The path of human evolution has always been a topic of contentious discussion for researchers worldwide. Many theories were proposed to explain the phenomenon based on meagre physical evidences available. Interpretations about subsistence strategies of hominins and their descendents had to be derived from scanty biological remains which mostly consisted of random presence of teeth and fragments of cranial and post-cranial skeleton. Due to better preservation and good resistance to diagenesis, owing to tough enamel covering, teeth have been exploited the most in archaeological studies. Tooth wear analysis is a powerful tool to understand the diet and life processes of ancient people. This paper reviews technical and interpretative development in the use of tooth wear analysis as powerful means to assess changes in masticatory and non-masticatory use of teeth in the process of human evolution. Apart from determination of type and form of diet consumed, tooth wear analysis has been used to estimate masticatory load and its relation to cranio-facial development, age of weaning, use of teeth as a ‘third hand’. Though this method is widely adopted by researchers all over the globe, in the Indian archaeological context, such studies are few and far between. The potential of tooth wear analysis in Indian archaeological arena needs to be tapped for better understanding of ancient humans.

The site at Papamiya Ki Tekdi lies about 5 km north-east of the District headquarters Chandrapur on Ambe nullah (locally known as Jharpat nullah), the site has been reported by Archaeological Survey of India in 1960s, followed by subsequent explorations and one geo-archaeological excavation also. But unfortunately the site was forgotten by the Archaeological fraternity until recently when it came to light that larger portion of the site has been acquired to build a Government Medical College and Hospital in Chandrapur. Looking at the vulnerability of the site’s existence, the authors felt it important to take up an immediate survey to understand the extension and potentiality of the site for prehistoric studies.

Guwahati, identified with the ancient Pragjyotishapura, has been a major centre of cultural development in Assam since ages. The present day Guwahati is well known for the temple of Kamakhya, the early medieval sites like Pandunath, Vishnu-Janardhan in the southern bank; Umananda and Urvashi Islands in middle of the river and Dirgheswari, Daul Govinda, Kurma-Janardan, Aswaklanta, Rudreswar and Manikarneswar in the northern bank of Brahmaputra river. The famous archaeological site of Ambari in Guwahati has provided ample evidence for understanding the cultural growth of the area since the beginning of Common Era. Considering the archaeological and historical significance of Guwahati, a detailed documentation and in-depth study has been taken up by the authors in various areas of the city and this paper is an attempt to document the archaeological remains in the Rajaduar area in North Guwahati.

Beginning in late fourth millennium BC and continuing to the end of second millennium BC the material culture of the Neolithic period has been reported from several places in Kashmir in the past. However, more recently in a systematic survey of North West Kashmir six more sites from Baramulla District were added to the list. Systematically studying these new sites permitted some attempts to characterise settlement patterns during this period in the district, through understanding types of sites, landscape features, material culture and any evidence for interactions inside and outside Kashmir. Burzahom, Gufkral and Kanispora, (the key excavated sites of Kashmir), and several others thought to be Neolithic on the grounds of surface finds, have already provided some information about interactions during the Neolithic period in Kashmir with South Asia more closely with Pakistan. Through this paper, I aim to contextualise new interpretations in the broader region of South Asia and understand the level of interactions between Kashmir and Swat during Neolithic times. This is achieved by considering findings and results of the material culture from new sites in Baramulla as well as the previously known in the Kashmir region.

Recent archaeological investigations conducted in the tributaries of the Middle Mahanadi Valley region of Odisha have brought to light evidence for large-scale bead manufacturing workshop sites, i.e. Badmal Asurgarh and Bhutiapali belonging to the Early Historic period. Most interestingly, while the Badmal site is a fortified settlement, the latter site is an extensive open-air bead workshop site. Significantly, both the sites brought to light evidence for gemstone bead manufacturing activities during the Early Historic period. Preliminary studies and limited excavations conducted at both the sites appear to suggest their significant role in the Early Historic trade and exchange network in the Middle Mahanadi Valley riparian system and probably beyond. The present paper outlines the results of our preliminary archaeological investigation conducted at both the nature of sites.

Today, geoarchaeological studies have turned into a useful tool in archaeological studies to explain ancient Quaternary environments. This paper examines the impact of environmental and geological conditions on location of Late Bronze Age Shahrake Firouzeh settlement. Shahrake Firouzeh settlement is located northwest of Neyshabur County with an average altitude of 1250 meters above sea level and 36°12′48″N 58°47′45″E coordinates. At the same time, geological and sedimentation outcrops based on research method of systemic comparative analysis have been used to examine the impact of these conditions on location and/or destruction of this site. Evidence suggests the occurrence of a massive climatic catastrophe in the second millennium BC in Shahrake Firouzeh site, which buried the entire plain under alluvial deposits in a short period of time. These developments occurred concurrent with the establishment of the settlement and a short while after abandonment of it. Due to the vast area of Shahrake Firouzeh, lack of water extraction techniques of qanāt and deep well digging, the conveyance of water from Somea basin through canals can be deemed. Location of Shahrake Firouzeh on floodplain deposits as well as minimum distance from the watershed outlet due to water conveyance indicates the agricultural origin of this site.

Nowadays, the study of lithics has gained a special status in prehistoric archaeology and even archaeology of later periods. Shahrake Firouzeh is one of the most important prehistoric settlements ever detected in Neyshabur Plain in Khorasan Razavi Province. In general, based on the past excavation seasons, Shahrake Firouzeh site represents the Bronze Age and probably Iron Age cultures in the region and the bulk of cultural materials indicates a culture known as BMAC (Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex). This paper analyzes the typology of Shahrake Firouzeh lithics, which is a key typical site related to Late Bronze Age in Northeast of Iran. The collection of stone artifacts from Shahrake Firouzeh excavations includes 66 pieces. These tools have been recovered from nine trenches in different parts of the site during four excavation seasons, all of which belong to Late Bronze Age. The majority of lithics in this site are of debitage type. In addition to producing sickle blades bearing signs of sickle gloss, the main feature of this collection is production of arrowheads retouched in two sides. It should be noted that all the stone artifacts from Shahrake Firouzeh have been made from high quality chert stone in a color range of cream, honey, and transparent with semi-glossy surface. In general, the raw material used is of good quality, although it does not seem to have large dimensions. The raw material source is unknown, and thus no data can be presented on usage patterns of raw material.

For the last few decades a large number of microlithic sites have been reported in the Jira river valley. All these sites have yielded very rich stone tool antiquities. But these prehistoric lithic assemblages are found in different contexts and geographical locations. A number of open air sites are found in this region which can be categorized into four major types like Foot hill contexts, River Banks, Rocky knobs and Piedmont areas. Prehistoric settlements of all these contexts in this region vary from one to another in use of raw materials and technology. Recent explorations made by author in Jira valley have brought to light some Rocky knob sites in lower part of this valley. In this paper a preliminary study has been made to discuss the cultural antiquity reported from the Rocky Knob sites.

In this paper, the author argues that the lens of assimilation which is often used to understand cultural change within the Mising1 community in the Brahmaputra River Valley, Assam overlooks state developmental initiatives that attempt to pathologize and exploit the reproductive rights of tribal women. This paper specifically focuses on the ideas of menstrual pollution ascribed to the bodies of Mising women embedded in coercive menstrual management and family planning awareness campaigns. More broadly, the paper focuses on state discourses of purity and pollution that shapes the location of the Mising community outside Hindu caste hierarchies despite their adoption of Assamese Hindu religious and socio-economic practices.

Archaeoparasitology is a study to acquire data concerning the parasite infection of ancient people through the examination of the specimens obtained in the excavation sites. Although this research has achieved many successes worldwide, there has been few noteworthy reports from South Asia countries. In 2011 to 2016, we thus conducted parasite examinations on Indian archaeological specimens (n = 247) collected at excavation sites of Mature Harappan period (4600–3900 BP) and their contemporary rural Chalcolithic sites. To derive effective strategy of archaeoparasitological works in Indian Subcontinent, our data were analyzed together with previous clinical report on the soil transmitted helminth infection in the Indian Subcontinent. We propose that future paleoparasitological studies in India should be conducted more intensely on ancient specimens from the states of Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal etc.