Name: Abhay Mehta

Roll No.: 413

UID: 201460
E-mail: abhay.mehta4@xaviers.edu.in

The Warriors of Sinauli

The Warriors of Sinauli is a documentary film about the excavations

in Sinauli where archaeologists have found ground breaking evidence of an
advanced chalcolithic culture. The film begins with narrator Mini Menon at
the excavation site that dates back to 2000 BCE where the famous Sinauli
chariots were found. Evidence in Sinauli indicates extensive use of copper
and the existence of an advanced culture contemporary to the Harappan
civilization. Fresh evidence also points to the existence of a large urban set
up where women were powerful and fought alongside men. Next, Disha
Ahluwalia shows us an interesting female skeleton that was missing its feet.
This was probably due to an afterlife ritual that seems to be common in
contemporary chalcolithic sites. Other intriguing aspects of the skeleton
include an amulet tied around the arm, a miniature antenna sword found
next to the head and bows found around the burial site suggesting that
women were a part of the warrior class. Excavations started in 2005 when
farmers discovered copper objects while sowing in the field. Over 125
burials have been excavated since then indicating that it was a large
necropolis. A recent big discovery was that of a chariot heavily inlaid with
copper work accompanied by a yolk, helmet and shield. The significance of
the chariot is explained by Dr. Sanjay Manjul, director of the Sinauli
excavation. It is believed to be a war chariot due its relatively smaller size
and a leather whip present is indicative of it being drawn by a horse. The
helmet found with the chariot is said to be one of the oldest in the world.
The area of Sinuali situated in the upper Ganga- Yamuna doab was an
important theatre of activity and is thus rich in archaeological sites.

Other items found during further excavations include burials of the

elite class, kilns and furnaces, antenna swords and burial goods such as
pots and mirrors. Dr. Manjul claims that India had the finest weapons in the
world in the contemporary period. The people of Sinauli have been
identified as part of the larger OCP (Ochre Coloured Pottery) culture used
by people in around 2000 BCE in the Indo Gangetic plain. This culture was
followed by the PGW (Painted Grey Ware) culture that was famously linked
to the Middle Vedic Period by archaeologist D.B. Lal. Based on his studies of
the sites mentioned in the Mahabharata such as Hastinapura, Mathura and
Kurukshetra, the battle that inspired the epic was estimated to have taken
place somewhere between 1200 - 900 BCE. However, the finds in Sinauli
and the layer of OCP found under the PGW sites have forced a rethinking of
these assumptions. The clear evidence of weaponry and urban set up in
Sinauli indicates that it may be part of the period of the great war. A lot
more research and studies need to be conducted however it is possible that
the warriors of Sinauli were contemporaries of the heroes that inspired the
epic war of the Mahabharata.

Libya’s Forbidden Deserts

Libya’s forbidden deserts is a documentary film created, presented

and co-produced by David Adams. The film is engrossing enough to make
its hour long runtime feel like a couple of minutes. The film begins with
cinematic shots of the Sahara desert accompanied by a voice over by David
Adams who introduces us to Libya, a country that is 90% desert but has the
longest mediterranean coastline. We follow David as he arrives at Leptis
Magna, the best preserved Roman city in the world located on the shores of
the mediterranean. The city became rich by trading in slaves, ivory, gold
and wild animals. We get a glimpse of its colossal gladiator and chariot
arenas after which David travels to his next stop, the city of Tripoli. We
learn that the Libyans love horse racing however there is no betting as they
are bound by Islamic law that prohibits gambling. Contrary to stereotypes,
the city of Tripoli is vibrant and modern although murals and posters of the
infamous Gadaffi were found everywhere. David meets his Arabic translator
Nejad who he finds to be modern and educated. She is allowed to meet him
freely in the city however she must take her parents permission before
travelling into the desert as Libya is still a very conservative place. On her
parents' instruction, Nagi, Nejad’s brother accompanies them as her
chaperone as they follow the chariot tracks that lead to the town of
Ghadames, located on the edge of the Sahara. On the way, they stop at the
abandoned Berber village of Cabao where they see the elaborate
warehouses where the great traders of the north african coast stored
perishable produce.

Soon they reach Gadames, which was built to cope with the
environment; the houses were designed for climate control due to the
extreme temperatures. The women spent most of their time on the rooftops
where the men weren’t allowed. We are introduced to the Tuareg tribe who
controlled the north african slave trade. Something that blew my mind was
the fact that Blues music originated here and was taken to America by the
slaves that the Tuareg sold. Anyone who travels further south of Ghadames
has to enter their territory and on their terms. Next, they travel to the oasis
of Gabron where they witness a traditional wedding. I was surprised to
learn that the Tuareg were a matrilineal society where hereditary rights
were passed to the first born daughter. They make their way to Libya’s
desert atlantis Garama with the help of a desert guide. At the oasis of Saba
they see one of the largest camel markets of the world with more than
25000 camels at any point in time. David meets archaeologist Dr. Mattingly
at Garama who is proving the ancient texts that describe the Garamantes as
backward and nomadic, wrong. Excavations in the area have found a 3000
mile network of irrigation canals indicative of an agricultural society. In
search of evidence of the chariots having gotten even further into the
desert, David explores the rock art on the walls of the Akakus mountains,
his final stop. The Akakus range is a maze of high walled interconnecting
valleys and blind canyons where many have lost their way and perished.
The cave art is believed to be between 6000-8000 years old and gives us an
insight into the lifestyles of the ancient societies. Eventually, David’s search
is fruitful as he finds paintings of chariots dating back to 2500 years which
is centuries before the Romans came to Libya.

Marine Archaeology
 On the fifth episode of The classroom under the sea, host Jessica Fain
interviews Corey Malcolm, director of archaeology at the Mel Fisher
Maritime museum and Timmy Gambin, from the University of Malta. Corey
says that shipwrecks are sometimes found purposefully or just stumbled
upon. The Florida keys, where Corey and his team do most of their work,
have a variety of shipwrecks with the 1622 Spanish Galleons making up
most of their collection. They are currently working on excavating a pirate
ship rumoured to be The Guerrero that wrecked in 1827. Next, we learn
about the mapping process of a shipwreck: they take measurements and
take several pictures and videos to aid their research. The use of 3D
mapping and photogrammetry has significantly improved the mapping
process. Artifacts found during excavations include the ship's cargo, hull
and other everyday items such as clothing, tools, crockery, etc that provide
insights into the lives of the sailors. Jessica then proceeds to ask Timmy
who researches plane crash sites underwater what underwater aviation
archaeology in Malta is like. Malta was once a British colony due to which it
has a long aviation history with seaplanes arriving as early as 1920 in the
state. Each crash site varies, differing in states of preservation depending
on whether they’ve been looted or if natural processes such as decaying
and growth of vegetation have occurred. Most planes have identity tags
with which they can trace the history of the plane and pilot which proves to
be very useful for research.

One of the many problems involving maritime archeology are the

many state laws that they have to work around while excavating
shipwrecks. Getting the required permits for excavations can be a long
drawn out process. Shipwrecks and plane wrecks often become artificial
reefs making them a breeding ground for endangered corals, seagrass and
sea life which is important for biodiversity. This highly restricts the
archaeologists’ access to the wreckage causing them to explore only the bits
and pieces that are available. Both Corey and Timmy stressed on the
dangers of picking up artifacts from wreckage sites without the proper
procedure and expertise required for their preservation.
Over the years, artifacts change both chemically and physically to adapt to
the environment under water. When brought back to the surface, the
artifact must go through a series of procedures conducted by experts for its
conservation. Both Timmy and Corey stressed on the importance of
educating people about the risks posed to underwater artifacts if they are
not dealt with appropriately. With the advent of new technology such as
SONAR, AUV and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV), it has become easier to
locate shipwrecks however they are very expensive and securing funds is a
huge task for marine archeologists. Some archeologists are also technical
divers however these dives can be extremely time consuming and
complicated due water pressure. Timmy spoke about one of his more
perplexing finds - numerous carved dice that the sailors used for gambling.
Some of Corey’s interesting finds include fossils of insects from centuries
ago and underwater prehistoric sites that can be dated to over 8000 years
ago. Shipwrecks are like a time capsule, a moment frozen in time that gives
us a pure insight into the lives of the people of the past and what they
valued.

Conclusion

This assignment did not feel like a task in the slightest. All three
documentaries were engaging, thought provoking and insightful. What I
loved most about these films was that they were both informative and
sparked my curiosity; it answered so many questions but left me with a
dozen more. As someone who has always been enamoured by stories of the
Mahabharata and the wonders of ancient indian culture, The Warriors of
Sinauli was a thoroughly enjoyable film. It leads me to wonder as to how
many secrets of our rich culture are waiting to be unearthed. The second
film I watched, Libya’s Foreign Deserts felt like something out of Indiana
Jones. It changed my perception of the country and constantly had me on
the edge of my seat. Marine Archeology by The Classroom Under the Sea
was a joy to watch. Both Timmy Gambin and Corey Malcom were
distinguished experts in their respective fields and provided insights into
the fascinating world of shipwrecks, plane crash sites and underwater
treasures. These films have made me realise just how interesting the world
of archaeology is and I cannot wait to explore more of the subject.