Excavating in a Cave, Cist and Church

Contents: Preface. I. Excavations in Kachgad cave: 1. Introduction. 2. Digging in the shadow of insurgents. 3. Geology and environment. 4. The caves. 5. The excavation. 6. Discussion. 7. Megaliths--the emerging pattern. 8. The northern neolithic. II. Excavations at Ladyura: 1. Introductory. 2. The site and its environs. 3. The cists. 4. The finds. 5. Dating. 6. General observations. 7. Himalaya--interface of homo-sapiens and their hominid predecessors. III. Exposing and conserving a world heritage monument: 1. Introduction. 2. Church and convent of the Augustinians. Bibliography. Index.

"The book is three in one. It deals with the excavation reports of sites excavated by the author ranging from prehistoric times to almost modern. Beginning with the excavations in a cave in Maharashtra, to Megalithic cist burials in Uttaranchal and ending with the excavation and conservation of a church built by the Augustinian Frairs in Goa. It shows as how the friction between the two sects belonging to the same religion could lead to destruction of their own place of worship.

The results of the excavation in the cave show that right from the middle stone age to Gond period, there was continuity, nullifying the view that for different cultures different waves of people are responsible. It is all indigenous and slow evolution.

In this book the author has also summarised the northern neolithic and evolution of Megalithic culture in India. He has given interesting details as to how he and his team could work without any fear and hindrance in insurgent infected areas of Manipur, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh without any security cover from government agencies. The vivid description makes a thrilling reading." (jacket)