Imaging Ancient Images

Indian rock art has an enormous potential to be studied as means of symbolic and social communication and to understand our past. ‘Imaging Ancient Images: Digital preservation, risk assessment, spatial simulation and chronological interpretation of rock art heritage using multiple technologies’ focuses on the scientific study of this unique typology of heritage sites through digital methods. It is a collaborative research project between the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, the Center for Heritage Conservation (CHC, CRDF) and Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) Anand. The project is funded by - the Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) research grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Central Government of India.

With the Principal investigator Dr. Parth R. Chauhan (IISERM), Co-Investigator Dr. Jigna Desai (CHC-CRDF) and collaborator Dr. Prabhin Sukumaran (Charusat), the aim is to document and analyse rock art sites in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra using 3D LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry and GIS. The research will also propose future methods and protocols for non-invasive documentation methods and long-term safeguarding.