Peopling and Cultural Spread: Studies in South Asian Archaeology

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This book is an outcome of a collection of articles on South Asian Archaeology which were received in response to a call issued by the editors to honor the achievements of Prof. Vasant Shinde - a well-known archaeologist. The book contains several essays on prehistoric and early historic archaeology of South Asia contributed by the authors from many institutions across the globe. From late Pleistocene assemblages of Srilanka to cultural assemblages of Jiroft in Iran and from Harrapan studies to the late medieval developments in architecture in India, the edited volume delineates the process of prehistoric to early historic cultural developments in pan South Asian context. This edited volume would be an interesting addition to the recent archaeological studies in South Asia and will help understand the current trends in South Asian Archaeology in general and India in particular.

Dr. Ajmal Shah is an Assistant Prof-cum-Curator at Centre of Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir. He earned his PhD from Deccan College (PGRI), Deemed University, Pune, Maharashtra. Dr. Shah is a recipient of prestigious Tagore National Research Fellowship from Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Dr. Shah has many research projects to his credit and one of his major projects was funded by Gerda Henkel Stiftung, Germany. He was nominated as an executive member of Society of South Asian Archaeology (SOSAA). His research appears in journals and books of National and International standing. Dr. Shah has travelled widely representing Himalayan archaeology in conferences in India, Srilanka, Russia, USA and Europe. Recently, he was awarded a visiting fellowship by EPHE, PSL University, Paris, France.

Dr. Mumtaz A. Yatoo is a Ford Fellow who has earned his PhD from University of Leicester, United Kingdom. He is a visiting academic to School of Archaeology, University of Sydney, Australia. Dr. Yatoo has many research projects to his credit, prominent being with University of Sydney, Australia. Dr. Yatoo publishes widely, and his research appears in acclaimed journals and books of National and International repute.

Dr. Astha Dibyopama has completed her PhD from Deccan College, PGRI, Pune. She taught Archaeology at Deccan College for more than 6 years. She has been recipient of many fellowships including prestigious, Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Fund and Homi Bhabha Fellowship. Currently she is pursuing post-doctoral research at Department of Archaeology, PAH Solapur University, Maharashtra funded by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

It gives me tremendous pleasure and happiness to write the foreword to this volume in honor of Prof. Vasant Shinde "Peopling and Cultural Spread: Studies in South Asian Archaeology", edited by Dr. Ajmal Shah, Dr. Mumtaz Yatoo and Dr. Astha Dibyopama. This volume will be presented as the gesture of appreciation and acknowledgement to Prof. Vasant Shinde for his vast contribution in archaeology having research contributions from many parts of the world, specifically his students and collaborators.

Prof. Shinde's involvement with Deccan College PGRI, Institute (Deemed University), Pune in various capacities, from student to Vice-Chancellor, demonstrates his close relationship with the institution. Because of his unwavering zeal, he was able to carry out numerous important excavations in Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. He had also conducted and taken part in the excavations in other countries. His passion for archaeology has inspired his students all across the globe, as well as his young colleagues and acquaintances. Prof. Shinde has established a number of international collaborations with institutes all over the world, bringing Indian archaeology to a genuinely global level.

Prof. Vasant Shinde is a renowned international scholar. He has been in touch with well known archaeologists and has connections with significant academic governance bodies. He is holding various positions in various learned bodies, institutions and various committees established by the Government of India.

He travelled widely and visited many countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Holland, France, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Russia, and Italy, to mention a few, to attend seminars, workshops, and present guest lectures. He is recognized for the discovery of several important aspects of South Asian archaeology, ranging from previously unknown Protohistoric cultural periods to urbanization models in Mewar, Rajasthan. His most noteworthy research contributions include the first aDNA analysis and Harappan Craniofacial Reconstruction. For archaeology researchers, this felicitation volume will be useful to refer and study. The contents of the volume is divided into several areas for example his collaborative researches with South Korea and Sri Lanka, Prehistory, Protohistoric, recent archaeological investigations and excavations, early historic archaeology, and so on.

Also recent works by scholars in numerous fields, specializing in various branches of archaeology, and hailing from diverse parts of the world have contributed to this volume. I wish healthy, happy and productive life ahead to Prof. Shinde, the sincere promoter of the ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology.

The editor's effort in summarizing this felicitation volume qualitatively and from a research perspective is a long-term achievement for which archaeologists and researchers in related fields will be thankful.