This comprehensive and absorbing book traces the cultural history of Southeast Asia from prehistoric (especially Neolithic, Bronze-Iron age) times through to the major Hindu and Buddhist civilizations, to around AD 1300. Southeast Asia has recently attracted archaeological attention as the locus for the first recorded sea crossings; as the region of origin for the Austronesian population dispersal across the Pacific from Neolithic times; as an arena for the development of archaeologically-rich Neolithic, and metal using communities, especially in Thailand and Vietnam, and as the backdrop for several unique and strikingly monumental Indic civilizations, such as the Khmer civilization centred around Angkor. Southeast Asia is invaluable to anyone interested in the full history of the region.

This book offers a critical synthesis of the archaeology of South Asia from the Neolithic period (c.6500 BCE), when domestication began, to the spread of Buddhism accompanying the Mauryan Emperor Asoka's reign (third century BCE). The authors examine the growth and character of the Indus civilisation, with its town planning, sophisticated drainage systems, vast cities and international trade. They also consider the strong cultural links between the Indus civilisation and the second, later period of South Asian urbanism which began in the first millennium BCE and developed through the early first millennium CE. In addition to examining the evidence for emerging urban complexity, this book gives equal weight to interactions between rural and urban communities across South Asia and considers the critical roles played by rural areas in social and economic development. The authors explore how narratives of continuity and transformation have been formulated in analyses of South Asia's Prehistoric and Early Historic archaeological record.

This is the third volume of a much larger project, Ancient Pakistan - An Archaeological History, which deals with the prehistory of Pakistan from the Stone Age to the end of the Harappan Civilization ca. 1500 BC. This particular volume, Harappan Civilization - The Material Culture, deals with the entire gambit of the urban phase of the Indus Civilization, from its beginning to its decay and the ultimate end. The books covers such topics as the origins, settlement pattern, subsistence economy, architecture, town planning, Indus seals, arts and crafts, metallurgy, decay, and the post-Harappan cultural landscape. Every chapter is profusely illustrated with colored sketches and colored photographs. An extensive bibliography is also provided.

Volume I: Archaeology covers various aspects of archaeological sites research carried out Worldwide. It contains 53 articles contributed by reputed archaeologists and covers topics on Prehistory, Rock-art, Indus Valley, Iron Age, Early history, Early medieval history, Ethno-archaeology, Palaeo-Botonical studies and Museology in India and Southeast Asia.This book serves as a valuable source book for students, research scholars and teachers in Archaeology, Ethno-archaeology, History and Museology who want to known about the evolution of mankind in different perspectives. This volume also highlights the love and affection of Prof. P. Chenna Reddy enjoys in the intellectual world. The felicitation Volume is brought out in a series of 12 independent books covering a total of 460 articles. Every volume contains two sections. The first section contains the biographical sketch of Prof. P. Chenna Reddy, his achievements and contribution to archaeology, history and Society. The second section of each volume is subject specific, E.g., Volume-I on Archaeology, Volume II on Early and Medieval Indian History, Volume III on Modern Indian History, Volume IV on Epigraphy and Numismatics, Volume V on Art, Volume VI on Architecture, Volume VII on Religion and Philosophy, Volume VIII on Economy, Trade and Commerce, Volume IX on Literature, Volume X Tribalore and Folklore, Volume XI Contemporary India and Diaspora, Volume XII, Tourism and contains as many as 460 articles.

The study of ancient metals in their social and cultural contexts has been a topic of considerable interest in archaeology and ancient history for decades, partly due to the modern dependence on technology and man-made materials. The formal study of Archaeometallurgy began in the 1970s-1980s, and has seen a recent growth in techniques, data, and theoretical movements. This comprehensive sourcebook on Archaeometallurgy provides an overview of earlier research as well as a review of modern techniques, written in an approachable way. Covering an extensive range of archaeological time-periods and regions, this volume will be a valuable resource for those studying archaeology worldwide. It provides a clear, straightforward look at the available methodologies, including: • Smelting processes • Slag analysis • Technical Ceramics • Archaeology of Mining and Field Survey • Ethnoarchaeology • Chemical Analysis and Provenance Studies • Conservation Studies With chapters focused on most geographic regions of Archaeometallurgical inquiry, researchers will find practical applications for metallurgical techniques in any area of their study. Ben Roberts is a specialist in the early metallurgy and later prehistoric archaeology of Europe. He was the Curator of the European Copper and Bronze Age collections at the British Museum between 2007 and 2012 and is now a Lecturer in Prehistoric Europe in the Departm ent of Archaeology at the Durham University, UK. Chris Thornton is a specialist in the ancient metallurgy of the Middle East, combining anthropological theory with archaeometrical analysis to understand the development and diffusion of metallurgical technologies throughout Eurasia. He is currently a Consulting Scholar of the University of Pennsylvania Museum, where he received his PhD in 2009, and the Lead Program Officer of research grants at the National Geographic Society.

India's history and culture is ancient and dynamic, spanning back to the beginning of human civilization. Beginning with a mysterious culture along the Indus River and in farming communities in the southern lands of India, the history of India is punctuated by constant integration with migrating peoples and with the diverse cultures that surround the country. Placed in the center of Asia, history in India is a crossroads of cultures from China to Europe, as well as the most significant Asian connection with the cultures of Africa. The Historical Dictionary of Ancient India provides information ranging from the earliest Paleolithic cultures in the Indian subcontinent to 1000 CE. The ancient history of this country is related in this book through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on rulers, bureaucrats, ancient societies, religion, gods, and philosophical ideas.