Microliths are widely distributed throughout the various parts of Eastern India. The present paper tries to study microlithic assemblages of the western highlands of Odisha with special reference to the Kalangapali site, located in the Bargarh district of Odisha. This paper is focused on the detailed analysis of the lithic assemblage, stratigraphic contexts, raw material utilization, and site exposure pattern and other related areas of research. The microlithic sites in the area have been reported with the use of numerous varieties of raw materials like chert, quartz, and agate for microlithic tools production. In this context, one of the interesting findings of this site shows microliths associated with pebble tools also known as heavy-duty tools, in a stratigraphic context that is generally confined to limited sites in Odisha.

Keywords: Pleistocene, Microlith. Lithic analysis, Pebble tools, Ong River, Odisha, Eastern India

India has been well-known as a composite museum of several religions, sects, traditions, and rituals. It is a historical fact that the Indian religious life is an amalgamation of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and many other sects. At one end, religious sects, their ideology, and plurality overwhelm the religious life of India, while at the other end a sense of equilibrium and sympathy between the different communities have strengthened and deepened the pillar of Indian religious life and its essence of ‘Sarva Dharma Sambhava’. In this background the most different ideologies visually come together, which are associated religiously and spiritually. The Indian religious life is undoubtedly built by the principle of ‘Unity in Diversity’. In the 6th Century BC of Vedic Period, there was an indication of religious revolution in India. One of its sides was coordinated with devotion to communal management. It is generally accepted that after the Vedic Eugene, many branches in form of sects began to develop in Hinduism. Ashokan archives, Buddhist literature and Magasthenes’s Indica reveal that worship of a number of deities in the Vedic age was promoted. Several sects and cults came up in the background of devotion to a specific deity and a specialized way of worship. Shaiva, Vaishnava, Surya, Ganapati, Skanda, Kartikeya became the main subjects and deities of specific cults. Shaivism is associated with one of these cults.

Keywords: Pashupata, Religion, Shaivism, Relevance, Rudra

Mahapatra, B. 2023. The Early Finds and Chronology of Terracotta Animal Figurines in Indian Archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Studies in India, 3: 1, pp. 37-51. https://doi.org/10.47509/JASI.2023.v03i01.03Terracotta animal figurines are considered as one of the primary sources for understanding the art history and archaeology of India. The earliest records of terracotta animal figurines are found from the pre-Harappan contexts. During the later phases large numbers of terracotta animal figurines were found without any clefts. The constant discovery of terracotta animal figurines in archaeological contexts indicates the long and continuous relationship of human society with the animal world as well as the origin and development of Indian art. A large variety of terracotta animal figurines have been yielded in the Indian archaeological context; however research highlighting their importance is limited. The current research is an attempt to document the finds of terracotta animal figurines in the Indian archaeological context through a critical assessment of the available reports and literary records. This study provides new information regarding the early emergence and chronological evolution of Indian terracotta art.

Keywords: Chronology, Harappan Culture, NBPW Culture, PGW Culture, Terracotta.

The valley of Kashmir has a rich historical past, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological sites in the region. Among these sites, Gufkral holds a special place as it reveals and helps to understand the cultural aspects of the times. The Neolithic period in Kashmir was characterized by advances in stone tool, pottery and other aspects representing a shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture and animal domestication. Burzahom, Gufkral, and Kanispur are key sites that demonstrate this cultural shift, with Gufkral revealing a distinct settlement pattern and tool technology. This paper focuses on characterizing the material culture of the Neolithic-Megalithic period at Gufkral. The study examines settlement pattern, subsistence pattern, lithic technology, and ceramics, functioning of dwelling pits of the Neolithic and Megalithic culture.

Keywords: Kashmir, Gufkral, Neolithic, Megalith, Menhir, Pit dwelling, Karewas