Scientific Studies of Our Past

Harappan Burial Sites in India: A Review Based On the Latest Anthropological Research Approaches

Astha Dibyopama1, Vasant Shinde1, Dong Hoon Shin2 and Nilesh P. Jadhav1

1Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, India
2Department of Anatomy, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University, Korea

Burial is one of the important evidence to know about our ancestors. Harappan civilization flourished mainly in northwestern province of Indian subcontinent, roughly from between 4000 to 1500 BCE. There are about more than fifty burial sites of the Harappa Civilization discovered so far most of them belonging to a period between 2500-1500 BCE. Lothal, Kalibangan, Rupar, Rakhigarhi, Farmana, Tarkhanwala Dera, Sanauli, Bedwa, Puthi Seman, Bhorgarh, etc. are major sites yielding the remains of Harappan burial. Until the early 1980’s, the study of human skeletal were primarily focused to answer specific questions pertaining to establishing the ethnic or r…

Existence of Megalithic Dolmen in Central India and Their Cultural Comparison with Other Asian Countries

Megaliths and Megalithism are world phenomenon known for the characteristic mode of burial construction and ritualistic offerings is found all over the South Asia and also different parts of the world but their architecture, cultural  associations and chronology differs. In South Asia, concentration of these burials have been found mainly in the countries like India, China, Korea and Japan. Bewildering typology of these burials also differs and divided into two broad categories as Sepulchral and Non-Sepulchral based on their external and internal characteristic feature. The Megalithic burial tradition or this Megalithism associated with different cultural epoch in different countries. In Europe Megalithism associated with the Neolithic Age whereas in Korea it has been find as part of Bronze Age Culture. Legacy of this ancient burial tradition is still continued amongst the native tr…

Presentation Slide

I made a speech at 
National Geographic Young Explorers Grants Seminar Seoul

● Venue: Room 101, Shinsegae Building at Ewha Womans University
● Date: Monday, May 23, 2016

15:55 Professional Grantee Presentation: Study of Rakhigarhi Site: People’s Life of Indus Valley Civilization by Dr. Dong Hoon Shin, Professor, Institute of Forensic Science at Seoul National University, NG grantee of Fall 2015

Aug 10, 2016 Age estimation in mummies













Aug 10, 2016 Host-parasite relationships and diseases: lessons from the past














Aug 11, 2016 Ancient Bodies: the interplay between ancient culture, spiritual beliefs and mummification















Aug 11, 2016 Mummies and Textiles