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Cuddapah Basin Palaenanthropology Field School

Do you have an interest in science and the world around you? Would you like to visit one of the most remote and interesting Prehistoric sites in the Cuddapah Basin? Archaeological Science Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar offers, several remarkable field education opportunities in the Cuddapah Basin of Andhra Pradesh.

In our Palaeoanthropology Field School, students examine the paleontology, archaeology, and ancient environment surrounding Cuddapah Basin, renowned for its wealth of fossils and artifacts documenting all major stages of human development. The students will explore important and interesting sites and environments throughout the Cuddapah Basin.

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Field School December 2025

We are now accepting applications for the Winter 2025 Field School program. Dates for the program are December 17-21.

Get Updates on the Field School program: To get most up-to-date information on the Field School programs, please email

fieldschool.asc@iitgn.ac.in

About

Archaeological Science Centre, IITGN
IIT Gandhinagar’s Archaeological Sciences Centre was created in December 2012, with the twin objectives of establishing state-of-the-art facilities to be used by the archaeological community at large, and conducting its own multidisciplinary research in scientific aspects of archaeology. Our research and activities thus situate themselves at the intersection of humanities and scientific disciplines.

At present, Archaeological Sciences is a discipline under the Department of Earth Sciences.

IIT Gandhinagar Campus

Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN)

IIT Gandhinagar was founded in 2008 and is located in Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat on the banks of river Sabarmati. IITGN is rated India’s first 5-star GRIHA LD (Green) campus for minimizing the negative impact on the environment. The campus has been declared India’s first 5-star campus for ensuring food safety and promoting healthy eating.

The institute offers a unique undergraduate and graduate education experience in India with unmatched innovations in curriculum. We take pride in our student-centric philosophy resulting in a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment for students. The institute promotes critical thinking and an appreciation of the interdisciplinary character of knowledge, with an emphasis on the liberal arts, and project-oriented learning.

IIT Gandhinagar encourages interdisciplinarity in its research activities. We have interdisciplinary centers where people from all disciplines work together to produce research and solve real-world problems that have a high impact on society.

Archaeological Survey of India

Archaeological Survey of India

Archaeological Survey of India is the premier organization for archaeological researches and protection of cultural heritage in India. We protect, conserve, discover and maintain our most cherished tangible and intangible heritage for the enjoyment of the world.

Field Schools

Field School 2025

Field School, a multidisciplinary field-training program on Palaoanthropology and Quaternary Studies, at and around the Palaeolithic sites of Cuddapah basin of Andhra Pradesh. Field Schools are bridges critical knowledge gaps that remain outside formal academic curricula. While the Indian subcontinent holds invaluable clues to understanding the Quaternary period (2.58 million years ago to present) a time that profoundly shaped human evolution. The multidisciplinary, hands-on methods required to study this period are rarely taught in universities. The current field school fills this void by providing rare, experiential training in paleoanthropology, geology, and archaeology, empowering participants with the tools to study human–climate interactions in a holistic way.

Participants gain practical training in surveying sites, interpreting geological stratigraphy, and collecting scientific samples for dating and paleoenvironmental reconstruction skills directly transferable to high-quality research. The program attracts faculty from across India and draws internationally acclaimed experts, giving participants direct exposure to global best practices.

The long-term research in the Cuddapah basin makes it a particularly appropriate location for hosting this field school. For nearly a decade, I have conducted multidisciplinary studies in the region in collaboration with leading Quaternary geologists and paleoenvironmental scientists. My work focuses on sedimentology, stratigraphy, Palaeontology, Stone tools and paleoenvironmental reconstruction, supported by extensive fieldwork that has generated critical insights into the prehistoric and environmental significance of sites in Cuddapah basin. These continued investigations have established robust datasets, enduring collaborations, and strong local networks, creating an ideal foundation for hands-on training and experiential learning

Register for the Field School December 2025