The journal features research applying scientific and analytical techniques to archaeological materials, including spectroscopic analysis, radiocarbon dating, pollen morphology, and genetic studies of ancient and modern populations.

FT-IR Spectroscopy

Neolithic Pottery from Kashmir Valley (VOL-9-04)

Abdul Adil Paray’s pioneering FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopic analysis of Neolithic pottery from four sites: Gufkral, Hariparigam, Pethpuranteng, and Qasimbagh. The study determined:

  • Clay types, firing temperatures, and firing conditions
  • Four pottery categories: coarse grey-ware, burnished grey-ware, gritty dull red-ware, and fine grey-ware
  • Mineralogical composition and molecular fingerprint of each pottery type

Radiocarbon Dating

Carbon Dates of Copper Hoard Weapons (VOL-7-04)

Radiocarbon dating of copper hoard weapons from the Nigohi area, district Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, providing absolute chronology for the Copper Hoard culture.

Radiocarbon Dating Overview (VOL-2-02)

B. Sekar’s article on the principles and applications of radiocarbon dating in Indian archaeology.

Pollen Morphology

Caesalpinioideae (VOL-7-02)

Alka Srivastava’s study of pollen morphology of 15 species (8 genera) of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae, documenting size, shape, colpi, ora, and exine sculpturing. This aids Quaternary pollen analysis in similar floristic regions.

Mimosoideae (VOL-7-01)

Pollen key and morphological characters of plants in subfamily Mimosoideae.

Papilionoideae (VOL-6-04)

Identifying pollen characters of subfamily Papilionoideae under light microscopy.

Genetics and Population Studies

Y-Haplogroup of Different Castes of India (VOL-10-03)

Niraj Rai’s study presents the frequency distribution of Y-haplogroups across 31 caste/community groups from different regions of India, including Baiswar, Rajoria, Kumaoni Brahmin, Kumaoni Thakur, Banjara, Nadar, Yadava, and others. Demonstrates the complex mixing of different Y-haplogroups in the Indian population.

Haplogroups of 176 Castes and Ethnic Groups (VOL-10-04)

An expanded study covering 176 castes, tribes, and ethnic groups from across India, including 16 groups from Andhra Pradesh, 21 from Tamil Nadu, 15 from Uttar Pradesh, 16 from West Bengal, and others. Presented as pie charts showing Y-haplogroup percentages for each group.

Population History of Uttarakhand (VOL-9-03)

Reconstruction of population history using genetic and archaeological data by Vijay Kumar, Niraj Rai, and Dinesh Kumar Azad.

Optical Character Recognition

OCR for Historical Stone Inscriptions (VOL-7-03)

Gururaj Mukarambi’s study on applying Optical Character Recognition technology to Indian historical stone inscription images.