Kashmir occupies a unique position in the development of New stone Age culture in India. Excavations at Burzahom and Gulfkral have revealed scores of new features unparalleled in the sub-continent. Large number of human and animal burials were exposed at Burzahom during 1962-64 by the author but the report remained unpublished. It is for the first time that such a large number of burials pertaining to neolithic age were excavated at one site and thoroughly studied. The present book gives a detailed description of all the burials including results of morphological studies conducted on human skeletal remains. The results bring forth not only the continuity of this culture of the valley for nearly 2000 years but also its contact with other cultures of the time. The morphological studies have brought to light the ethnic similarity of neolithic people of Kashmir with those of the plains of Jammu, Punjab and Haryana. The finding totally negatives the earlier held view of immigration from North China. This combination of field report and laboratory studies will be of immense value to the students of archaeology, anthropology and Kashmir history. The book on Kashmir assumes more importance in view of non – publication of reports on Burzahom and Gufkral excavations. It brings a complete picture of burial customs in Kashmir during prehistoric period.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR A K Sharma
Shri A.K. Sharma is an archaeologist of repute. He is internationally known for his original contributions in the field of archaeology and anthropology. During thirty three years of his hectic career, in different capacities in the Archaeological Survey of India he explored and excavated a number of sites throughout the length and breadth of the country, particularly in remote and inaccessible areas of North-East India, Jammu Kashmir and Lakshadweep. To his credit goes the discovery and excavation of the biggest Stone Age site Anangpur, near Delhi, the biggest prehistoric cave of Kachagad in Maharashtra, the sprawling nucleus megalithic site in Chhattisgarh, unique Neolithic site of Gufkral in Kashmir Valley, early historic sites of Sekta in Manipur and Vadagokugiri in Garo Hills of Meghalaya. He is also known for the discovery of horse bones of domesticated horse in Harappan context which have been internationally acknowledged and has changed the whole theory about Aryans and Vaidic period. He worked at Kalibangan excavation from 1961 to 1969. He has to his credit more than 50 published research papers on anthropology, archaeozoology, prehistory and other aspects of archaeology. Presently he is working as Senior Fellow of Indian Council of Historical Research on his project “Megaliths of Chhattisgarh including Bastar:. He is also directing the excavations at Mansar near Nagpur.
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