Director, Rakhigarhi Archaeological Research Project,
Editor in Chief, ‘Ancient Asia’ (International Journal),
Former Founding Director General, National Maritime Heritage Complex
Former Vice-Chancellor, Deccan College, Deemed University, Pune
A Scholar of International repute Prof. Vasant Shivram Shinde is presently the Director of prestigious Rakhigarhi Archaeological Research Project and Editor in Chief of An International Journal, ‘Ancient Asia’. He is the former Founding Director General, National Maritime Heritage Complex and also the former Vice Chancellor, Deccan College, Deemed University, Pune.
Prof. Shinde’s nearly 45 years of Archaeological research is focused on Deccan and Central Indian Chalcolithic and Harappan Civilization in Gujarat and Haryana. He has undertook scientific research on health and diet of ancient people as well as genetic history and 3D reconstruction of Harappan people by applying various Scientific methods such as Stable Isotope, Anthropolcal, Starch Grain, Residue, Lipid Profile, Craniofacial Reconstruction and DNA Analysis. Under his leadership sites like Gilund (Rajasthan), Junnar (Maharashtra), Farmana, Girwad, Mitathal and Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Padri (Gujarat) and many more have been excavated. He has acted as Advisor to the International Project at Rajagala in Sri Lanka.
Prof. Shinde’s valuable consultations have helped many research projects flourish in institutions like Seoul National University Medical College (Korea), International Research Centre for Japanese Studies, Research Centre for Humanity and Nature (Kyoto, Japan), etc. His contributions to the field of Archaeology are globally recognized. His work on DNA Research at the Rakhigarhi site has been applauded as ‘Breakthrough Research’ by the International Conference on Genomics in 2019. He has successfully supervised 37 Ph.D. students and published numerous books and research articles at National as well as International level.