Y2 - Technical Talk 2

Details: 

Date: Friday, 27th June 2025

Time: 7.00 pm IST

Topic: Contemporary technology and ancient landscapes: The Laboratory for Integrated Archaeological Visualization and Heritage (LIAVH) work at MohenjoDaro

  

Guest Speakers: Uzma Z. Rizvi and Sara Eichner  

 

Abstract

With remote sensing, GIS, and mobile phone applications, archaeological field work has transformed. In this talk, I will outline the various contemporary technologies we are using to document the ancient site of MohenjoDaro. 

About the Speakers

Uzma Z. Rizvi 

  

Uzma Z. Rizvi is an anthropological archaeologist. She received a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Rizvi’s work intentionally interweaves archaeology with cultural criticism, philosophy, critical theory, art, and design. With two decades of work on decolonizing methodologies, intersectional and feminist strategies, and transdisciplinary approaches, her work has intentionally pushed disciplinary limits, and demanded ethical decolonial praxis at all levels of engagement, from teaching to research.

Rizvi is the Principal Investigator for the Laboratory for Integrated Archaeological Visualization and Heritage (LIAVH.org), an intentionally interdisciplinary, feminist, anticolonial, and antiracist space bringing together archaeological research with data management, visualization, and heritage practice. She is currently working with her team at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan.

Sara Eichner  

Sara Eichner is a designer and cartographer working at the intersection of data analysis and design. She specializes in creative visualization strategies that help clarify the complexities within data. Sara collaborates with a range of organizations, contributing geospatial analysis and research while designing the platforms, tools, and systems needed to communicate this work effectively.

She holds an MFA from Syracuse University and a GIS certificate from Pratt Institute. Since 2023, Sara has led data visualization for LIAVH. As part of this work, she joined the field team at Mohenjo Daro in 2023, where she taught a GIS workshop for archaeologists and contributed to geospatial data collection and analysis on site.
Sara has taught Spatial Thinking, GIS, and Design at Pratt Institute’s School of Information, as well as User-Centered Design for GIS at Pratt’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. 

Y2 - Technical Talk 1

Details: 

Date: Wednesday, 28th May 2025

Time: 7.15 pm

Topic: Digging Data: Computational Approaches in Archaeology Using R and Python 

Guest Speaker: Bhavna Ahlawat

Abstract

The talk explores how computational methods are crucial in archaeological research. Complex datasets can be analysed with ease with the help of automating workflows and visualizing spatial patterns. The talk will draw case studies from bioarchaeology, paleoproteomics, and ancient DNA, this session will showcase how even small fragments of data can yield powerful insights when paired with the right methods. Further, the session will discuss the negative impact of computational tools if handled with negligence. 

About the Speaker

 

Dr. Bhavna Ahlawat is a postdoctoral researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), where her current work focuses on paleoproteomics, particularly the application of Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) to faunal remains from archaeological sites across India. Her foundation in molecular biology and training in bioinformatics, brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of ancient biomolecules. She uses computational tools to extract meaningful patterns from fragmentary and complex datasets.

Y1 - Technical Talk 3

Details

Date - 26 Mar 2025
Time - 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm (talk + QnA)
Topic - Modeling Networks of the Past with Modern Approaches
Guest speaker - Ketika Garg (Postdoctoral researcher at Caltech) 

Abstract:

Archaeological data is incredibly diverse and spans vast spatial and temporal scales. Making sense of this complexity calls for methods that reveal broader patterns. Network science offers a powerful way to do this. In this talk, I’ll introduce network science and its role in archaeology. By modeling relationships—trade, cultural diffusion, or social ties—networks help us visualize hidden connections and track how ideas, goods, and technologies spread and develop over time, or how societies are organized.

 

I’ll share examples of studies applying this approach to deepen our understanding of the past, complementing traditional approaches. Finally, I’ll discuss both the strengths and limitations of network science and what it can reveal about our past.

About the Speaker

Dr Ketika Garg has completed her Phd in the area of Cognitive Science from University of California. She has been a student of IISER Mohali and has also collaborated with Dr Parth Chauhan. At present, she is a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech.

 

 

 

 

 

Y1 - Introduction Session

Introduction Session

 

Date - 23 Oct 2024

Time - 8 pm to 9 pm 

Topic - Introduction to CAA India Chapter

Hosted by - Pallavee Gokhale, Parth Chauhan, Sharada Channarayapatna

Y1 - Technical Talk 2

Details

Date - 28 Jan 2025

Time - 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm (1 hour talk + QnA)

Topic - Spatio-Temporal Methods in Archaeological Science: Challenges and Opportunities

Guest speakers - Prabhin Sukumaran, Charotar University of Science and Technology

Abstract:

The integration of geospatial methods into archaeology has witnessed remarkable advancements over nearly three decades, transforming the way researchers analyze and interpret patterns of human activity across space and time. This talk will focus to the methodologies employed in spatio-temporal analysis, including GIS and remote sensing, with a particular focus on insights gained from key archaeological sites and the untapped potential of studies within the Indian subcontinent. Key challenges such as data availability, resolution inconsistencies, and the complexities of multi-temporal dataset integration will be addressed, along with strategies to overcome these obstacles. Through case studies, the session will demonstrate how these methods can reconstruct paleoenvironments, trace cultural transitions, and assess the impact of modern development on archaeological heritage.

About the Speaker

Dr. Prabhin Sukumaran is an Assistant Professor at Dr. K.C. Patel Research and Development Centre, CHARUSAT, Gujarat, renowned for his interdisciplinary expertise in geology, archaeology, and paleoclimate studies. He is a recipient of prestigious fellowships such as the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship and the Indian National Science Academy Fellowship. Dr. Sukumaran serves as the Secretary of INQUA HABCOM (Human-Biosphere Commission) and is an active member of the Association of Quaternary Researchers (AOQR). He is also a lead member of the INQUA 2027 Congress Committee. An advocate for education and outreach, Dr. Sukumaran is dedicated to bridging science and society through innovative teaching methodologies and public engagement initiatives.