Rono Hills, Aug 3: The three-day national seminar on “Rock Art - Archaeology of India: A Comparative Interpretation with Northeast India,” organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Adi Drishya Division, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and the Department of Anthropology, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), concluded on Saturday.
During the inaugural session, Prof. Saket Kushwaha announced the development of a new rock art museum, to be established in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology at RGU and the Adi Drishya Division at IGNCA. Keynote speaker Prof. Ravi Korisettar highlighted the importance of rock art in understanding human cognitive development. Dr. N.T. Rikam underscored the necessity for further research on Northeast India's rock art sites and proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Anthropology, IGNCA, and ICHR to foster academic cooperation.
The seminar focused on the historical and cultural significance of rock art and archaeological findings in India, with particular emphasis on Northeast India. The discussions covered early archaeological efforts by pioneers such as Alexander Cunningham and Robert Bruce Foote and examined the cultural connections between Northeast India and Southeast Asia, including the Hoabinhian culture. The event showcased rock art discoveries across Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Manipur, and highlighted ongoing traditions of rock and wood engraving among indigenous groups. Comparative studies of rock art in Northeast India and other regions, as well as themes on prehistoric and archaeological cultures, were also explored.
The seminar featured four technical sessions with 16 papers presented by scholars from across India. At the valedictory program, Dr. Ramakar Pant emphasized the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to rock art studies and advocated for future workshops on rock art in Northeast India.
Dr. Vinod Kumar, Assistant Director at ICHR, commended the successful organization of the seminar and its impactful presentations. Dr. Nitin Kumar summarized the event, calling for more seminars to further explore the scope of rock art in Northeast India and to integrate rock art into academic disciplines. He also supported the idea of hosting similar events in diverse locations to promote learning about rock art and archaeology.
Prof. Sarit K. Chaudhuri, the Chairperson of the seminar, reflected on his past involvement with rock art research, particularly at the IGRMS in Bhopal and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bhimbetka. He stressed the significance of such seminars and workshops in supporting emerging scholars and welcomed the proposal for a rock art museum at RGU.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List