Y2 - Technical Talk 7

Details:

Date: Tuesday, 23rd December 2025

Time: 7.00 pm

Topic: Mapping the archaeological heritage of South Asia: Introducing the MAHSA project and its approach to the large-scale mapping and surveying of archaeological sites in the Indus River Basin

 

NOTE - Talk open to all!! 

Guest Speaker:  Cameron Petrie

Abstract

The Mapping Archaeological Heritage in South Asia (MAHSA) project is working alongside a range of stakeholders to document archaeological heritage in an online geospatial database platform using the open-source Arches software. The project aims to provide open access to as much archaeological data as possible, while also transforming the way heritage is managed at both local and national levels.

Pakistan and India each have a rich archaeological heritage, including their being the loci of early instances of ancient urbanism. 

With rapid expansion of modern urbanisation and agriculture in the sub-continent, archaeological heritage is often under acute threat. MAHSA has been working to bring together professionals involved in urban planning, agriculture, and heritage to explore current and future prospects for research, monitoring and collaboration within and between these areas of research and policy.

The talk will provide an overview to the MAHSA project and the challenges it faces in large-scale digital mapping and modelling of heritage data. It focusing on the various software and database applications that aid in creating an open-source database with the goal of making it understandable and reusable, in-line with FAIR data principles, while also following CARE data guidelines. 

About the Speaker

Cameron Petrie is Professor in South Asian and Iranian Archaeology at the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge. He has led several large-scale international research projects, most recently as Principal Investigator of the Mapping Archaeological Heritage in South Asia (MAHSA) project. His research primarily focuses on the investigation of ancient complex societies. He is particularly interested in the rise of complexity, the social and economic aspects of state formation, the impact that the growth of states and empires has on subjugated regions, and the relationships between humans and the environment. He has extensive field and research experience at archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic up to the medieval period in India, Pakistan and Iran.

Y2 - Technical Talk 6

Details: 

 

Date: Saturday, 1st November 2025
Time: 7.30 pm

Topic: Limitations of computer applications experienced during Architectural conservation projects

Guest Speaker:  Tejaswini Aphale and Rutuja Shitole

Abstract

The integration of digital technologies has revolutionised the field of architectural and structural conservation as well as archaeology, providing new methods for documentation, analysis, and heritage management. Tools such as LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, GIS, HBIM, and digital twins have enhanced the precision and accessibility of heritage data, supporting conservation planning, monitoring, and public engagement. Digital tools ranging from the simplest to those using AI and machine learning further extend these capabilities by automating feature detection, risk prediction, and material analysis. At the same time, sensor-based systems enable continuous structural and environmental monitoring.

Despite these advances, the field faces significant limitations, including high data volumes, interoperability challenges, skill gaps, ethical concerns, gaps between
academics and professionals, over-reliance on digital models and, most importantly, cost. The success of these technologies depends on interdisciplinary collaboration, adherence to data standards, and critical validation through physical inspection and contextual research.

By adopting best practices such as hybrid data capture, open-format documentation, and transparent metadata management, conservation professionals can ensure that digital tools serve as reliable extensions of traditional expertise. The future of heritage conservation indeed lies in integrated and ethically managed digital ecosystems; however, it is essential to remember that digital technology is a tool, not the foundation or ultimate goal.

About the Speaker

Tejaswini Aphale is a conservation architect, archaeologist, and architect with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, a postgraduate degree in Ancient Indian History and Archaeology and another postgraduate degree in Architectural Conservation from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. 

After completing her postgraduate studies, Tejaswini began her career working with esteemed conservation architects. Thereafter, her four years of experience with the Archaeological Survey of India in New Delhi marked a significant milestone in her professional journey. Equipped with the right academic credentials and valuable experience, she founded her practice, Tejaswini Aphale Associates (TAA). 

TAA is a collaborative practice that brings together like-minded professionals, including conservation architects, archaeologists, GIS experts, engineers, and infrastructure specialists, all focused on effective practices in cultural heritage conservation and management. Currently, TAA is involved in the conservation and site management of various heritage sites across Maharashtra, including the temple complexes at Pandharpur, Jejuri, and Tuljapur, as well as the forts of Udgir, Naldurg, Kandhar, and Rajgad. 

Associate Rutuja Shitole has experience in using digital techniques in architectural documentation. 

 

Y2 - Technical Talk 5

Details: 

Date: Saturday, 27th September 2025
Time: 7.30 pm

Topic: Use of D-Stretch and complimentary tools in Rock Art Studies.

 

Guest Speaker: Rajesh Poojari

Abstract

This study explores various image enhancements techniques for documentation and analysis of rock-art sites in India. A Nikon Coolpix AW130 camera and Samsung m30s mobile camera was extensively used for photo documentation and digital preservation.These images were later processed using ImageJ and D-Stretch softwares to enhance the panels and paintings, obtain comprehensive counts of individual paintings, and interpret superimposition patterns. A mobile version of D-Stretch software 'aD-Stretch' was used on-site for quick results and reference. This talk will explore basic methodology, results obtained, and their implications in the interpretation of these rock-arts in their archaeological contexts.

About the Speaker

Rajesh Poojari is an Art Conservator-Restorer and Archaeologist with over a decade of experience in heritage conservation, archaeological research, and material culture studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Archaeological Conservation from IISER Mohali and a postgraduate diploma in Built Heritage Studies & Conservation from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai.

His expertise includes the conservation of stone, metal, paintings and archaeological objects, along with rock art documentation, museology, and built heritage preservation. He has worked with institutions such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai, and was deputed internationally for the conservation of the Al Sabah Collection at Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait. He had been actively involved with Urjita Centre for Art Conservation and Heritage Management LLP, contributing to museum object conservation, heritage site work, and training initiatives. He has also conducted lectures and training sessions at the University of Mumbai, St. Xavier’s College, and other institutions across India.

As a researcher, he has published in Ancient Asia, Purakala, and the APAR Bulletin, with work focusing on rock art in Madhya Pradesh, ancient and medieval remains in Mumbai, and epigraphical studies from Maharashtra.

Y2 - Technical Talk 4

Details: 

Date: Friday, ​29th ​August 2025
Time: 7.15 pm

Topic: Remote Sensing Indices in Landscape Archaeology

  

Guest Speaker:​ Dr. Ekta Gupta

​Abstract

Remote sensing indices offer a powerful means of transforming raw spectral data into interpretable indicators of surface conditions, making them indispensable tools in archaeological research. By highlighting features such as vegetation cover, soil moisture, and water presence, these indices can reveal subtle traces of past human activity and landscape modification. This talk will introduce the theoretical foundations of remote sensing indices, explaining their spectral basis and relevance to archaeological prospection. It will explore computational workflows for deriving indices from satellite imagery, with a focus on modern cloud-based platforms that support dynamic analysis and visualisation. Through case studies, the talk will demonstrate how these methods contribute to site detection and cultural landscape analysis. By bridging theory, computation, and field application, the talk intends to demonstrate how remote sensing indices can enhance archaeological inquiry, offering scalable, accessible, and data-rich approaches for exploring the human past in the digital age.

About the Speaker

Ekta Gupta is a Juan de la Cierva Fellow at the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology, Spain. She did her PhD from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. Her research combines cartography, archaeology, geomorphology, remote sensing, and GIS to investigate cultural and natural landscape dynamics. Specialising in RS and GIS based archaeology, she focuses on ancient hydrological systems, palaeolandscapes, and hidden archaeological features. She has held a few prestigious fellowships, including the Juan de la Cierva, the Early Career Fellowship at IIT Gandhinagar, the NIAS PhD Fellowship, and the Nehru Trust UK Visiting Fellowship. She is also actively involved in teaching, training, and public outreach in geospatial archaeology.

Y2 - Technical Talk 3

Details: 

Date: Friday, 25th July 2025
Time: 7.15 pm

Topic: Decoding Spatial Configuration of Konkan Coastal Forts through Viewshed Analysis: Case of Fort Anjanvel, Dabhol 

  

Guest Speaker: Ar. Mrudula Mane, PhD Candidate, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.  

 

Abstract

The Konkan region has one of India's largest concentrations of forts (Ray, 2016). The region is part of the broader maritime landscape of the Indian Ocean Rim. Although the ocean has facilitated major cultural and technological exchanges throughout history, the deep-rooted effects of the exchanges are yet to be comprehended (Alpers, 2014). While the popular perception often portrays a fort as a standalone military monument, the triangulation of historical records, results from GIS analysis and architectural documentation of the archetypal case study of a coastal fort Anjanvel at port Dabhol reveals a different profile. A similar analysis of Fort Korlai in northern Konkan and Vijaydurg in southern Konkan supports the argument. 

The paper explores 'Viewshed Analysis' – a GIS-based tool to decode the spatial configuration of the coastal fort in context to the maritime and in-land movement patterns. Viewshed is a geographical area visible from the given location and elevation. Reciprocally, it is also the area from which the given location is visible (Rajani, 2021). The analysis demonstrates that the form of the forts in the Konkan region allows a degree of cohesiveness in guarding the coast, estuaries, navigable sections of the rivers, and the associated trade routes. Hence, establishes a correlation between transoceanic trade mechanisms, coastal and riverine movement patterns and the built form of the coastal forts. 

About the Speakers

Mrudula is a conservation architect from Mumbai and holds a Masters in Conservation of Historic Buildings from the University of York, UK. She is currently pursuing research on challenges in the conservation of forts, focusing on the coastal region of Maharashtra, India. She aims to explore how technological advancement can improve architectural interpretation and decision-making processes in conservation of built heritage sites situated in complex topographical conditions.