Delhi: Photography and Archaeology Exhibition

An exhibition starts tomorrow, 7th September, on 'The Marshall Albums: Photography and Archaeology'.

Sir John Marshall was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and this exhibition showcases his career and the use of photography at the beginning of organised archaeological work in India. Marshall, among other things, directed the excavations at Mohenjo-daro (now in Pakistan).

The exhibition is accompanied by a publication on the subject by Dr Sudeshna Guha (Cambridge University), available with a discount.

Where: Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam
205 Tansen Marg (Mandi House), New Delhi

When: 7th September 17:30 to 17th September 19:00

PhD Studentship at Cardiff University

There's currently a PhD Studentship available at Cardiff University, to study Gupta-period brick temple foundations. This is Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded, and open to UK and EU students.

Click on the link for more information

Brick Foundations: Ahichhatra and the Formation of Indian Sacred Architecture in the Gupta-Vakataka Age

The studentship begins 1 October 2010 and lasts three years.

Apply by June 11, 2010

The Indian Portrait, 1560-1860: Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery

There's an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London on three centuries of Indian portrait painting. As I'm travelling in India right now I haven't been to see it yet, but I will as soon as possible. It looks like it'll be a beautiful collection of medieval and traditional Indian portraits, and (according to the website) the first of its kind in England.

The exhibition ends on June 20th.
Admission is free.

SOAS Event

In London with an hour or so to spare? Pop into SOAS today for a talk on Mughal Gardens and Other Approaches to Landscape and Nature/

Abstract

The lecture takes a new view on the Mughal approach to landscape and nature. The foremost characterization of the Mughal garden is its strong architecturalization and it has been plausibly suggested that the Mughals saw in their strictly planned and consistently furnished chahar baghs a means to demonstrate the new order of Mughal rule in India. But it seems that the geometrical aspects of the Mughal garden have diverted our attention from another approach where no regular system is forced upon the landscape. The Mughal padshah claims nature as his own by making a permanent imprint on it with artistic means. It testifies to the extent of the engagement of the Mughals with India that they express themselves here largely in Indian terms.

Where: Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, Brunei Gallery
When: 6.30pm - 9.00pm

Magazine Thingy

I was asked to write a small piece a few months ago on Indian archaeology for an online magazine called Live Encounters. It's now been published in the March issue. It has some photos that I haven't put up here yet, and the subject matter is similar to what the blog deals with.

Here's the link in case you're interested:
http://liveencounters.net/?page_id=356

It's been edited a bit since I wrote it, which I'm a bit unsure about, but I guess that's how these things work.

Fieldwork: Haryana

I've been on a dig in Haryana for a couple of weeks, and will be here for another few, so there won't be many (any) posts until mid-April.

This is the project that I'm involved with. My PhD will be on the ceramics that we are currently excavating.

http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/rivers/

Hope everyone's enjoying the spring!

Trowel and Error: The Bronze Age (A Reinterpretation)

This is a sketch by a brilliant comedy duo called Mitchell and Webb (Big Foot and Red Beard), on the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, and how chronological periods give the impression that everyone woke up one morning and decided to switch to a different way of life. Of course, such changes are generally a very gradual social evolution.