2022–2028Collaborator
Indica: rethinking our reliance on paddy rice
Seoul National University & Banaras Hindu University
Looking to past domestication and agricultural systems, with Dr Jennifer Bates and Dr Vikas Kumar Singh.
Professor & Deputy Coordinator (CAS), Department of AIHC & Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University
Four decades excavating the Indus Civilisation, the Ganga plains and the ancient technologies of glass and metal.
Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla (until 15.08.2026)
302+
Publications
64
Field seasons
1,200+
Citations
40+
Years in archaeology
I am an archaeologist. My work spans the Harappan (Indus) Civilisation, the early farming communities of the Middle Ganga Plain, and the ancient technologies of glass and metal in South Asia.
I took my Ph.D. at Banaras Hindu University in 1984, with an archaeo-technological study of ancient Indian glasses, and went on to teach and research at BHU for over three decades as Professor and Deputy Coordinator of the Centre of Advanced Study.
I have directed or co-directed excavations at more than forty sites — among them Masudpur, Khanak, Alamgirpur, Ganeshwar, Lohari Ragho and Dabli Vas Chugta — much of it in a long partnership with the University of Cambridge. I have been Principal Investigator (India) on TwoRains, funded by the European Research Council, as well as MAHSA, TIGR2ESS and UKIERI, and have held fellowships at Cambridge, Oxford, the University of London and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, where I am currently a Fellow.
Degrees, academic positions and visiting fellowships. Select an entry to read more.
International collaborations funded by the ERC, Arcadia, UKIERI, the British Academy and others.
Seoul National University & Banaras Hindu University
Looking to past domestication and agricultural systems, with Dr Jennifer Bates and Dr Vikas Kumar Singh.
Institute of Eminence, BHU (IoE Dev. Scheme No. 6031)
Understanding environment-culture adaptive dynamics through materiality and subsistence strategies, with Dr Vikas Kumar Singh as Co-PI.
Arcadia, via University of Cambridge
With Dr C. A. Petrie as PI (UK), University of Cambridge, and Dr Vikas K. Singh as PI (India).
University of Cambridge (£22,500)
Archaeological field research and data analysis for TIGR2ESS, with Dr C. A. Petrie as PI (UK).
DST-UKIERI Thematic Partnerships
Investigating the sustainability of the Indus Civilisation, with Dr C. A. Petrie as PI (UK).
European Research Council (ERC)
Collaborative project with the University of Cambridge, with Dr C. A. Petrie as PI (UK).
British Academy International Partnership & Mobility Scheme (£30,000)
With C. A. Petrie, University of Cambridge.
UKIERI (£147,000)
Investigating the cultural and geophysical transformations of north-west India between 2000 and 300 BC, with Dr C. A. Petrie as PI (UK).
Four decades of excavation, survey and exploration across northern India — from Masudpur and Khanak to Alamgirpur, Ganeshwar and the Belan Valley.
64 field seasons, 1977–2019
Directed the Excavations at Masudpur I, Hissar, Haryana, in February- March, 2019 conducted by the Archaeology Department of the BHU. BHU & University of Cambridge
Directed the Excavations at Masudpur I, Hissar, Haryana, in Jan-Feb. 2018 conducted by the Archaeology Department of the BHU. BHU & University of Cambridge
Directed the Excavations at Lohari Ragho, Hissar, Haryana, in Jan-Feb. 2017 conducted by the Archaeology Department of the BHU. BHU & University of Cambridge
Directed the Excavations at Khanak, Bhiwani, Haryana, in February- May, 2016 conducted by the Archaeology Department of the BHU
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Surface Survey and Trial Excavation at Loharo Ragho Hissar, Haryana in March-April, 2015 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU & University of Cambridge
Directed Explorations in Jaipur and Sikar districts, Rajasthan
Directed the Excavations at Khanak,Bhiwani, Haryana, in September, 2014 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Archaeological Survey in Hissar&Jind,Haryana in March April, 2014 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU &University of Cambridge
Directed the Excavations at Ganeshwar, Sikar, Rajasthan, in March-April& September, 2013 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU &Rajasthan State Archaeology
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Excavations at Bahola, Karnal, Haryana, in March-April-May, 2012 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU &University of Cambridge
Associated with the ‘Archaeological Geography Project’ of the McDonald Institute, Cambridge run by Prof. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in Rajasthan
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Excavations at Dabli Vas Chugta, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, in March-April-May, 2011 conducted by the BHU & University of Cambridge
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Excavations at Burj, Fatehabad, Haryana in April May, 2010conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU & University of Cambridge
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Further Excavations at Masudpur, Hissar, Haryana in December, 2009 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU &University of Cambridge
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Rakhigarhi Hinterland Survey in Hissar&Jind,Haryanain September, 2009 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU &University of Cambridge
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Excavations at Masudpur, Hissar, Haryana in April-May, 2009 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU &University of Cambridge
Directed jointly with Prof. P.N.Singh and Dr.A.K.Singh, the Explorations in along the Gomti river and Excavations at Saripur (Jaunpur) conducted by BHU
Directed jointly with Dr. Cameron A. Petrie the Explorations in Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh in April May, 2008 conducted by the Archaeology Departments of the BHU &University of Cambridge
Directed the Excavations at Alamgirpur (Meerut) and in April-June, 2008conducted by BHU
Directed the Excavations at Bulandkhera(G.B.Nagar) in June, 2008 conducted by BHU
Associated with the ‘Archaeological Geography Project of the McDonald Institute, Cambridge run by Prof.D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in Haryana,July-Aug.2007
Participated in ‘Excavations at Agiabir’, District Mirzapur conducted by Department by Department of AIHC & Archaeology, BHU
Directed (as Co-Director with Vibha Tripathi) ‘Excavations at Hariharpur’, District Jaunpur conducted by Department by Deptt. of AIHC & Archaeology, BHU
Directed (with A.K. Dubey, G.K. Lama & A.K. Singh) Explorations in Meerut and neighbouring districts in Western UP
Associated with the ‘Deccan Routes beyond the Deccan’ Project of the McDonald Institute,Cambridge run by Prof. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in Andhra Pradesh,July-Aug.2006
Participated in ‘Excavations at Agiabir’, District Mirzapur conducted by Department by Department of AIHC &Archaeology, BHU
Associated with the ‘ Deccan Routes beyond the Deccan’ Project of the McDonald Institute Cambridge run by Prof. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in Tamilnadu & Kerala, July-Aug.2005
Conducted Field-work in collaboration with Prof. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University in Kumaun & Garhwal region of Uttaranchal, August-September, 2005
Participated in ‘Excavations at Anai’, District Varanasi conducted by Department by Department ofAIHC&Archaeology, BHU
Conducted Field-work in collaboration with Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University in Meerut, Bijnor, Najibabad, Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar districts in UP, September & December, 2004
Associated with the ‘Deccan Routes beyond the Deccan’ Project of the Mc Donald Institute,Cambridge run by Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in Maharashtra,Goa& Karnataka, July Aug.2004
Conducted Field-work in collaboration with Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University in Agra,Mathura, Aligarh and Bulandsahar districts in UP, July.2003
Archaeological Explorations in Chandauli District, February 2003 to June 2003
Associated with the Archaeology of Deccan Routes Project of the McDonald Institute, Cambridge run by Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in Bihar, UP, MP, Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh July-Aug.2002
Conducted Small Scale Excavations at Rock-shelter site at Semar Sadhopur and also Explorations in Chandauli District with Prof. P. Singh and Dr. Rakesh Tewari between January- May, 2001
Participated in Excavations at Agiabir, District Mirzapur for a short period in April-May, 2001
Associated with the Archaeology of Deccan Routes Project of the McDonald Institute, Cambridge run by Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in UP, MP & Maharashtra, Aug.2001
Conducted Field-work in collaboration with Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University between Kanauj to Atranjikhera, July & Sept.2001
Directed Archaeological Explorations in Chandauli District with Prof. P. Singh and Dr. Rakesh Tewari between December 1999-June 2000
Associated with the Archaeology of Deccan Routes Project of the McDonald Institute, Cambridge run by Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in UP, MP & Maharashtra, Aug.2000
Conducted Field-work in collaboration with Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University between Kanauj to Kashipur, July & Sept.2000
Associated with the Archaeology of Deccan Routes Project of the McDonald Institute, Cambridge run by Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti and visited sites in UP & MP, Aug.1999
Conducted Field-work in collaboration with Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University between Pratapgarh and Sitapur, July & Sept.1999
Conducted Excavations at Agiabir (under Prof. P. Singh) March-June, 1999
Attended Excavations at Malhar (Chandauli) excavated by UP State Arch. Dept. to impart training to the students of M.A. & Adv. Dip.in Archaeology, Jan.-Feb. 1999
Associated with Cambridge University Project run by Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti and exploredareabetween Ayodhya and Allahabad, Aug.-Sept.1998
Conducted Field-work in collaboration with Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University between Ballia and Robertsganj, Aug. 1997
Excavations at Khairadih, Ballia, March-April, 1997
Associated with Dr. D.K. Chakrabarti, Cambridge University in locating ancient settlements in Sarayupar plains, August 1996
Excavations at Bhunadih, Ballia, May-June 1996
Excavations at Imlidih, Gorakhpur, March-May, 1996
Conducted Explorations along the Choti Saryu river in Mau, Ghazipur and Ballia districts
Excavations at Waina, Ballia, April-June, 1995
Participated in Explorations and Documentations of Buddhist images in western Himalayas in Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) with Dr. A.K. Singh, BHU in June 1993
Excavations at Imlidih, Gorakhpur, Feb.-June 1993
Excavations at Imlidih, Gorakhpur, Feb.-June 1992
Excavations at Dhuriapar, Gorakhpur, May 1991
Participated in Excavations at Beddingham Roman Villa, E. Sussex, UK in July 1990 as a part of training in Summer Schools, Institute of Archaeology, London
Participated in the Excavations at Thanesar, Haryana, in Feb.-March 1990 conducted by the Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India and also participated inhe explorations of Bhagwanpura, Jakhani khera and the adjoining areas of Haryana
Participated in Excavations at Ashkelon, Israel in July-Aug.1989 in the Leon Levy Expeditionsponsored by the Harvard University, USA
Participated in the explorations and the recording of the Megaliths in Mirzapur, 1987
Participated in section cutting of ancient deposits of Son river near Chakaria, Mirzapur
Participated in the explorations of Palamau, Bihar
Small scale Excavations at of rock-shelters at Lahariadih&Belan Valley explorations Mirzapur
Books, monographs, research papers and conference papers, grouped by year. Search the full list, filter by type, or expand a year to read it.
302 publications in total, across 48 years
Ravindra N. Singh & Cameron A. Petrie, Land, Water & Settlement: Recent Researches in Harappan Archaeology of North West India, Varanasi (in press)
R. N. Singh & C. A. Petrie, Excavations at Masudpur, Hissar, Haryana (in Press)
Ravindra N.Singh, Excavations at Alamgirpur: A Preliminary Report,Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi (in press)
Ravindra N Singh, Excvations at Ganeshwar, District Sikar, Rajasthan (in press)
Petrie, Cameron A., Ravindran N. Singh … Joanna R. Walker, Living in the Hinterland and Progress of TwoRains Project in 2016, 2017 & 2018, ISMEO-South Asian Archaeology and Art 2018, (Edited by AndrianoV. Rossi, Roma, pp- 67—98
Prasad, Esha and R.N.Singh, Understandin the Ganeshwar Jodhpura Culture: A New Ceramic Paradigm,, ISMEO-South Asian Archaeology and Art 2018, (Edited by AndrianoV. Rossi, Roma, pp- 99—118
Singh, Ravindra N., et.al., Scientific Enqyuries of the Metal Objects from Senuwar: A Review, in Glorius Magadh: Archaeology, Culture and Heritage (Eds. V.K.Singh, M.Singh and S.Chakradhari, Dev Publisher, Delhi, pp-1-15. in
Singh, Ravindra N., et.al, Metal Objects from Chirand and Taradih: An Analytical Study, in Glorius Magadh: Archaeology, Culture and Heritage (Eds. V.K.Singh, M.Singh and S.Chakradhari, Dev Publisher, Delhi, pp-229-239
Singh, Manisha, Vikas Kumar Singh, Brij Mohan, … .and Ravindra N. Singh, Typology and Technological Attributes of Lithic Tools from Tapka and Laua Rock Shelters, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, Man and Environment (June, 2026-in Press)
Chakradhari, S, V.K.Singh, M.Singh and Ravindra Nath Singh, Scientific Enquiry of Ganeshwar Ceramics, Sikar, Rajasthan in South Asian Ceramics: Archaeology, Etnography, Material Sciences and Global Connections (Eds.-A.K.Kanungo, K.Rajan & R.Sivanantham, Taylor & Francis, Routledge, London
Singh, Manisha, Sarvesh Yadav, … .and Ravindra N. Singh, Tapka: Newly Discovered Rock Art Site in Sonbhadra Region, Uttar Pradesh, Indian Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 11, No.1, pp-1-27
C.A. Petrie, J. Abdul-Jabbar, … V.N. Prabhakar, Rajesh, S.V., R. Roberts, A. Samad, R.N. Singh, V. K. Singh, M. Suarez Moreno, J. Tomaney, A. Vafadari, Hidden in plain sight: theunrecognised contribution of the Survey of India in the documentation of ancient settlements in Pakistan and India, Journal of Field Archaeology, VOL. 51, NO. 2, 107–128 https://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2025.2572881
View publication →Singh, Ravindra N., Archaeology of Ram Janmabhumi Site Ayodhya: A Historical and Interpretative History, Ram Vangaman Patheya (Ed.) Harsha Trivedi, Anang Prakshan, Delhi, pp.235-245