The State Government has planned to start an interdisciplinary study in advanced archaeology. A high-level meeting for this purpose was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary BK Patnaik here on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of Culture & Tourism AKTripathy and scientists and professors from IIT, NISER, Utkal University and Archaeological Survey
of India. It was agreed that there is a strong need to have an interdisciplinary study centre for an advanced archaeology course in the State.
Enough scope for such a course is available in the State as it has over 3,000 ancient monuments, more than 30 excavated sites and more than a dozen ancient mounds. The State has the earliest epigraphical record in India as inscribed at the caves of Dhauli, Jaugada and Khandagiri.
It was deliberated at the meeting that advanced archaeology is a multidisciplinary science encompassing the subjects like civil engineering, chemistry, fine art, designing, geology, epigraphy, numismatics, exploration, excavation along with its traditional
segments like pre-history, proto-history and historical archaeology.
Nine institutions in New Delhi, Pune, lucknow, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Kanpur are running archaeology courses. This discipline involves extensive field works and serious interdisciplinary researches.
The Chief Secretary said, “We need to apply modern technology in restoration, conservation, preservation of our ancient monuments and cultural treasure. He advised the IIT, Bhubaneswar to start such an advanced course. He also asked all experts to pass on their suggestions to IIT Director, who was advised to form a core group of experts, stakeholders and practitioners.
The CS categorically advised the IIT to identify a person having passion and commitment for the subject to spearhead the entire process. The IIT was requested to design the course and identify qualitative people to teach and guide research projects.