NEW

PERSPECTIVES

ON THE

NEOLITHIC

Fire, Cattle and Domestication in
Prehistoric India: Recent Research on the South Indian Neolithic

A 2-DAY CONFERENCE AT
THE MCDONALD INSTITUTE FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
20-21 NOVEMBER, 2004

The South Indian Neolithic, with its still enigmatic ashmounds, abundant rock bruisings of long-horned cattle, and hilltop settlements amidst a spectacular landscape of granite rock formations, presents a fascinating opportunity to examine processes of domestication and sedentarisation in a novel and unique context. Recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in the South Indian Neolithic, stimulated by a number of Indian and international collaborative research projects focused on elucidating the unique ecological, economic, social and symbolic factors that combined to stimulate this largely autochthonous domestication process. New methodological and theoretical approaches have been brought to bear on issues that have received little serious attention since the 1960s. This conference will feature talks by many of the major international researchers studying the South Indian Neolithic today.

SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER MORNING Morning Session Chair: Dorian Fuller

OPENING ADDRESS

9:15-9:30
Nicole Boivin, Research Fellow, McDonald Institute

I. RESEARCH PROJECTS
9:30-9:50
Origins and transitions: Assessing Mesolithic and Neolithic relationships in south India
Michael Petraglia, Lecturer, University of Cambridge & Ravi Korisettar, Professor, Karnatak University

10:00-10:20
Excavations at Mayiladumparai, Tamil Nadu
K. Rajan, Chair, Dept of Archaeology, Tamil University

10:30-10:50
Confronting diversity in the Neolithic of South India: Findings from the Sanganakallu-Kupgal Project
Nicole Boivin, Research Fellow, McDonald Institute & Ravi Korisettar, Professor, Karnatak University
View as a mini-slide show

11:00-11:30 TEA BREAK

II. MATERIAL CULTURE STUDIES
11:30-11:50
Stone axe manufacture in Neolithic south India: Some technological and social transformations
Adam Brumm, PhD Student, Australian National University

12:00-12:20
From domestic economy to political economy: A framework for thinking about changes in artefacts and other practices
Dorian Fuller, Lecturer, UCL

12:30-1:30 LUNCH

SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER AFTERNOON Afternoon Session Chair: Preston Miracle

III. ASHMOUND STUDIES1:30-1:50
Recent research on the ashmounds of the Lower Deccan
K. Paddayya, Director, Deccan College

2:00-2:20
Ashmounds in a wider perspective: Temporality and locality
Marco Madella, Affiliated Lecturer, University of Cambridge, Ulla Rajala, Affiliated Scholar, University of Cambridge & Ravi Korisettar, Professor, Karnatak University

2:30-2:50
New insights into ashmound formation from Sannarachamma
Lindsay Lloyd-Smith, MPhil Student, University of Cambridge

3:00-3:30 TEA BREAK

IV. THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT3:30-3:50
Geomorphological perspectives on South Indian Neolithic pastoral and agricultural transformations
Ravi Korisettar, Professor, Karnatak University

4:00-4:20
Climate and landscape during the Southern Neolithic: Geological, geomorphological and palaeohydrological evidence from the Bellary District
Nick Drake, Lecturer, King’s College

4:30-4:50
Neolithic environments: Results from wood charcoal studies
Eleni Asouti, Postdoctoral Fellow, UCL

5:00
Discussant: Bridget Allchin, Chair, Ancient India and Iran Trust

7:00 RECEPTION & DINNER
Ancient India and Iran Trust

SUNDAY 21 NOVEMBER MORNING Morning Session Chair: Ravi Korisettar

V. ANIMAL AND HUMAN REMAINS STUDIES9:30-9:50
Re-thinking the roles of cattle, sheep and goats in the Southern Neolithic: New results from Sanganakallu-Kupgal
Stephanie Meece, PhD Student, University of Cambridge

10:00-10:20
The ‘Mesolithic’ in the ‘Neolithic’ of South India: The zooarchaeology of the Kurnool Caves
Preston Miracle, Lecturer, University of Cambridge

10:30-10:50
Occupation skeletal stress markers in early agro-pastoral populations of south India: An ethnoarchaeological approach
S.R. Walimbe, Lecturer, Deccan College

11:00-11:30 TEA BREAK

VI. LANDSCAPES AND ROCK ART11:30-11:50
Making a record of a direct visual record: rock-art research in Kurnool District
Jamie Hampson, MPhil. student, University of Cambridge & Christopher Chippindale, Museum Curator, University of Cambridge

12:00-12:20
Landscapes, soundscapes, and traditions of practice: The rock art of Hiregudda and Birappa rock shelter
Dave Robinson, PhD Student, University of Cambridge

12:30-1:30 LUNCH

SUNDAY 21 NOVEMBER
AFTERNOON Afternoon Session Chair: Michael Petraglia

VII. NEOLITHIC LANDSCAPES1:30-1:50
Producing landscapes: site types, site life histories and agricultural strategies
Dorian Fuller, Lecturer, UCL

2:00-2:20
Remaking the land: Landscape modification in the Southern Neolithic
Paul Masser, Archaeologist, Headland Archaeology

2:30-2:50
The ancient terraces of Hiregudda, Bellary District: Exploring agriculture and settlement in the Southern Neolithic
Helen Lewis, Research Fellow, University of Oxford

3-3:30 TEA BREAK
3:30
Discussant: K. Paddayya, Director, Deccan College

4:00
Discussant: Alasdair Whittle, Distinguished Research Professor, University of Cardiff

4:30-5:00
Open discussion


Discussants:
Bridget Allchin, Ancient India & Iran Trust, Cambridge
K. Paddayya, Deccan College, Pune
Alasdair Whittle, Department of Archaeology, University of Cardiff

Conference sponsered by the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the British Academy
and the Ancient India and Iran Trust

     


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