Abstract: As cities expand and landscapes evolve, preserving India's Cultural Heritage faces new challenges. In this talk, we’ll explore how combining modern technology with historical analysis helps rediscover hidden archaeological features around many iconic sites. Focusing on the sacred landscape of Bodhgaya, we rediscover forgotten archaeological features -- monasteries, stupas, tanks -- showing how new discoveries challenge past assumptions and offer fresh insights into ancient landscapes, including the river Niranjana’s possible historical course. Join us to explore how technology is reshaping our understanding of extents of heritage sites.
About the speaker: M.B. Rajani, from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, specializes in using geospatial data to uncover archaeological features and address heritage preservation amid urbanization. Her methodology integrates satellite imagery with historical data to reveal insights into cultural landscapes. Her book, Patterns in Past Settlements (2021), shares these findings with broader audiences.