Vol-5 Number-3 July 2020
Chief Editor: Vijay Kumar
Publisher: National Trust for Promotion of Knowledge, Lucknow
Mode of Publication: Online (e-Journal)
This article by Md. Firoze Quamar, Amit Kumar Mishra, Ratan Kargives the details about the Palynological studies in the Indian part of the Himalayas. This gives the details of the vegetational changes in response to the changing climate during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Both the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and Western Disturbances (WDs) cause precipitation in the Western Himalaya, while the Eastern Himalayas receives rainfall only from the Summer Monsoon. This aspect forms the basis to overview the records from the respective areas of the Himalayas. In the Western Himalaya, cold-arid climate supported the steppe vegetation during the Late Pleistocene (ca 75000 yr before present [BP]); however, during the Holocene (ca 11000 yr BP), the ISM increased in the western sector. The effects of WDs in the Western Himalaya, nonetheless, have been indicated between 9200 and 4200 yr BP. In the Eastern Himalaya as well, during the Late Pleistocene (ca 66000 yr BP) the cool and dry climate prevailed; however, during the Holocene (10200 yr BP), the summer monsoon intensified. The climate change and associated vegetation succession varied from region-to-region, which could be due to, besides the effects of ISM and WDs, the influence of altitude, topography, local climatic factors, as well as human impact. A comparative account of the vegetation and climate between the Western and Eastern Himalaya over the last 75000 years has given in this article.
This article is authored by Prof .Dr. Abdel Rahim, N., H. Sadek &A. Moustafa.It is very important for conservators to be fully aware of the manufacturing techniques, which were used in ancient Egypt before proceeding with any conservation operation on the object (relationship between manufacture techniques and conservation)or some important archaeological evidences will be lost from the artifacts or we might accidently change its nature which could cause losing the historical and functional value of the object. Investigations and Analysis were done using stereo microscope, scanning electron microscope, portable x- ray fluorescence, Fourier transform, infrared spectroscopy and x-ray powder diffraction to identify materials used in manufacturing Tutankhamen’s wine amphora. This study helped directly in determining the most suitable ways of restoration and conservation.
This paper by Nihildas, N. tries to catalogue the nature of structural remains and the activity areas uncovered at a recently excavated Iron Age habitation site which has explicitly yielded ample scope to understand the spatial distribution of the settlement during the Early Iron Age in Vidarbha. This intensive excavation exposed a good number of domestic structures in successive layers and the variation and changes broad about by social and economic factors. The AMS dates from successive layers have further helped us to ascertain the obvious changes that had taken place
This article by Vijay Kumar gives the catalogue of terracottas kept in State Museum, Lucknow. The technique of producing terracottas and their decorations change over times. The Pre-mauryan figurine were hand-modelled & very crude. During mauryan period, anthropomorphic figurines were made by hand modeling. Later on the faces were mould made & rest of the body was hand modelled. It was decorated by applique ornaments punched with different designs. During Shunga period, the images were mostly in the form of mould made small plaques. The images were always in low relief. The Kushan terracottas were bigger in size. The images were hand modelled. The ornaments were made by incising thin applique strips. Sometimes the head was mould made. The cylindrical and hollow bodies & seat were made on wheel. The head with tenon was inserted in this body. The body was luted to the seat and limbs were separately pasted to the body. Very few thin molded images of toddlers from this period discovered from different sites. During Gupta period, terracotta figurines were made from single & double moulds. Large terracotta images and large decorative panel were made by hand modeling. The terracotta art declined during medieval period, the terracotta pieces during this period were mostly hand modelled. Some t.c. pieces belonging to late medieval period were blazed also. Terracottas of the 19th-20th century A.D. were mostly made by hand modeling. People started making small figurines made from moulds during this period. In modern times, the images are made from gypsum using double scales moulds.
This article by Anil K. Pokharia,Jeewan S. Kharakwal, S. Sharma, Vineet Godhal, &K.P. Singhgives the details of the subsistence strategies during Historic, Medieval and Late Medieval times. The archaeological site Chandravati, situated on the confluence of Banas and Sevarni Rivers in the southern part of Rajasthan was taken up for investigating macro botanical remains. The cultural relics and radiocarbon dates obtained from archaeological deposits, indicate the presence of antiquities of pre-Medieval times dated to AD 243-539 (BS-3819, 3837, 3900, 3899, 3820); Medieval Period (BS-3815: AD783-1018) and post-Medieval Period (AD 1422-1950: BS-3816, 3817, 3824) at the site. The macro botanical finds indicate the presence of winter and summer crops. During Medieval times (between AD ~783-1300), a diversification in crop-assemblage represented by winter and summer crops suggest that the region was under warm and humid climate, corresponding to the Medieval Warm Period (MWP), known between AD 740 and 1150 worldwide, which could be attributed to increased monsoon precipitation. In contrast, dominance of millets (drought resistant) such as Sorghum bicolor, Panicum miliaceum, Paspalum scrobiculatum, Setariaitalica and Setaria sp. along with meager large grained cereals and pulses during post-Medieval (AD 1422-1850) indicates that the region probably experienced weak SW monsoon. Historically this period coincides with Little Ice Age (between AD~1350-1850). South-west monsoonal intensity was reduced during this period. The changing cropping pattern and ecology during aforementioned climate (monsoonal) contrast period is expected to provide clues for past human response to climate change and also give lessons for modern societies in exploring possible strategies for future climate change.
This article by Dr. G. K. Lama gives the details of deities placed in different temples in and around the city of Kathmand, Nepal. The Nepali-Hindu pantheon is dominated by panch-devta namely: Ganesh, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti and Surya. The Vishwarupa image in Kathmandu valley shows Sheshsayi Vishnu below the feet of Vishwarupa Vishnu. A miniscule figure of a lady is standing between his legs and a naag couple & an elephant flanks his legs. The lady resembles bhudevi images of Surya and naag-naagi couple shown near the left leg of Bhu-varaha. The Uma-Mahesh image from Kathmandu shows Kartikeya, Ganesha, Bhringi Rishi, the drummer & another musician separately below the seats of Shiva & Parvati.
This article by Dr. Rajesh Kannojiya gives the details of sealings and inscriptions on them. They mostly belongs to 9th century and are related to Buddhist religions. Five of these record the popular Buddhist formula: Yē Dhammā Prabha vā hētu teshā Tathāgatō hyavada teshāmcha yonirōdha evaṁ vādī mahaśramaṇaḥ. The device made on all seal except one is a single or multiple stupas. The sixth sealing from Nalanda shows dharmchakra flanked by two deers. The legend records that this sealing belongs to bhikshu sangha of Nalanda Mahavihar
This article by S.K. Acharya, M.R. Varma and Md. Tarique Rasool gives the details of the inscribed brass plate Abul Hasan, Sultan of Golkonda dated 1681. The inscription is now preserved in the Odisha State Museum, Bhubaneswar. It was issued by the Abul Hasan, Sultan of Golkonda in favour of Gaṅgādhara Miśra, a distinguished Sanskrit scholar and poet. The inscription is dated A.H. 1092/1681 CE and it is written in Sanskrit language with an admixture of Telugu but is in Telugu script of the 17th century CE. The paper attempts to identify the author of the text Śṛṅgāramañjarī of which, a reference is made in this inscription. It is further suggested that Gaṅgādhara Miśra composed the Sanskrit version of the text and he was the court poet of the Chauhan king of Sambalpur, who authored the Kośalānandakāvya in 1663-64 CE.
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