The Speaking Archaeologically Podcast

What happens when we look beyond the monuments that dominate our understanding of Delhi’s architectural history? In this episode, Dr Shriya Gautam explores four tombs that challenge familiar narratives of funerary architecture in Delhi: Sabz Burj, Isa Khan’s Tomb, Mirza Najaf Khan’s Tomb, and Safdarjung’s Tomb. From early architectural experimentation and pre-Mughal traditions to changing politica...

What are the opportunities and challenges shaping South Asian archaeology today, and where does Harappan archaeology fit into these conversations? Recorded on the final day of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference, this episode brings together Dr Disha Ahluwalia and Dr Shriya Gautam for a conversation on South Asian archaeology, exploring the possibilities, complexities, and questions that...

We finished Day 2 of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference 2026 with a very interesting roundtable discussion on urban heritage and its conservation. Tune in to listen to Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson, Dr. Shriya Gautam, Diptarka Datta, Simran Kaur Saini, Samarth Tyagi, Shrijee Sharma, Soumil Mukherjee and Ujjwal Choudhary as they discuss what heritage management and conservation actually mean be...

In this episode, Dr. Shriya Gautam sits down with Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson (UCL Institute of Archaeology) for a conversation on digital archaeology, exploring how emerging tools and technologies are transforming the way we excavate, record, analyse, and share the archaeological record. From digitisation methods to the broader questions they raise about access, interpretation, and the future of the...

Day two of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference brought together Team Speaking Archaeologically and Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson (UCL Institute of Archaeology) for a wide-ranging conversation spanning digital tools in archaeology, spatial analysis, and the archaeology of urban heritage. In this episode, Mr. Diptarka Datta joins Dr. Cuthbertson to unpack how GIS and spatial modelling are reshapi...

The second day of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference saw a day full of exciting conversations between Team Speaking Archaeologically and Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson (UCL Institute of Archaeology). Ranging from use of digital tools in archaeology to spatial analysis and urban heritage, today's episode brings you the first part of a wonderful dialogue. In this conversation are Dr. Patrick...

The first day of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference saw a very important discussion that highlighted the importance of listening to and engaging in holistic dialogue with the public. Join Dr. Shriya Gautam and Mr. Diptarka Datta from Speaking Archaeologically as they talk to Prof. Gabriel Moshenska (UCL Institute of Archaeology) about the fascinating world of anti-archaeology!

We bring to you a brand new series: Early Career Conversations! At Speaking Archaeologically, we believe that dialogue does not necessarily need to happen at a certain place or within certain rooms. We believe that archaeological knowledge should move freely and everyone should be a part of these conversations. This idea resulted in the second annual edition of the Speaking Archaeologically Early...

How can GIS help archaeologists uncover patterns hidden within ancient landscapes? In this episode, Ms. Mythrayi Harshavardhan (WSP India) in conversation with Mr. Diptarka Datta (WSP India and Speaking Archaeologically) explore the role of Geographic Information Systems in archaeological research through the case study of Badami, Karnataka. Focusing on hydrological analysis, she demonstrates how...

Ever wondered what it actually means when someone says the word "authentic"? What exactly is authenticity when looking at heritage? Can there be multiple meanings of the same word? Who gets to decide what heritage site is authentic and what is not? In this episode, join Ms. Simran Kaur as she delves deeper into the concept of authenticity while looking at the various stakeholders that go...

Join Dr. Shriya Gautam and Ms. Simran Kaur for an exciting conversation with Prof. Susmita Basu Majumdar (University of Calcutta), a leading numismatist and epigraphist. Following from her recent talk at Speaking Archaeologically about early Indian coinage in the collections of UK museums, this episode brings to you the Q&A session where we talked more about how to approach the study of Indian...

Public archaeology is one of those terms that sounds self-explanatory: until you try to define it. It's not simply outreach. It's not just digging with volunteers or making documentaries. At its core, it's a question about who the past belongs to, and who gets to decide what it means. In this episode, we unpack the field a little: where the idea came from, how its definition has shifte...

You have probably heard a theory about the ancient world that sounded just plausible enough. It seemed intriguing. Perhaps, even pulled you in further into the world of alternative archaeologies. In this episode, we explore how pseudoarchaeology conquered the internet, why professional silence is not neutral, and what is actually at stake when myths about the past get weaponised in the present. Th...

What happens when a historic building can no longer serve its original purpose? Should it be preserved exactly as it is, or adapted for new uses? In this episode of the Speaking Archaeologically Podcast, Simran Kaur explores the concept of adaptive reuse in heritage conservation. From medieval churches and industrial complexes to stepwells, palaces, and forts in India, the episode examines how his...

In this episode, join Simran Kaur as she explores the role of recording and sketching in preserving endangered heritage. Focusing on her doctoral fieldwork in Farrukhnagar, Haryana, the episode reflects on the discovery and subsequent demolition of a forgotten Mughal-period city gate, and asks what it means to document history that may soon disappear. Through discussion of the sketch walk organise...

In this episode, we up where we last left off: the step wells of Delhi! Built in 1506 and tucked away in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, the Rajon ki Baoli was the site that set the entire Baolis of Delhi project in motion. But this episode isn't about its history or architecture. It is about what our team found when we got there, and what that visit revealed about a city-wide crisis hiding...

What began as a routine site visit in December 2019 soon turned into a race against time. When members of the Speaking Archaeologically Delhi Research Wing encountered the stepwells of Rajon ki Baoli and Gandhak ki Baoli, they uncovered a larger, urgent story: one of disappearance, neglect, and fading memory. Once numbering around 100, Delhi’s baolis have dwindled to just 14–15 surviving structure...

Join Mr. Diptarka Datta as he delves into how Sunder Nursery has continued to captivate artists through history. The episode will unpack how the monuments within this historic complex have been perceived in art and how archaeological illustrations are an important tool to uncover a site's story!

Every excavation tells a story. Every artwork does too. Art allows archaeologists to trace the shifts that a monument goes through across time. In this episode, join panelists Diptarka Datta and Simran Kaur Saini as they explore Skhédíos, an art competition that aims to bring artists and archaeologists together, and ask what each discipline sees in the other. Tune in to know more about why Skhédío...

Are museums slowly drifting into irrelevance? In an age of shrinking attention spans and endless digital content, many institutions face a pressing concern: disinterested visitors. At the same time, collections themselves tell a fractured story. Objects from a single site, culture, or historical moment are often scattered across institutions, sometimes across continents, making it nearly impossibl...

In this episode of Speaking Archaeologically , we explore the Piprahwa Relics Exhibition at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex and its significance in India’s decolonisation journey. Tracing the relics’ discovery by William Claxton Peppe, their dispersal under colonial rule, and their dramatic 2025 return following an attempted auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong, join Research Wing members Keerthana...

What does decolonisation actually mean in museums and what does it look like beyond rewritten labels? In this episode of Speaking Archaeologically , Senior Research Panelist Simran Kaur explores how colonial histories continue to shape museum narratives, particularly around South Asian artefacts. From silences embedded in gallery labels to the politics of visibility, this conversation asks how ins...

The National Museum, Delhi holds some of India’s most significant archaeological collections but how effectively do these objects speak to the public today? In this episode, we take a closer look at visitor engagement in Indian museums through the lens of the National Museum. Join Research Wing member Avighna Parul Pande as she discusses gaps between curatorial intent and visitor experience, the r...

How effective are our laws in protecting the past, and where does public responsibility begin? In this episode, we examine the protection of tangible heritage through the lens of legislation and public awareness, focusing on the UNESCO-listed Sanchi Stupa. Join Dr. Shriya Gautam as she unpacks the the challenges of enforcing legal frameworks on the ground, and the crucial role of public engagement...

Last episode, we unpacked the challenges Indian museums face when it comes to visitor engagement. This time, we’re going a step further and asking the uncomfortable questions. Are museum exhibitions really what they claim to be? When museums showcase high-profile loans or speak the language of decolonisation, are they creating meaningful public engagement… or simply polishing their institutional i...