Tilok Thakuria | North-Eastern Hill University, Hill Univ. Shillong-793022 (India) (original) (raw)
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Books by Tilok Thakuria
IGNCA, 2020
Edited books on Rock engravings of Northeast India
Lakshmi Publishers and Distributors , New Delhi, 2019
This book deals with Indian Non-Glass beads in archaeological context. It covers the antiquity of... more This book deals with Indian Non-Glass beads in archaeological context. It covers the antiquity of Indian beads, since Upper Paleolithic to Early Historic Period, history of research on Indian beads, manufacturing technique of non-glass beads, bead manufacturing centers in ancient India, raw materials, manufacturing and distribution of etched beads, and trade of Indian beads.
Early Iron Age and Megalithic Culture of India by Tilok Thakuria
The Archaeology of Burials: Examples from Indian Subcontinent , Vol-1, 2020
Journal of Neolithic Archaeology (Special Issue 5), 2019
The present paper is an attempt to offer an overview of the stone jars of Assam. These unique arc... more The present paper is an attempt to offer an overview of the stone jars of Assam. These unique archaeological remains are located in the central part of Assam and were first reported by J. P. Mills and J. H. Hutton in 1932. From then, they lay in the dark without any systematic archaeological survey or research. In 2014 and 2016, the author and his team conducted archaeological examinations of the jars. The State Department of Archaeology, Assam, also conducted investigations subsequently and reported two new sites. The present paper therefore offers a holistic overview based on these field researches. The paper also considers the stone jars of Laos as well as those from Assam, as both have striking similarities: perhaps both are the products of the same cultural behavior.
The presence of Megalithic monuments in Vidarbha came to limelight for the first time in 1847. Br... more The presence of Megalithic monuments in Vidarbha came to limelight for the first time in 1847. British officials deputed in the region recovered and excavated many of the Megalithic sites during the pre-independent phase. Systematic and scientific research on Megalithic in the region was, however, initiated by S. B. Deo in 1960. It was his initiative that samples for 14C dates were collected and dated. Based on these obtained dates, Deo proposed a time bracket of 700-800 BC for the Megalithic culture in the region. However, a re-look into these dates and some other recent findings suggest that the beginning of the Megalithic culture in the region may go earlier than 700-800 BC. The present paper tries to evaluate both the available absolute and relative dates and argue for a possibility of pushing back the date for the beginning of Megalithic culture in Vidarbha.
Early History of India by Tilok Thakuria
The paper aims to analyze the archaeological evidence to understand the social and economic forma... more The paper aims to analyze the archaeological evidence to understand the social and economic formation during the Early Historic period in Maharashtra. The analysis and discussion offered in the paper are based mainly on archaeological evidences unearthed in excavations. However, historical information were also taken into consideration for verification and understanding of archaeological evidence.
The widespread availability of Google Earth has provided new opportunities for researchers in dev... more The widespread availability of Google Earth has provided new opportunities for researchers in developing nations to access aerial imagery for site discovery and monitoring. This paper discusses the use of Google Earth to identify settlements that have the same formal rampart outline as the ancient city of Sisupalgarh in eastern India, providing evidence for regional contacts and political connectivity in the first-millennium BC.
Drafts by Tilok Thakuria
Archaeology, a discipline that deals with the past cultures and human interactions with ecology, ... more Archaeology, a discipline that deals with the past cultures and human interactions with ecology, is often undervalued in contemporary sustainable discourse. Archaeology, indeed, has significant role to play for a sustainable world. The foundation of present lay on past and future lie on present. Therefore, the knowledge of the past is necessary for making the present valuable and for a better future. According to Gro Harlem Brundtland Report 1987, Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Archaeology or the cultural studies has unique ability to reveal on the innovations, adoptive measures by human on harmonies growth with ecology and consequences of human impacts to varied environments. The knowledge provided by both archaeology and cultural studies can be implemented befittingly for sustainable development in the contemporary world. There are several areas, for example traditional technology, surplus production, management, landscape utilization, tourism etc, on which archaeology and cultural studies can play prominent role. Archaeology may also ensure and mobilize community participation in sustainable development.
Journal of History and Archaeology, , 2017
Archaeological explorations and excavations carried out in recent years in Odisha have yielded si... more Archaeological explorations and excavations carried out in recent years in Odisha have yielded significant information on the Early Historic sites and urbanization in Odisha. Cities and towns were emerged around 600 BCE in Odisha. There was, indeed , a network among the cities and towns those performed role in central administration and regional sub-centers under a political domain suggestively the Kalinga Janapada. The present paper offers a discussion on the Early Historic urbanisation in Odisha with reference to newly discovered site Lathi. Several scholars have carried out studies on the emergence of Early Historic urbanization in India studies were based on archaeological sources and mainly confined to North India and Northwest India. Growth of towns and cities was one of the major characters of the Early Historic urbanization. By the middle of 1st millennium BC towns and cities grew up due to multiple factors, and some of the factors are identified as results of previous settlement history/cultural background and of course the natural recourses. The Early Historic development in Odisha, unlike in the North and Northwestern India, is yet to be studied and surveyed in a holistic manner. However, in recent years several archaeological excavations and explorations were carried out in Odisha (IAR excavations have generated much significant data on the process of Early Historic urban development or in other words have, yielded significant archaeological information on the growth of Early Historic towns and cities in Odisha chronologically contemporary to the Gangetic Valley.
Rock Art by Tilok Thakuria
IGNCA, 2020
Edited books on Rock engravings of Northeast India
Lakshmi Publishers and Distributors , New Delhi, 2019
This book deals with Indian Non-Glass beads in archaeological context. It covers the antiquity of... more This book deals with Indian Non-Glass beads in archaeological context. It covers the antiquity of Indian beads, since Upper Paleolithic to Early Historic Period, history of research on Indian beads, manufacturing technique of non-glass beads, bead manufacturing centers in ancient India, raw materials, manufacturing and distribution of etched beads, and trade of Indian beads.
The Archaeology of Burials: Examples from Indian Subcontinent , Vol-1, 2020
Journal of Neolithic Archaeology (Special Issue 5), 2019
The present paper is an attempt to offer an overview of the stone jars of Assam. These unique arc... more The present paper is an attempt to offer an overview of the stone jars of Assam. These unique archaeological remains are located in the central part of Assam and were first reported by J. P. Mills and J. H. Hutton in 1932. From then, they lay in the dark without any systematic archaeological survey or research. In 2014 and 2016, the author and his team conducted archaeological examinations of the jars. The State Department of Archaeology, Assam, also conducted investigations subsequently and reported two new sites. The present paper therefore offers a holistic overview based on these field researches. The paper also considers the stone jars of Laos as well as those from Assam, as both have striking similarities: perhaps both are the products of the same cultural behavior.
The presence of Megalithic monuments in Vidarbha came to limelight for the first time in 1847. Br... more The presence of Megalithic monuments in Vidarbha came to limelight for the first time in 1847. British officials deputed in the region recovered and excavated many of the Megalithic sites during the pre-independent phase. Systematic and scientific research on Megalithic in the region was, however, initiated by S. B. Deo in 1960. It was his initiative that samples for 14C dates were collected and dated. Based on these obtained dates, Deo proposed a time bracket of 700-800 BC for the Megalithic culture in the region. However, a re-look into these dates and some other recent findings suggest that the beginning of the Megalithic culture in the region may go earlier than 700-800 BC. The present paper tries to evaluate both the available absolute and relative dates and argue for a possibility of pushing back the date for the beginning of Megalithic culture in Vidarbha.
The paper aims to analyze the archaeological evidence to understand the social and economic forma... more The paper aims to analyze the archaeological evidence to understand the social and economic formation during the Early Historic period in Maharashtra. The analysis and discussion offered in the paper are based mainly on archaeological evidences unearthed in excavations. However, historical information were also taken into consideration for verification and understanding of archaeological evidence.
The widespread availability of Google Earth has provided new opportunities for researchers in dev... more The widespread availability of Google Earth has provided new opportunities for researchers in developing nations to access aerial imagery for site discovery and monitoring. This paper discusses the use of Google Earth to identify settlements that have the same formal rampart outline as the ancient city of Sisupalgarh in eastern India, providing evidence for regional contacts and political connectivity in the first-millennium BC.
Archaeology, a discipline that deals with the past cultures and human interactions with ecology, ... more Archaeology, a discipline that deals with the past cultures and human interactions with ecology, is often undervalued in contemporary sustainable discourse. Archaeology, indeed, has significant role to play for a sustainable world. The foundation of present lay on past and future lie on present. Therefore, the knowledge of the past is necessary for making the present valuable and for a better future. According to Gro Harlem Brundtland Report 1987, Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Archaeology or the cultural studies has unique ability to reveal on the innovations, adoptive measures by human on harmonies growth with ecology and consequences of human impacts to varied environments. The knowledge provided by both archaeology and cultural studies can be implemented befittingly for sustainable development in the contemporary world. There are several areas, for example traditional technology, surplus production, management, landscape utilization, tourism etc, on which archaeology and cultural studies can play prominent role. Archaeology may also ensure and mobilize community participation in sustainable development.
Journal of History and Archaeology, , 2017
Archaeological explorations and excavations carried out in recent years in Odisha have yielded si... more Archaeological explorations and excavations carried out in recent years in Odisha have yielded significant information on the Early Historic sites and urbanization in Odisha. Cities and towns were emerged around 600 BCE in Odisha. There was, indeed , a network among the cities and towns those performed role in central administration and regional sub-centers under a political domain suggestively the Kalinga Janapada. The present paper offers a discussion on the Early Historic urbanisation in Odisha with reference to newly discovered site Lathi. Several scholars have carried out studies on the emergence of Early Historic urbanization in India studies were based on archaeological sources and mainly confined to North India and Northwest India. Growth of towns and cities was one of the major characters of the Early Historic urbanization. By the middle of 1st millennium BC towns and cities grew up due to multiple factors, and some of the factors are identified as results of previous settlement history/cultural background and of course the natural recourses. The Early Historic development in Odisha, unlike in the North and Northwestern India, is yet to be studied and surveyed in a holistic manner. However, in recent years several archaeological excavations and explorations were carried out in Odisha (IAR excavations have generated much significant data on the process of Early Historic urban development or in other words have, yielded significant archaeological information on the growth of Early Historic towns and cities in Odisha chronologically contemporary to the Gangetic Valley.
Beads used as an ornament are known from the upper Paleolithic period made out of ostrich egg she... more Beads used as an ornament are known from the upper Paleolithic period made out of ostrich egg shells dating back to 35,000 B.P. In the subsequent period it continues to be used and is extensively used as ornament and for ornamentation. The excavations in Odisha have revealed beads of various shapes, sizes and raw materials like semi precious stone, terracotta, glass and organic. The present paper will focus on the beads found from excavation of two major sites in Odisha i.e. Sisupalgarh and Manikpatna. In this paper an attempt is made to see whether the beads were locally made or they were procured in the process of trade and commerce from outside the region. It is because raw materials used for the manufacture of these beads are not locally available.
This article reports the findings of the last season of excavations at Sisupalgarh, which focused... more This article reports the findings of the last season of excavations at Sisupalgarh, which focused on the northwestern gateway and an area outside of the rampart to the north. The gateway was found to have been placed over initial habitation deposits, indicating the division of the city into walled and unwalled components from the beginning of the settlement’s occupation. The gateway was augmented numerous times in the site’s occupation, both in terms of height and as an extension to the exterior moat. This gateway “extension” was probably used for loading and unloading of commodities moved in and out of the city. The city had suburbs at least on the northern and western sides beyond the encircling moat; excavations at the northern suburb shows habitation deposits as well as evidence of mud stupa-like structures embellished by laterite slabs probably belonging to later part of 1st millennium B.C.
Beads used as an ornament are known from the upper Paleolithic period made out of ostrich egg she... more Beads used as an ornament are known from the upper Paleolithic period made out of ostrich egg shells dating back to 35,000 B.P. In the subsequent period it continues to be used and is extensively used as ornament and for ornamentation. The excavations in Odisha have revealed beads of various shapes, sizes and raw materials like semi precious stone, terracotta, glass and organic. The present paper will focus on the beads found from excavation of two major sites in Odisha i.e. Sisupalgarh and Manikpatna. In this paper an attempt is made to see whether the beads were locally made or they were procured in the process of trade and commerce from outside the region. It is because raw materials used for the manufacture of these beads are not locally available.
Preparation of lime from shells by traditional method is carried out in coastal areas of India. L... more Preparation of lime from shells by traditional method is carried out in coastal areas of India. Lime is useful for various purposes and one of them is for preparation of plaster. Excavations and explorations at Sisupalagarh and Manikapatana revealed plaster pieces used in construction and fl ooring. At present, shell fi shing is an organised business for preparation of lime by burning shells at Manikapatana. Hence, this paper tries to document ethnographic details of shell fi shing, traditional method of lime manufacture, its uses and archaeological signifi cance of lime use and lime trade during Early Historic and Medieval period in Orissa. Besides these, chemical analysis of plaster sample was carried out to fi nd concentration of elements in modern shell and lime plaster discovered from excavation at Sisuplagarh. The study resulted that shell lime was in use during the Medieval period for plastering. Sources of dolomite lime stone were exploited by the Early Historic elite people, but shell lime was probably source for preparation of plaster for socially and economically lowers class of people.