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During the last four decades, archaeology of gender has emerged as an important theoretical perspective in archaeology. Such a perspective is also applied in the context of Indian archaeology. One of the ways of emphasising gender is by bringing to limelight the archaeological aspects of the travel accounts of women during the colonial period, which otherwise is known as excavating such hidden voices. This paper is one such act of ‘excavation’ involving the account of Maria Graham (1812), a British woman who travelled in India and Sri Lanka between 1809 and 1811, arriving at Bombay and departing from Madras. Graham is relevant now for several reasons. Firstly, she is the first woman writer on South Asian archaeology. Secondly, hers is an unpretentious and autobiographical style, influenced by Romanticism and the objective of her travel is modest ‘a popular and comprehensive view of its scenery and monuments, and of the manners and habits of its natives and resident colonists’ (preface). Thirdly, her account adds to the construction of Orientalism, since she spoke in eloquent terms of South Asia’s ancient grandeur, but complained of the early nineteenth century squalor, emphasising, particularly in the preface, the legitimacy of British rule in the subcontinent to improve the lot of the ‘natives’. Thus, the present paper is important for the history and historiography of Indian archaeology as well as archaeological theory with regard to gender.
Keywords: Maria Graham, Archaeology, South Asia, Gender, Historiography.

This study is about various concerns shared by women among the Arayan, a marine fishing community in Kannur district of Kerala State. Like any other socially and economically downtrodden sections of India’s population, fishing communities are also characterized by poverty, low educational attainment, and minimum material possessions including the living space. Fishing villages are dispossessed with basic amenities such as better health care facilities, pure drinking water and land space for hygienic sanitation. Mechanization in marine fishery has created many structural changes in the sector with the slow disappearance of women from the industry. However, one cannot underestimate the contribution of women in the fisheries sector; particularly in post-harvest activities. Health related issues like anemia, malnutrition and deficiencies in vitamins and proteins are observed in fishing communities especially among women and children. Attitude of fisherwomen towards community’s collective welfare influences other sectors of their life and culture. However, a lot of factors make them more vulnerable to livelihood insecurities such as problems of ageing, poverty, hunger, non-availability of clean drinking water, inadequate sanitation, improper housing and domestic violence. Anthropological research on the above issues is vital for planning poverty alleviation programme and public policies for the women in fishing families.

This paper considers human development in the light of our rapidly changing world and in the context of anthropology and big-history. Summarising the common origins and goals of these two fields, the author makes a case for past human innovation serving as experiential models from which new strategies may be developed in cooperation with science. Far from being primitive, the half-million-years of human adaptation to a wide range of ecological and situational niches around the world have been extraordinarily diverse. Such adaptive abilities hold pragmatic promise for humanity. The author sees the cooperative engagement of traditional and scientific knowledge as a process in which anthropologists can serve as active social mediators, providing survival benefits to present and future global civilization. This paper considers some of these issues, approaches, and implications.
Keywords: Adaptive Technology, Anthropology, Big History, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Future Studies, Indigenous Heritage, Adaptation.

This paper takes up a study of the use of iron and megalithic practices in Jammu and Kashmir region. The first archaeological research on Neolithic-megalithic has been taken up in 1935 by H. de Terra, and T. T. Paterson in this region. In this paper, the author analyzes the observation of ancient megalithic sites like Gufkral and Burzoham from Kashmir and Sohail as the living megalithic culture from Jammu region. The observation from Kashmir is based on the report from ASI and field observation by the author. A comprehensive approach to study the both past and present is taken under consideration. It tries to relate the memorial stones which were erected to commemorate the dead in the form of megaliths and the mortuary practice by the some tribal communities of Jammu region.
Keywords: Megaliths, Iron, Sati stones, Ethnography, Oral tradition.

Sambalpur – a district in western Odisha of India, is a region that has a distinct cultural identity in all over world. Sambalpur is famous for its Handloom textile, popularly known as Sambalpuri textile, rich heritage of dance, music, unique ritual of Nuakhai, Sital Sasthi, Pu juntia, Bhai Juntia and Sambalpuri language. This distinct cultural identity of Sambalpur arises from the strong association of the tribal and folk communities which have been coexisting in Sambalpur for centuries. The unique cultural aspects of Sambalpur are undergoing massive change due to the different processes of change like Modernisation, Westernization, Digitalisation and Globalisation. Sambalpuri dance and music are undergoing changes in its rhythm, costumes, steps, instruments due to modernisation and globalisation. The objectives of the paper are to find out the changing elements of Sambalpuri culture particularly music and dance, the reason/causes of changes and impact of such change on the people and different aspects of culture itself. The study was carried out in Sambalpur district only. For this exploratory and descriptive study, methods like observation, key informant interview and case study were used. Modern steps and rhythms have entered Sambalpuri music and dance to make it more entertainment oriented and popular for stage performances. Changes are also seen in the use of musical instruments and costumes. Many of the traditional costumes are not found now a days. A few new costumes are now put on by the dancers which are easily available in the market at a low cost. The manufacturing materials of the instruments have also changed.
Keywords: Sambalpuri culture, music, dance, change, modern, steps, rhythm, costume, instrument

This article examines the rules of marriage alliance, and exchange practices between bride and groom families and the cultural boundaries among Danuwar community of Nepal. Marriage practice produces and reproduces new social relationships. This ritual plays an important role in the transition of commodities and money and sharing of emotions and sentiments between families of newly married couples. The article examines different forms of marriage practices ie reciprocity negotiation, kinship alliance, and post-marital responsibilities. The article dwells on the social obligations and responsibilities in resulting in the process of marriage and their positions in post-marital life. Marriage in the Danuwar community logically produces and reproduces social functions through festivity, congregation, and negotiation for seeking bride and groom.
Keywords: Marriage alliance, reciprocity, and social obligation