INDIAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Vol-11 Number- 1 January 2026
Chief Editor: Vijay Kumar
Publisher: National Trust for Promotion of Knowledge, Lucknow
Mode of Publication: Online (e-Journal)

1. Tapka: A Newly Discovered Rock Art Site in Sonbhadra Region, Uttar Pradesh

Author: Manisha Singh, Sarvesh Yadav, Anisha Singh, Abhay Pratap Singh, Satyam Kumar, Vikas Kumar Singh, Brij Mohan, S Chakradhari, S K Singh and Ravindra Nath Singh

They gives the details of the painted rock shelter named Tapka in village Lauva situated 20km southeast of Robertsganj, district Sonbhadra, India. The sandstone contains an extensive painted panel executed in black, red ochre, and white pigments. The motifs include anthropomorphic figures, mounted horse riders, hunting scenes, stylized animals, geometric forms, and distinctive botanical designs rendered in line drawing style. Several microliths, including chert and chalcedony blades and blade cores, were recovered from the shelter, indicating human activity in the area.

2. Torana Art and Architecture

Author: Amar Singh

This article by Amar Singh describes the evolution of Torana, an important element in Indian architecture. It appears that before Mauryan period, the Toranas were made of wood with a simple form using one or more horizontal beams as a super-structure supported on two vertical pillars. These were usually carved with various motifs and designs. Later on, the same form and designs were copied in stone as seen represented in Lomas Rishi cave of the Barabar hill during the Mauryan period and at Bharhut, Sanchi, and Mathura in the Sunga-Kushana and Gupta periods. Various Indian texts on architecture gives the following varieties of Toranas made in early and late medieval periods: stambha-torana, patra-torana, makara-torana, chitra-torana, pushpa-torana, ratna-torana, vaktra torana, illika-torana, hindola-torana, tilaka-torana and gajatalu-torana.

3. Sacred Transformation: Religious Influence and Socioeconomic Dynamics in Ancient and Early Medieval Kashmir

Author: Irfan Bashir and Abdul Rashid

This article by Irfan Bashir and Abdul Rashid Lone examines the profound influence of religion on the socioeconomic landscape of ancient and early medieval Kashmir, highlighting how religious transformations shaped social structures and economic activities. It explores the emergence of distinct social groups, particularly the Brahmans, whose migration and religious zeal significantly affected the region's hierarchy. Temples played a crucial role as economic hubs, receiving land grants and providing employment, thus integrating religious, economic, and political spheres. Pilgrimage centres promoted regional connectivity and cultural continuity, with replicated tirtha names from across the Subcontinent fostering a pan-Indian religious landscape. The study underscores the dynamic interplay between religion and socioeconomic development, demonstrating how religious institutions stimulated prosperity and cultural integration in Kashmir.

4. Metal Icons of Assam: Tracing the Sculptural Tradition

Author: Jutimala Misra and Manjil Hazarika

This article by Jutimala Misra and Manjil Hazarika explores the metal sculptural traditions in Assam, highlighting their artistic, technological and cultural significance within the broader context of Indian metal art. Metal sculpture, particularly made of bronze casting, represents one of the most refined forms of ancient craftsmanship, reflecting both religious devotion and metallurgical advancement. Assam, with its rich archaeological record, provides crucial evidence of this tradition through discoveries such as the metal hoards from Narakasura Hill in Guwahati, which include remarkable bronze artefacts and ritual objects. Among these, the bronze medallion and other sculptural pieces collected from different places in Assam, preserved in the Assam State Museum in Guwahati exemplify the region’s unique iconographic and stylistic features of the region. The paper examines the typological, stylistic and technological aspects of these sculptures to trace their development and regional characteristics, contributing to a deeper understanding the place of Assam within the wider narrative of metal sculptural heritage of India.

5. Translation of Manuscript Describing the Reigns of Early Sultanate Period titled “Ahad Nama Salāṭīn-i-Ghorī wa Khilji”- Presently Kept in Rampur Raza library, district Rampur

Author: Vijay Kumar

This article by Vijay Kumar gives the translation of the manuscript titled “Ahad Nama Salāṭīn-i-Ghorī wa Khilji” presently kept at Rampur Raza library. This was copied from the original manuscript kept in the Royal treasury of Red Fort, Delhi. This copy was made by the order of the prince Mīrzā Muhammad Babur (1796 – 13 February 1835), the fifth son of Akbar II, the nineteenth Mughal emperor. This gives the portraits and details of the 14 kings from Muḥammad Ghorī to Mubārak Shāh Khiljī.

6. Paintings of Awadh School, Company School and ivory paintings and Pencil Sketches kept in State Museum Lucknow, district Luknow

Author: Vijay Kumar & A. K. Singh

This article by Vijay Kumar & A. K. Singh gives the details of 78 painting/sketches of Awadh school, 77 paintings/sketches of company school and 21 ivory paintings presently kept in State Museum Lucknow, district lucknow. This collection has a large number of sketches and paintings of Nawabs of Awadh and their officials. The Awadh school of paintings is influenced by Mughal miniature paintings. This collection also has paintings of day-to-day life of Nawabi period. It also contains the details of day-to-day activities of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. It also has sketches of kings and high officials related to kingdom of Sikhs and Afgans.

7. Human Movement, Demographic Impact and Settlement Pattern in Ancient Past: The Manipuri (Meitei) in Tripura

Author: Asem Bidhyaleima Chanu and Prof. Oinam Ranjit Singh

This article by Asem Bidhyaleima Chanu and Prof. Oinam Ranjit Singh is about Manipur and Tripura shared long-standing connections since ancient times formed by political interactions, diplomatic alliances and population movements. Evidence from literary sources and oral history, Manipuri settlement in Tripura happened due to court intrigues, political instability and royal matrimonial alliances. Early references to Meitei mobility in Tripura are traced to the proto-historic period, while more concrete settlement patterns emerged during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Royal matrimonial alliances between the ruling houses of Manipur and Tripura played a significant role in facilitating the permanent settlement of Manipuris, particularly in and around Agartala. The most substantial influx of Manipuris into Tripura was caused by the Burmese invasion of Manipur in 1819 locally remembered as Chahi Taret Khuntakpa (Seven Years’ Devastation). During this period, large numbers of Manipuris sought refuge in Tripura through routes passing via Cachar and Sylhet. Over time, Manipuris established dispersed habitation sites across six present-day districts of Tripura, forming colonies (kolup system) while interacting with neighbouring communities. Census data from the late nineteenth century to the post-Independence period reveal fluctuations in the Manipuri population, shaped by political change, economic challenges and secondary migration. This paper makes attempt to traced the migration, settlement pattern and demography of Manipuris in Tripura since ancient period.

8. Tracing biodiversity through museum sculptures: A case study of the State Museum Lucknow

Author: Alshaz Fathmi

This article by Alshaz Fathmi from State Museum Lucknow identifies different animals shown on the sculptures kept in the State Museum, Lucknow. Some of these like birds dodo and rodrigues solitaire have become extinct and this collection has some foreign animals like aardvark also. The animals identified by the authors are as follows: fish, crocodile-fish, sea horse, frog, snake, crocodile, crocodile-dolphin, tortoise, common Indian monitor lizard, rose-ringed parakeet, mute swan, dodo, rodrigues solitaire, peacock, eagle, goose, golden eagle, lion/lioness, pig/sow, horse, monkey, deer, rabbit, leopard, jungle cat, water buffalo, bull/cow, elephant, rat, tiger, sea lion, dolphin, camel, aardvark, rhinoceros, dog, tibetan argali sheep, sheep, donkey, goat, wild boar, wild bison/gaur, bear, ram, crested pheasant and cock.

9. Heritage Management and Community Participation: A Case study of Pancha Tirtha Temples in Hajo, Assam, India

Author: Pankhi Sarma, Jonali Devi & Maishnam Rustam Singh

This article by Pankhi Sarma, Jonali Devi & Maishnam Rustam Singh is about the Heritage- tangible or intangible is the national property of a country and pride of a society concerned. Many of the heritage properties, especially the religious ones, are found to be deeply attached to the people living around either spiritually or emotionally or both. Such attachment is more often needed for the survival and continuity of the heritage properties. The five temples situated in Hajo area of Kamrup, Assam are collectively known as Pancha Tirtha by the local community. The present study is an attempt tracing the history and archaeology of the five temples and also the community participation involved in sustained management of the same. The study based on the empirical observation not only presents the archaeological aspects of the Pancha Tirtha temples but also the societal connection and participation aimed at its continuity as a living heritage.