MAKE MOST OF THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK, JOIN ACADEMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Varanasi is known as one of the oldest cities by literary evidences (Atharva Veda 5.22.14). Hence, the present exploration has tried to trace the archaeological evidences and aceient settlement system around the Rajght (Singh, 1977). The excavations of Rajght has proved that during the early historical period, it was a major urban settlement or coresite, which should have some small satellite sites around it. Therefore, the present paper has tried to trace the satellite settlements of Rajghatby using village-to-village survey and remote sensing techniques in Varuna basin to reconstruct the archaeological landscape of Varanasi, Utter Pradesh. Present archaeological exploration has provided the evidence of various cultural phases on the basis of ceramic studies.

The following report contains information of a detailed survey conducted with the intent to document and study the diversity of game boards etched on the floors in the Aurangabad caves. Our method of documentation relied on physical inspection of each accessible cave, spotting, measuring, photographing and recording the games present in them along with contextual data. We faced a number of problems in the collection mainly due to the caves being badly weathered, and many being inaccessible due to being locked up by the authorities for the purpose of public safety. In spite of this, we were able to collect a large number of diverse games – most already known, including variations – along with a number of old graffiti etched on the floor of these caves. The data collected from this survey is part of an extensive, ongoing study of rock-cut caves and other monuments in Maharashtra, with the ultimate aim of finding, cataloguing, and if possible, reviving ancient board games as a living tradition and as an important part of the intangible cultural heritage of India.

Keywords: Aurangabad Caves, Board Games, Explorations, Mancala, Trade Routes

Existence of ostrich in India has been a matter of great speculation. Many sites have been discovered showing fragments of egg shells and many with geometrical figures and motifs in India. They were later proved to be closely related with ostrich eggs after aDNA studies and found to be from Late Pleistocene era. However; mere egg shell finds would not substantiate existence of ostrich. A pictograph of a bird resembling ostrich was discovered in cave shelter in India analogous to a pictograph of ostrich in Ennedi cave shelter in Africa. Morphological comparative studies of the Indian pictograph, Ennedi pictograph, and existing African ostrich are carried out and found to be analogous. A drooping wing plumes with tail feathers, being a distinctive and exclusive feature of African ostrich, was also noticed in the said Mungsadev pictograph. These investigations substantially indicate the existence of ostrich like bird during Late Pleistocene era in India.

Keywords: Ostrich, Eggshell, Rock art, Pleistocene, Palaeolithic, Pictograph, cave shelter, Satpura-Tapti valley, Ambadevi, Betul, Gavilgarh

The art and architecture of monuments in Karnataka state in Southern part of India has heralded the glory of Karnataka showing varied experimentation in temple architecture through the ages. The evolution in art forms can be seen from two dimensional figures to three dimensional ones, further progressing to huge monolithic structures through the ages.

This is because land of present Karnataka is blessed with geo diversity with varieties of stone belts all formed several millions of years ago. A long tradition of royal patronage sponsoring generously for promotion of temple art and architecture experimented understanding the science of geology and contributed towards the evolution of temple architecture and sculptural art forms in the state of Karnataka.

The aim of this paper is to explore how the type of naturally occurring stone belts, its qualities like hardness, texture and colors were understood by the ancient dynasties and accordingly experimented with stone blocks to create innovative art. The geo morphs of Karnataka can be divided into three distinct zones of North, central and South zones. Each of these zones has different type of stone belts that are datable to millions of years when they got formed are described in the article. The three examples of popular temples built in different stone type with illustration and a brief note on it are presented in the article.

Keywords: Geology, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Temple Sculptures, Indian Heritage Art, Hampi, Hoysala

Sri Lanka had maritime trade relations even in the 6th century BC and we had famous naval ports used for maritime trade specially for maritime ‘Silk Road’ used by people who was in Greco-Roman, China, India, Persia for their foreign trade. Therefore Sri Lanka was able to make new economic relationships. In this study, we mainly focused on Sri Lankan maritime trade relationship with Greco-Roman. Our research problem is , what was the trade relationship between Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman ?. Our objective is to identify the importance of Sri Lanka along with the Greco-Roman trade. This study was conducted under the qualitative research method using a library survey. From these three sources Literary sources, especially foreign texts have many records about Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman trade. Some of those authors were Cosmos, Pliny, Ptolemy and Strabo. Some archaeological evidence found from ports like Mantai, Godawaya and Kingdoms like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa. The main archaeological evidence is Roman and Indo-Roman coins for the trade relationship between Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman. Certain Indian factors were also important in conducting this research because Sri Lankan trade had a close relationship with Indian trade also. From this research we understood that there was an internal transport system in Sri Lanka, Roman trade was spread many places in Sri Lanka, in some times India and Persia acted as intermediaries between Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman trade and the main point we identified was, Sri Lanka was a core in the ancient trade system and by the fifth century AD, Sri Lanka was one of the main trade centres in the Indian Ocean.

Keywords: Sri Lanka, Greco-Roman, Maritime Trade, Relation, Coins

Karnataka is rich in archaeological vestiges dating from Pre-historic times.  The recent intensive explorations in the District Mandya, particularly in Taluk Maddur have revealed rich archaeological vestiges in the form of Temples and mandapas, Inscribed and un-inscribed hero stones, memorial stones and Sati stones, Inscribed stone slabs, Inscribed and Un-inscribed Oil Mill stones, water structures, sculptures and architectural members, forts etc. Though, much importance has given to other types of memorials, Sanniyasi-kal is a type of memorials, primarily raised to increase the fertility of the cattle and also protect the cattle from acute diseases.  This type of stone was rare in Karnataka or not much importance has been given.  This paper deals with the same.