Prehistory in India (An Old and Rare Book)

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In the early part of 1949, the Government of India, through its Department of Archaeology in New Delhi, and the Deccan College Postgraduate Research Institute, Poona, (with the aid of the Wadia and Tata Trusts) jointly organized an expedition in order to explore the possibilities of developing research in the prehistory of India. Scientifically, the expedition was intended to cover the twin fields of prehistory proper i.e., the science of man prior to the beginnings of the historic period, and of geochronology, i.e., that branch of geology which among other problems concerns itself with the climatic fluctuations and the dating of the more recent geological past. In practice, the expedition was intended both to carry out exploration and research, and at the same time to acquaint Indian scholars with modern methods of research and to train them in the field. The practical work was supplemented by numerous lectures, among which may be counted the four broadcast talks reproduced in this booklet. These were intended for the wide audience of those who are interested in the intellectual progress of India.

In presenting these talks in printed form, I am complying with many requests of friends who thought that their publication might help the cause of archaeology in general. Inevitably, the liveliness of the spoken word is lost but, to make up for it, the booklet has been enlivened visually by the addition of sixteen carefully selected illustrations which should give the reader unacquainted with the subject some idea of what the talks are about.

It might be worth while to reiterate that the talks were not prepared for the benefit of the expert. Hence they are very elementary in the treatment both of prehistory and geochronology. The original text of the broadcasts has been retained except for a few verbal improvements and some statements which, for the press, required more accurate formulation.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all the members of the staff of our expedition whose never failing comradeship was a source of real joy. In the short time of four months a great amount of work was done which would not have been possible without their unceasing willingness to work without break from dawn into the night, day after day. If the expedition has produced any scientific results, it is largely due to their co-operation.

I further wish to record my gratitude to Dr. S. M. KATRE, Director of the Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Poona for his part in the publication of this booklet, and also to the following gentlemen who very kindly supplied or gave permission to use certain illustrations: Dr. A. AIYAPPAN, Superintendent of the Government Museum, Madras; Dr. C VON FURER HAIMENDORF, Reader in Anthropology, University of London; Mr. V. D. KRISHNASWAMI, Superintendent of Archaeology, Southern Circle, Madras; Dr. R. NEUVILE, Consul General de France, Jerusalem, Palestine; Dr. H. D. SANKALIA, Professor of Proto-and Ancient History, Deccan College Research Institute, Poona; Dr. B. SUBBARAO, Baroda University and Professor R. E. M. WHEELER, University of London and late Director General of Archaeology in India.

Finally acknowledgments are due to the managers of All- India Radio for their kind permission to reproduce the talks.