Papers by Vinay Kumar Gupta
Man and Environment, 2025
The Jaipur Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India undertook excavations at the archaeologic... more The Jaipur Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India undertook excavations at the archaeological mound at Bewan. This mound, located almost midway between Ganeshwar and Jodhpura, holds spanning multiple periods, beginning with the OCP-Ganeshwar period, followed by the BRW-PGW period, and extending through the early historical period up to medieval times. The present paper and assessing its implications for established interpretations concerning the OCP in the Doab and Sikar regions.
Vestigia Indica, 2026
The excavations at Bahaj near Govardhan in Mathura region have been quite rewarding archaeologica... more The excavations at Bahaj near Govardhan in Mathura region have been quite rewarding archaeologically. The site has provided a brilliant information of early Indian numismatics and palaeography. For numismatic studies, the site has provided a significant number of coins which include silver punch-marked, copper punch-marked and uninscribed copper cast coins that have been found in the lowest deposits of the site taking back the antiquity of coinage in India to somewhat seventh-eighth century BCE. The coinage which is found with the deposit of succeeding periods is again very significant and throws new light on the pre-existing knowledge about their chronology and understanding.
Vestigia Indica, 2026
Excavations at Bahaj in the Deeg region of Rajasthan have revealed thirty-nine seals and sealings... more Excavations at Bahaj in the Deeg region of Rajasthan have revealed thirty-nine seals and sealings spanning from the Painted Grey Ware phase to the Kushan period. The earliest examples, from PGW levels, contain pre-Mauryan Brahmi characters, indicating that the Brahmi script was in use before the Mauryan empire and likely developed indigenously. A unique jasper seal with nine religious symbols demonstrates continuity with Harappan artistic traditions, while later examples record names, symbols, and deities linked to Sanatana dharma. One sealing bears both Brahmi and Kharoshthi inscriptions-the second such instance known from the subcontinent. The Bahaj corpus refines the palaeographic sequence of northern India and clarifies the cultural and religious milieu of the early historic Braj region up to the fourth century CE.
VESTIGIA INDICA: BSSS JOURNAL OF HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY, , 2025, 2026
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Harappan civilisation, from its early develop... more This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Harappan civilisation, from its early development to its mature and late phases, with a particular focus on the 2021-22 excavation season at Rakhigarhi Mound No. 3 (RGR 3). The study contextualizes the Harappan culture's urbanism, material culture, and mortuary practices, highlighting recent debates surrounding its indigenous origins and the continuity of cultural traditions. Excavations at RGR 3 yielded architectural remains of mud and burnt brick structures, child and adult burials, artefacts including steatite and carnelian beads, terracotta figurines, a gold fragment, and a steatite seal. These findings contribute to understanding Harappan construction techniques, burial stratigraphy, and socioeconomic activities. AMS dating situates the occupational deposits within the late Mature Harappan to Late Harappan phases (c. 2000-1800 BCE). Stratigraphic relationships and ceramic assemblages further support these chronological conclusions. The study reaffirms Rakhigarhi's status as a major Harappan urban centre and underscores the need for further systematic excavation to clarify cultural transitions, regional variations, and site chronology.
Heritage, 2022
This paper discusses the important finding of a late medieval temple from village Thora in Gautam... more This paper discusses the important finding of a late medieval temple from village Thora in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. The finding is more important because the village lies quite close to the upcoming Noida International Airport and the temple has some unique paintings on its ceiling and walls. The temple originally seems to have been dedicated to Lord Krishna and has beautiful sculptures of various avataras of Lord Vishnu. The ceiling has a beautiful depiction of maharasa event and some other episodes which are hitherto unknown in the pictorial art of Braj region and even in the paintings of Rajasthan which form a great school of miniature and mural paintings.
Heritage No. 10, 2025
The paper discusses the finding of four cupules sites in the vicinity of Ghusmesvara Jyotirlinga,... more The paper discusses the finding of four cupules sites in the vicinity of Ghusmesvara Jyotirlinga, Shiwad. The finding near a Saivite pilgrimage adds a new dimension to the study of activities of palaelolithic men. The context and location of findings along with associated material from two of the sites add to the existing knowledge related to cupules studies.
Heritage, 2023
The paper examines the Ancient Monuments Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 with Amendment... more The paper examines the Ancient Monuments Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 with Amendment of 2010 and the monuments and sites of Mathura and Hathras districts.
ASITAYANA- C. Mani Commemoration Volume, Editors Kapila Vatsyayan, Ravindra Kumar, C.B. Patil , 2020
Ganesa is one of the most popular gods of the Sanatana dharma. This paper describes few important... more Ganesa is one of the most popular gods of the Sanatana dharma. This paper describes few important early Ganesa depictions as found from the region of Mathura (Braj).
VESTIGIA INDICA: BSSS JOURNAL OF HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY, , 2024
This paper tries to solve the riddle of an early ninth century temple located at Talavriksha, Dis... more This paper tries to solve the riddle of an early ninth century temple located at Talavriksha, District Alwar. The temple housing a Sivalingam inside the garbhagriha has figures of Varaha, Nrisimha and Trivikrama in the central rathikas of the walls and the placement of the guardian deities does not follow scriptures. The locale of the temple is also important due to its association with the Mahabharata and the presence of other important shrines.
A correction: Pl. 10 may be identified as Vayu in stead of Isana as rightly pointed out by Dr Kirit Mankodi. Vayu seemingly holds a banner in his right hand (previously identified as a sula) and his vehicle seems to be an antelope (previously identified as a bull).
VESTIGIA INDICA: BSSS JOURNAL OF HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY, 2024
This paper investigates the Narayani Mata Temple, focusing on the Ashta Dikpalas (eight guardian ... more This paper investigates the Narayani Mata Temple, focusing on the Ashta Dikpalas (eight guardian deities) to illuminate the temple's historical and cultural significance within Rajasthan's early medieval period, circa 800 CE. Located near Alwar and the Sariska Tiger Reserve, this site, despite its modern facelift, harbours an ancient core that reveals a rich tapestry of religious practices and architectural innovation. Through architectural and iconographic analysis, this study deciphers the temple's dedication to Narayani, a deity entwined between Narayana and Siva, challenging traditional religious narratives. The presence of the Ashta Dikpalas and Siva parivara deities underscores this temple's role in the evolution of imagery on temples. By examining the temple's sculptural and architectural elements, this research contributes to understanding the evolution of temple architecture and iconography in Rajasthan, offering new insights into the socio-cultural fabric of the region.
VESTIGIA INDICA: BSSS Journal of History & Archaeology (VIBJHS), 2023
This paper is an attempt to study Vṛṣṇi tradition in a holistic manner. The author has already w... more This paper is an attempt to study Vṛṣṇi tradition in a holistic manner. The author has already worked on the tradition in his previously published article "Vṛṣṇis in Ancient Art and Literature". This article adds to the already published work with three new important findings. The most important finding is the rock painting from Naldah, District Bundi which the author has identified as Pañca-Vṛṣṇi Vīras, the other is important finding of this tradition from Pasopa, District Bharatpur and the last is the newly found Vṛṣṇi triad from Berenike, Egypt which has been recently published online by Shailen Bhandare. This article also combines the information on Vṛṣṇi tradition in south India which the author had published in a joint paper with Late Mrs. (Dr.) Haripriya Rangarajan. Another aspect which I would like to add is the identification of the object which seemed to be held in the hand of Ekanamsa in the Tikla rock painting. In stead of a canopy, it actually seems to be a pathway (as suggested by my student Ms. Vishakha Gupta) that possibly leads to a shrine which is semi-circular in shape and somewhat looks like a rock shelter with an arched gateway.
Puratattva, 2021
Jewar has been in news due to an international airport coming up there. But prior to that, Jewar ... more Jewar has been in news due to an international airport coming up there. But prior to that, Jewar in District Gautam Buddha Nagar and nearby town Tappal in District Aligarh of Uttar Pradesh were known as important towns of the region. The area along river Yamuna in a strip of about 20 km toward its left bank from Nohjhil town in District Mathura to Tappal and Jewar was taken up for explorations to understand the nature of sites and the archaeological cultures. The Yamuna Expressway connecting Noida and Agra has already affected the landscape of the area and the upcoming international airport may bring out some categorical changes in overall socioeconomic and cultural landscape of the area. The results of the exploration have been quite rewarding as about fifty archaeological sites came to notice, the earliest chronology going back to the Painted Grey Ware cultural period and some new settlements coming up during the early centuries of the Common Era.
Heritage 8.1, 2020
Vrindavan town near Mathura is one of the most sacred places in India and can be considered the e... more Vrindavan town near Mathura is one of the most sacred places in India and can be considered the epicenter of bhakti cult. In spite of its fame, not much is known about the archaeological antiquity of the town and generally it is believed that the town became a prominent centre of Krishna bhakti only during the medieval period and that too after the arrival of Vallabhacharya and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Besides the Krishna cult, two shrines of deep antiquity and high reverence are Katyayani temple (a saktipitha) and Gopesvara temple (a Saiva shrine) but unfortunately no ancient remains are available at these shrines due to modern constructions. During the sixteenth century, seven of the important shrines (saptadevalaya) came into existence but at least two of these-Madanmohan and Govindadev were already centers of high reverence and only big temple structures were provided to these two already existing shrines. This paper emphasizes the importance of Vrindavan as one of the most prominent Hindu centers much before the arrival of Vallabha and Chaitanya by analyzing all the archaeological findings from the town.
Heritage 8.2, 2020
Mathura is one of the most important ancient cities of India. There are many places and towns whi... more Mathura is one of the most important ancient cities of India. There are many places and towns which were flourishing within the territory of Mathura as well as in the nearby areas. The sources for few of these place names are literary references in Jaina, Buddhist and Brahmanical literature as well as various epigraphs which have been obtained from Mathura. This paper looks into such place names and tries to identify them with modern place names on the basis of archaeological explorations in the area surrounding Mathura.
History Today No. 21, 2020
Two important sites Birjapur and Narhauli situated close to ancient city of Mathura are studied i... more Two important sites Birjapur and Narhauli situated close to ancient city of Mathura are studied in details bringing out some new information and changing some older hypotheses. Pdf of the submitted paper is enclosed here as the published paper has developed some mistakes.
Oxford Bibliographies on Hinduism, 2021
A complete bibliography on ancient Mathura.
Oxford Bibliography, 2021
This is a detailed bibliography article on Vraja/ Braj, the region around Mathura. This is a 31 p... more This is a detailed bibliography article on Vraja/ Braj, the region around Mathura. This is a 31 page article and the full article is available on the website of oxford bibliography - hinduism.
History Today 20 Journal of Indian History and Culture Society, 2019
The paper discusses Varāha in Early Art with emphasis on a recently discovered Yajña Varāha Templ... more The paper discusses Varāha in Early Art with emphasis on a recently discovered Yajña Varāha Temple in Central India. It has been revised a bit in November 2025 to include a new Varāha image from Mathura. The dating of the new Yajña Varāha Temple image has also been revised to seventh-eighth century CE. The dating of most of the temple remains is also revised to circa tenth century CE based on my newly acquired knowledge in Rajasthan, though few temple remains may date back to the late seventh or eighth century CE too.
Heritage, 2019
Banaskantha district of Gujarat state presents exciting possibilities in terms of archaeological ... more Banaskantha district of Gujarat state presents exciting possibilities in terms of archaeological findings. Being situated between the Rann of Kachchh to the west having a number of important Harappan settlements and Mewar region to the northeast with significant settlements belonging to Ahar (Banas) culture, the region seems very important. To the north and south of the district, there are a number of important historic settlements too. With a view to tap the archaeological potential of the area as part of village to village survey, a small part of Banaskantha district, particularly the area lying to the south of Deesa town and the area surrounding Balaram river to the north of Palanpur was explored. The explorations confirmed the presence of microliths associated with pre-pottery Mesolithic culture in the area bordering Abu region and the presence of a number of medieval (Solanki period) settlements in the entire area. The absence of chalcolithic and early historic settlements in the explored area is bit enigmatic.
Heritage, 2019
In the entire Braj region, the area surrounding Fatehpur Sikri presents a unique archaeological s... more In the entire Braj region, the area surrounding Fatehpur Sikri presents a unique archaeological scenario. The Fatehpur Sikri hill in spite of having as early cultural sequence as OCP culture is most famous for the medieval city, the only site with such an elaborate settlement of old town. The Fatehpur Sikri ridge alignment is running from near Khanua in the west up to Santha in the east in an almost straight alignment. Almost parallel to it is another ridge alignment which starts from near Jajauli in the west up to Churyari in the east. This latter ridge alignment is smaller in size and is not as regular as the former. In between the two ridges, there was a huge depression which served as a lake during the ancient times. This lake got water supplied from small rivulet Khari Nadi which later joins Utangan/ Gambhiri (a river of Chambal-Yamuna system). This lake and the hills attracted early men since the prehistoric times. During the Mesolithic period, the area provided better pastures for hunting and the rock caves easy shelters. Due to this, men used the caves at Jajauli, Bandrauli, Patsal, Madanpura, Rasulpur and Churyari as shelters during the Mesolithic period. The study of these painted rock shelters is surely going to add a new dimension to the archaeology of the entire region.
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Papers by Vinay Kumar Gupta
A correction: Pl. 10 may be identified as Vayu in stead of Isana as rightly pointed out by Dr Kirit Mankodi. Vayu seemingly holds a banner in his right hand (previously identified as a sula) and his vehicle seems to be an antelope (previously identified as a bull).