyse the technological practices employed for iron extraction and the production of Early Iron Age objects.
Communities in this region utilised local resources, such as iron ore and charcoal-producing wood, to manufacture tools and weapons, fostering economic growth, agricultural intensification, and political expansion. Preliminary results reveal a strong correlation between resource availability and the distribution of iron-smelting sites. Evidence from slag deposits, furnace remains, and iron artefacts suggests using specialised smelting techniques to produce durable iron tools and weapons, significantly influencing societal development through technological and economic advancements.
Visualising Cultural Interaction Along the Silk Route Through the Central Asian Collection at the National Museum, New Delhi
Moumita Dhar, Research Officer & Assistant Curator, National Museum, New Delhi, India
The Silk Route, a vast network connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa, was more than a conduit for goods; it was a dynamic channel for cultural interaction, migration, and the exchange of ideas, art, religion, and practices. The Central Asian Collection at the National Museum, New Delhi, India—acquired during the 1906-08 expeditions of Sir Aurel Stein under the Archaeological Survey of India—offers a vivid portrayal of this historical interplay. Comprising murals, textile fragments, cave paintings, manuscripts, sculptures and other material remains from sites such as Astana, Khotan, Lou Lan, Dunhuang, Kara-Khoja, Mazar Tagh, Yotkan, and Ak-terek, the collection reflects the shared heritage of interconnected civilisations along the Silk Route. These artefacts reveal the region’s rich tapestry of Buddhist, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Hellenistic influences, underscoring how trade and pilgrimage fostered cross-cultural interactions along the Silk Route.
Artefacts like Buddhist murals from Miran that incorporate Greco-Roman and regional artistic elements, silk fragments displaying multi-cultural elements, paintings of thousand Buddha cave and Dunhuang showing Indian influence, inscriptions and manuscripts in scripts such as Sanskrit and Kharosthi illustrate the region’s rich tapestry of trade networks and cultural synthesis. These objects also reveal insights into the daily lives, flora, fauna, and vibrant communities that flourished along the route.
This paper bridges the archaeological remains of Central Asia with the living cultural traditions of Ladakh, a crucial corridor of the Silk Route on the modern Indian side. It explores how Ladakh continues to embody the legacy of the Silk Route through its enduring religious practices, craftsmanship, artistic expressions, and material culture. By contextualising Central Asian artefacts alongside contemporary cultural practices in Ladakh, this study underscores the continuity and adaptation of the Silk Route’s shared heritage, highlighting its role as a lasting network of cultural interaction and exchange.
Early Agro-pastoral Communities and Their Subsistence Strategies: With Special Reference to Kashmir, India
Dr R. S. Fonia, Former Additional Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, India
The Kashmir Valley, located in the Western Himalayas and bordered by the Pir Panjal range in the southwest and Zanskar range in the northeast, offers a unique setting for studying the transition from food gathering to a settled agro-pastoral economy during the Holocene. The Dal Lake’s northern and eastern margins, along with the Dagwan Nallah near the Burzahom karewa, provided an ideal environment for early hunter-gatherer communities. Archaeological findings from these areas reflect significant developments in toolmaking and subsistence strategies. Excavations at Burzahom in the 1960s revealed sequential transitioning from aceramic to ceramic phases and an early stage in the transition to an Agro-pastoral economy. Artefacts such as a carved stone slabs depicting hunting scenes, along with numerous bone arrowheads and spearheads, link these communities to earlier Palaeolithic tradition.
The valley’s natural resources, including flora and fauna, were exploited by these early farmers and herders through activities like domestication, crop cultivation, and food storage and subsequently production of several utilitarian crafts, such as stone and bone tools, metal objects, pottery, baskets, spinning and weaving of woollen clothes, ornaments and jewellery. Trade networks flourished as these communities exchanged birch with the Harappans and exported timber-made instruments to Mesopotamia and Persia. The emergence of agriculture and subsequent socio-economic transformation facilitated intercommunal and external trade, connecting Kashmir with Ladakh, Tibet, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and beyond during the 4th to 2nd millennium BCE. Despite its rich archaeological heritage, gaps remain in understanding the valley’s early farming culture. Further research is needed to trace the origins of Neolithic settlements, bridge the gap between the terminal Pleistocene and aceramic Neolithic, and evaluate the contributions of early agro-pastoralists to the region’s economic and cultural evolution. This study seeks to address these gaps and explore the valley’s role as a significant hub of ancient agro-pastoral exchange.
The Arab-Malabar Maritime Nexus from the 7th to the 16th Century: Trade, Knowledge, and Cultural Fusion in the Indian Ocean World
Ferzein M., Dept of History, University College (affiliated to University of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
The historical connection between Arabs and Malabar vital to the Indian Ocean trade, enabled Arabs to link to South Asia, particularly Malabar to East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean. Strategic port towns like Calicut, Cannanore, Ponnani, and Beypore, that served as nodes for Arab traders, fostered exchange of goods, technologies, and cultural practices. Their expertise significantly influenced local shipbuilding, agriculture, and medicine, as evidenced by the construction of dhows and urus, traditional vessels for maritime trade. Further, their integration into local knowledge and traditions led to the development of Arabi-Malayalam, a unique dialect in Arabic script. Cultural expressions like oppana, mappilapattu, and cuisines such as pathiri and biriyani, highlight this intercultural synthesis. This contributed to the emergence of Muslim communities, including the Makhdooms, Marakkayars, Ba-Alavis, and Thangals, who shaped the identity of Malabar. Archaeological findings, such as imported ceramics, coins, and inscriptions, provide tangible evidence of these interactions, underscoring Malabar’s critical role in the global spice trade and knowledge transfer. Thus, the paper examines Arab-Malabar relationship through archaeological and historical perspectives, revealing how these exchanges transcended commerce to position Malabar as a hub of innovation and cultural fusion within the Indian Ocean world, contributing to South Asia’s economic and cultural evolution.
Cochin and the Dutch in the Indian Ocean World: Archaeology, Settlement, and Multiculturalism
Albin Jose, Dept of History, University of Calicut, Kerala, India
Cochin, a prominent port city on Malabar Coast in Kerala, has long served as a critical hub in the Indian Ocean trade network, connecting South Asia with West Asia, Europe, and Southeast Asia, facilitating economic, cultural, and technological exchanges. During the Dutch colonial period (17th–18th centuries), Cochin’s integration into the Dutch East India Company’s (VOC) global trading empire, significantly enhanced its connectivity with markets spanning Batavia to Amsterdam. Archaeological excavations at Fort Kochi and Mattancherry reveal, Dutch influence through VOC-marked ceramics, fortifications, and hybrid architectural forms, reflecting the interplay of European and Indigenous traditions. Under Dutch rule, the principality became a critical node in the institutionalised spice trade, exporting pepper and cardamom, while also witnessing advancements in shipbuilding, agricultural practices, and urban planning. This paper analyses construction of political, economic, and social identity of Cochin through Dutch interventions and settlements within the broader Indian Ocean networks, emphasising its historical and archaeological significance. It examines the principality’s role as a site of cultural diffusion and economic integration, highlighting the interplay between local agency and global forces in shaping early modern Asian networks.
Unveiling Ancient Agricultural Trade Routes of India: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Sumit Gupta, University of Lucknow, India
This study aims to explore the agricultural trade routes of ancient India, from the Vedic period to the Gupta age, through a multidisciplinary approach. By corroborating archaeological excavations with literary evidence, primarily from primary texts such as the Vedas, Brahmanical texts, Kalidasa, and Kautilya, this research seeks to reconstruct the trajectories of agricultural trade routes that connected various regions of ancient India.
The study will examine the evolution of agricultural trade networks, the commodities traded, and the impact of these trade routes on the socio-economic and cultural landscape of ancient India. By analysing the archaeological evidence from excavated sites, such as pottery, coins, and other artefacts, in conjunction with literary references, this research will provide a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural trade routes of ancient India.
The findings of this study will contribute significantly to our understanding of the economic and cultural exchanges that took place in ancient India, shedding new light on the complexities of agricultural trade networks during this period.
Symbols as Cultural Currency in Decoding the Seals and Script of the Harappan Civilisation
Dr Om Prakash Kumar, Assistant Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, India
The Harappan Civilisation, one of the oldest urban cultures of the ancient world, is renowned for its advanced urban planning, trade networks, and enigmatic script. Among its most fascinating artefacts are seals adorned with intricate symbols and motifs, which remain undeciphered, yet offer a wealth of information about the society’s cultural, economic, and religious dynamics. This research explores the concept of “symbols as cultural currency,” emphasising how the Harappans used these symbols as tools for communication, markers of identity, and mediums of trade within and beyond their civilisation. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining semiotics, archaeology, and comparative analysis, this study seeks to decode the symbols on the Harappan seals. It analyses the structural and stylistic patterns of these symbols, their spatial distribution across sites, and their material composition to uncover their sociocultural significance. The research also draws parallels between Harappan symbols and those of contemporary civilisations, like Mesopotamia and Elam, to hypothesise shared influences and distinct cultural elements. Additionally, the study investigates the seals’ functional roles as identifiers in trade, markers of administrative authority, and conveyors of religious or political messages. By considering the seals as a form of non-verbal cultural currency, the research highlights their role in maintaining social cohesion and facilitating economic transactions in a multilingual and multicultural society.
The Archaeology of Death: Uncovering Burial Practices and Material Culture in the Bharathapuzha Basin, Kerala, India
Dr Sujatha K. S., Asst Prof., Dept of History, Sree Narayana College, Kerala, India
Dr Vysakh Ambili Santhosh, Asst Prof., Dept of History & Research Centre, Sree Narayana College, Kerala, India
The study investigates the archaeological significance of the Bharathapuzha River basin in Kerala, focusing on its material culture during the pre- and early historic periods. Due to the high concentration of excavated megalithic sites in this region, including notable locations such as Pazhayannur, Machad, Anakkara, Chiramanangad, and Iyyal, the research highlights the importance of the area in understanding early human societies. The grave goods and monuments discovered at these sites exhibit technological similarities with other South Indian archaeological findings. Large urns, dishes, small pots, legged jars, and Black and Red wares were excavated. Notably, iron artefacts from the basin demonstrate a remarkable purity of 99%, as indicated by scientific analyses. Additionally, the excavation of bronze vessels at Thiruvilwamala and Thirunavaya presents rare evidence within the context of megalithic burial practices in South India. Surface explorations further underscore the area’s significance. Explorations also unearthed semi-precious stones and varieties of beads. Study reveals an interesting exploration of an unexplored prehistoric settlement and cultural formation through burial remnants.
A Multi-Disciplinary Study of the 16th-Century Royal City of Sitavaka, Sri Lanka: Special Focus on the Royal-Religious Complex via LiDAR
Navoda Gunarathna, independent researcher
H. M. Chryshane Mendis, independent researcher
M.A.S. Manoj Madduma Arachchi, independent researcher
Sitavaka was a 16th century royal city located in western Sri Lanka. With the death of its second king in 1592, the Portuguese were able to overthrow its new ruler and destroy the city. In subsequent centuries it became an outpost for other European powers and a new town was built in the vicinity. The historical city gradually faded into oblivion. There is a considerable lack of scholarship on settlement patterns and urban morphology of Late Medieval Sri Lanka. Analysis of landscape data, such as LiDAR data, satellite imagery, historical and topographic maps on a GIS platform, combined with historical records, archaeological evidence, and folklore, has shed new light on the spatial organisation, structural remnants, and possible extents of the city. Spatial analysis of the LiDAR data and field visits have identified a hitherto unknown building, as well as the compound of the royal palace complex. The civic centre is conjectured to be in a north-south orientation just west of the royal-religious complex. Further, the settlement’s origin is based on a crucial junction connecting land and water transportation networks running north and south. This pioneering case study will help in understanding settlement patterns and urbanism in Late Medieval Sri Lanka.
Returning to the River: A Persistent Cultural Landscape at Ongon Tavan Bulag-5
Olzbayar Gankhuyag and Yeji Lee, Dept of Archaeology and Art History, Seoul National University, South Korea
In 2023, our research team from Seoul National University and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences surveyed several artefact scatters along the river near Bayandelger Soum, Sukhbaatar Province, Mongolia. This led to the identification of the Ongon Tavan Bulag-5 site, which shows evidence of human activity from the prehistoric to the Xianbei periods.
During 2024 test excavations, two tombs, presumed to date to the Xianbei period, were uncovered along with grave goods such as jade and pottery. In Grave 1, three burnt charcoal samples from sifted sand inside a pottery vessel were radiocarbon-dated to the 3rd century AD, providing direct chronological evidence. Several test pits excavated around the tombs revealed numerous stone tools that predate the Xianbei period, suggesting earlier settlements and cultural layers.
This discovery is significant because Xianbei tombs have only been confirmed in central Mongolia and northeastern China, with none previously found in southeastern Mongolia. It also indicates that human activity, related to tombs, settlements, or other purposes, has occurred over a long period along the river, suggesting active human interaction and exchange along the river. Moving forward, pXRF and petrography analyses will be used to examine pottery, enhancing our understanding of regional interactions during the prehistoric period.