Puramanthana: Current Advances in Indian Archaeology, Number 6

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.

Dr. Buddha Rashmi Mani, born 17 April 1955 (Gunhill, Mussoorie) in a family of patriots, academicians, administrators, is presently Director (Archaeology) in the Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi. he has had a meritorious academic record from High School to the University, always standing first class first. He got his Master's degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Banaras Hindu University in 1976 and Ph.D. in 1980 on 'Life in the Kushan Age'. He taught the subject in B.H.U. and at Central Institute of Tibetan Higher Studies, Sarnath in between 1978 and 1984 after which he joined the Archaeological Survey of India where he worked in various capacities of Group 'A' service in different circles and branches and directed more than a dozen significant archaeological excavations, such as at Lolkot, Salimgarh fort, Sankisa, Siswania, Kanishkapura, Ambaran and Ayodhya and also conserved a number of monuments in Goa, Maharashtra, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. He has been Director of the Institute of Archaeology (ASI), New Delhi. he has widely travelled and has represented the country in international conferences in Male, Tehran, Leicester, London etc. and has contributed two books, 'The Kushan Civilization' and 'Delhi: Threshold of the Orient' alongwith more than 100 research papers published in national and international journals.