Archaeology of Ancient Madhyadesa: Chrono-Cultural Study of Ochre Coloured Ceramics and Copper Hoards

Chedarambattu Margabandhu (b-1936) an alumni of the Madras Christian College, Tambaram took his M.A. degree in History in 1959 from the Madras University. He was awarded the Northwick and N.N. Airavatham Prizes of the Madras University and the Kellett Prize of the Madras Christian College for the best performance in B.A. (Hons.) and obtaining first rank in the University. He was awarded the Post-Graduate Diploma of the School of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India in 1962. The Nagpur University awarded Ph.D. degree in 1973 for his thesis “Material Culture of central and Western India and the Deccan from c. 300 B.C. – 300 A.D.” In 1962, he joined the Archaeological Survey of India and ever since for the past twenty-two years, he has participated in several excavations such as at Kalibangan, Paiyampalli, Pauni, Surkotda, Bakraur (Sujata-Kuti), Mathura, Karvan, Anhilvad Patan, Fatehabad, etc., besides several field explorations. His special field of study consists of interpretation of archaeological artifacts and other excavated data belonging to the Early Historic Period with a bearing on the material culture of the times. He has contributed more than forty papers of intrinsic value to the various Journals and Seminars on archaeology, art, architecture and aspects of material culture and technology. Presently he is the Superintending Archaeologist in the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi Circle, with headquarters at New Delhi.

Krishna Kumar, graduated in English Literature and education from Bihar University. He began his journalistic career with a leading newspaper in New Delhi moving on to the reputed magazine at Hyderabad. For the past ten years, he has been writing on a wide range of subjects. The focus of his interest however is education.