Charusmita Gadekar

Areas of Interest & Expertise

  • Harappan civilization
  • Prehistoric-protohistoric lithic typo-technological-functional studies
  • Residue analysis
  • Mesolithic-Microlithic cultures
  • Hunter-gatherer-forager-fisher subsistence patterns
  • Trade exchange networks and cross-cultural interactions
  • Migration patterns
  • South Asian Archaeology

Biography

Charusmita’s BA, MA (both Honours), and PhD were completed at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India. Her doctoral thesis, ​“Lithic blade implements and their role in the Harappan Chalcolithic cultures in Gujarat,” explored lithic tools to understand the role played by these often-overlooked artefacts in the economic and technological processes associated with the development of urbanism. Specific aspects of technology and raw materials were examined to distinguish between regional craft traditions, resource areas, and trade/​exchange networks. Her PhD was supported by the Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship for Doctoral Studies. She is also a recipient of the Professor H.D. Sankalia Young Archaeologist Award.

Her Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship, awarded by the European Commission and carried out at IMF-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain, was among the first studies to examine the functional aspects of stone tools through residue (phytolith) analysis in the South Asian context.

Her research consistently looks beyond static tools to address broader questions — what motivated people to make and use them, how raw materials were procured, why particular shapes were produced, what technologies were employed, where the craft was learnt, and why some tools were transported over hundreds of kilometres.

Currently, in collaboration with scholars from the University of Kerala and IMF-CSIC, Barcelona, she is working to holistically understand the spread of goods and ideas across the Greater Indus Valley (c. 3300 – 1900 BCE). Part of this research has been funded by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research, Ashoka University.

She has been involved in numerous archaeological explorations and excavations and has published more than thirty scientific papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes.

Her teaching career began at Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, followed by positions at her alma mater and the Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence, before joining the University.

Her interests include reading fiction, especially detective novels, cooking, exploring new places, and visiting old ruins.

Publications

Edited volumes 

  • Gadekar C. and Ajithprasad, P. (2018). Lithic blade implements and their role in the Harappan Chalcolithic cultural development in Gujarat. In D. Frenez, G. Jamison, R.Law, M. Vidale and R.H. Meadow (Eds.) Walking with the Unicorn: Social Organization and Material Culture in Ancient South Asia, Prof. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer Felicitation Volume (pp 197 – 212). Oxford: Archaeopress.
  • Madella, M., Lancelotti, C., García-Granero, J.J., Conesa F.C., Gadekar C, Rajesh S.V. and Ajithprasad, P. (2018). The North Gujarat Archaeological Project-NoGAP, A Multi-Proxy and Multi-Scale Study of Long-Term Socio-Ecological Dynamics. In D. Frenez, G. Jamison, R.Law, M. Vidale and R.H. Meadow (Eds.) Walking with the Unicorn: Social Organization and Material Culture in Ancient South Asia, Prof. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer Felicitation Volume (pp 349 – 364). Oxford: Archaeopress.
  • Rajesh, S.V., Gadekar, C., Ajithprasad, P., Abhayan, G.S., Krishnan, K., and Madella, M. (2018). Pre-Prabhas Assemblge in Gujarat. An Assessment based on the Material Culture from Somnath, Datrana and Janan. In D. Frenez, G. Jamison, R. Law, M. Vidale and R.H. Meadow (Eds.) Walking with the Unicorn: Social Organization and Material Culture in Ancient South Asia, Prof. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer Felicitation Volume (pp 507 – 530). Oxford: Archaeopress.
  • Gadekar, C.S. & Ajithprasad, P. (2016). Geometric tools and Mid-Holocene cultural diversity in North Gujarat. In M. Kumar and A. Uesugi (Eds.) Harappan Studies: Recent Advances in South Asian Archaeology Vol. II (pp 13 – 22). New Delhi: Aryan Books International.
  • Madella, M., Ajithprasad, P., Balbo, A., Lancelotti, C., Rondelli, B., Cecilia, F., Fiorentino, G., Rajesh, S.V., Gadekar, C.S., Garcia, N., Yannitto, V., Rodriguez, D., Mateos, J.L., Ruiz, J. and Garcia-Granero J.J. (2012). La campana de excavacion 2010 del proyecto NoGAP: metodologia interdisciplinary para el studio de contectos socio-ecologicos en el Holoceno. Informes y trabajos 7, Excavaciones en el exterior 2010 (pp 110 – 117). Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte, Spain.
  • Madella, M., Ajithprasad, P., Balbo, A., Saiz, J.C., Cecilia, F., Garcia-Granero, J.J., Lancelotti, C., Rondelli, B., Rajesh, S.V., Ruiz, J., Mateos, J.L., Gadekar, C.S., Dumka, R.A., Kothyari, G.C., Mortekhai, P.  and Sukumaran, P. (2011). La campana de excavacion 2011 del North Gujarat Archaeological Project (NoGAP): metodologia interdisciplinar para el estudio de contextos socio-ecologicos en el Holoceno. Informes y trabajos 09, Excavaciones en el exterior 2011 (pp 261 – 272). Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte, Spain.
  • Madella, M., Balbo, A., Rondelli, B., Rodriguez, D., Yannitto, V., Ajithprasad, P., Gadekar, C.S., Rajesh, S. V., Garcia-Granero, J. J., Lancelotti, C. and French C. (2011). Proyecto Arqueologico Norte del Gujarat.  Informes y trabajos 5: Excavaciones en el exterior 2009 (pp 114 – 119). Ministerio De Cultura, Spain.

Peer reviewed journals 

  • Rajesh S. V., Abhayan G. S., Francesc C., García-Granero, J.J., Gadekar, C., Bhandari, S., Dev, A.V., Mohammed Muhaseen B. S., Renjinimol M. N., Ajay A., Ajith M., Akhil K. N., and Arun Kumar K. S. (2025). Archaeological explorations at the Harappan site of Kotada, in Lodrani, Bela Bet, Gujarat. Man and Environment (in press)
  • Gadekar, C. (2025). Where are the ​‘lithics’ of Chalcolithic Indus Civilisation? A comprehensive review of published data.Lithic Technology. DOI — 10.1080/01977261.2025.2523610
  • Behera, D. & Gadekar, C. (2025). Application of Lipid Biomarkers in Deciphering Quaternary Human Evolution in the Indian Subcontinent: An Integrative Review. Quaternary Environments and Humans. https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​0​1​6​/​j​.​q​e​h​.​2​0​2​5​.​1​00057
  • Zurro, D & Gadekar, C. (2024).  Is it worth it? A review of the plant residue analysis on knapped lithic artefacts. Lithic Technology 49(1): 68 – 80. DOI:10.1080/01977261.2023.2188343
  • Gadekar, C., Garcia-Granero, J.J., Madella, M., Lancelotti, C., Veesar, G.M., Abro, T.M., Chandio, M.A., Zurro, D. (2023) An alliance of convenience: Phytoliths and lithics. Preforming first comprehensive residue analysis from the artefacts of the Indus Civilisation. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 52: 104254. doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​0​1​6​/​j​.​j​a​s​r​e​p​.​2​0​2​3​.​1​04254
  • Gadekar, C., Garcia-Granero, J.J., Madella, M. & Ajithprasad, P. (2022). Microlithic Variation and the Mesolithic occupation of western India. Plos One 17(6): e0267654. Doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​3​7​1​/​j​o​u​r​n​a​l​.​p​o​n​e​.​0​2​67654
  • Gadekar, C., Rajesh S.V., Abhayan G.S., Sharma, B.P., Chavan, A., Bhandari, S., & Jadeja, J.M.(2021). Early Harappan Interaction between Sindh and Gujarat: as evidenced by Lithic Tools. Journal of Lithic Studies 8(1): 1 – 17. doi​.org/​1​0​.​2​2​1​8​/​j​l​s​.5161
  • Rajesh, S.V., Gadekar, C., Abhayan, G.S., Ajithprasad, P. & Sharma, B.P. (2018) Janan: A Pre-Urban Harappan Site in Khadir Island, Kachchh District, Gujarat. Puratattva 48:173 – 183.
  • Gadekar, C., Rajesh S.V., Abhayan G.S., Sharma, B.P., Ajithprasad, P., Ajit Kumar, Chase, B., Rawat, Y.S., Patel, A., Muhammed F.K., Dev, A.V., Haseen R.R., Kumbodharan S., Vinuraj B., Arun Kumar K S, Mahesh M.S., Singh S.M.G. and Mohammed M.B.S. (2018). Typo-technological analysis of lithic assemblage from Janan, Kachchh, Gujarat. Man and Environment XLIII (1): 6 – 15.
  • Conesa F.C., García-Granero, J.J., Madella, M., Balbo, A.L., Gadekar, C.S.„ Lancelotti, C., Rajesh, S.V., & Ajithprasad, P. (2018) Poblament, recursos i medi ambient en zones àrides: el North Gujarat Archaeological Project (NoGAP). Tribuna d’Arqueologia 2014⁄15:189 – 216
  • García-Granero, J.J., Gadekar, C., Estaban, I., Lancelotti, C., Madella, M., and Ajithprasad, P. (2017). What’s on the craftmen’s menu? Plant consumption at Datrana, a 5000 years old lithic blade workshop in North Gujarat (India). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 9(2): 251 – 263. DOI 10.1007/s12520-015‑0281‑0
  • Abhayan G.S., Joglekar, P.P., Rajesh, S.V., Awasthy, G. S., Chase, B., Ajithprasad, P. Patel, A., Rawat, Y.S., Gadekar, C., Sharma, B.P., Kumar A., Uesugi, A. and Sukumaran, P. (2016). Fish Otoliths from Navinal, Kachchh, Gujarat: Identification of taxa and its implications. Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 4: 218 – 227.
  • Uesugi, A., Rajesh, S.V., Abhayan, G.S., Chase, B., Rawat, Y.S., Patel, A., Ajit Kumar and Gadekar C. (2015). Indus Ceramics from Desalpur, Kachchh, Gujarat. Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 180 – 218
  • Gadekar, C., Ajithprasad, P. & Rajesh S.V. (2015). A Comparison of Lithic Assemblags belonging to Economically Diverse Settlements flourishing during third Millennium BCE Gujarat. Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 44 – 53.
  • Gadekar C., Rajesh, S.V., Chase, B., Abhayan G.S., Ajit Kumar, Sharma, B.P., Uesugi, A., Shaikh, S., Rawat, Y.S., Patel, A., Ajithprasad, P., Haseen R.R., Renjinimol M.N., Muhammed Fasalu K., Dev, A.V., Joseph R.P. and Sukumaran, P. (2015). Lithic Assemblage from Archaeological Explorations (2014 and 2015) at Navinal in Gujarat, India. Pakistan Heritage 6: 1 – 22.
  • Gadekar C. (2015). Towards a New Direction in Lithic Studies. Man and Environment XL (1): 19 – 26.
  • Rajesh, S.V., Shaikh, S., Chase, B., Rawat, Y.S., Patel, A. Abhayan, G.S., Ajit Kumar, Gadekar, C., Haseen, R.R., Uesugi, A., Vinod V., Renjinimol M.N. and Sukumaran, P. (2015). Craft production at Navinal: A Harappan settlement in Kachchh district, Gujarat. Atulya Varso 8 (2): 30 – 31.
  • Patel, A., Rajesh, S.V., Chase, B., Shaikh, S., Rawat, Y.S., Abhayan G.S., Ajit Kumar, Haseen R.R., Gadekar, C., Uesugi, A., Ajithprasad, A., Sukumaran, P. and Renjinimol M.N. (2014). Indications and implications of copper artefacts from Navinal, a Harappan site in Kachchh, Gujarat, Western India. Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 2: 545 – 592.
  • Gadekar, C., Ajithprsad, P., Madella, M., Balbo, A., Rajesh, S.V., Rondelli, B., Garćia-Granero, J.J., Rodriguez, D., and Yanitto. V. (2014). Continuation of a tradition over Five Thousand years: Lithic Assemblage from Loteshwar, North Gujarat, Western India. Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 2: 283 – 304
  • Mushrif-Tripathy V., Ajithprasad, P., Madella, M., Mateos, J.L., Rajesh, S.V., Rondelli, B., Saiz J.C., Lancelloti, C., Gadekar C. and Garcia Granero, J.J. (2014). Osteological study of a human skeleton excavated from Vaharvo Timbo, district Patan, Gujarat. Man and Environment XXXVIX(1): 46 – 51.
  • Gadekar, C., Rajesh, S.V., Shaikh, S., Chase, B., Rawat, Y.S., Patel, A., Abhayan, G.S., Vinod, V., Ajit Kumar and Ajithprasad, P. (2014). Typological analysis of Chalcolithic lithic assemblage from Navinal, District Kachchh, Gujarat, western India. Man and Environment XXXVIX(1): 92 – 105
  • Gadekar, C.S., Rajesh, S.V. & Ajithprasad, P. (2014). Shikarpur Lithic Assemblage: New questions regarding Rohri chert blade production. Journal of Lithic Studies (1): 137 – 149 DOI  10.2218/jls.v1i1.764
  • Rondelli, B., Lancelotti, C., Madella, M., Pecci, A., Balbo, A., Perez, J.R., Inserra, F., Gadekar, C., Ontiveros M.N.C. and Ajithprasad, P. (2014). Anthropic activity markers and spatial variability: an ethnoarchaeological experiment in a domestic unit of Northern Gujarat (India). Journal of Archaeological Science 41: 482 – 49
  • Gadekar, C., Ajithprasad, P & Madella, M. (2013). Crested ridge technique and lithic assemblage from Datrana, Gujarat. Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 1: 16 – 28.
  • Madella, M., Ajithprasad, P., Lancelotti, C., Rondelli, B., Balbo, A., French, C., Rodriguez, D., Garcia-Granero, J.J., Yannitto, V., Rajesh, S.V., Gadekar C.S. and Briz I. (2010). Social and environment transitions in arid zones: the North Gujarat Archaeological Project – NoGAP. Antiquity. Vol. 084 Issue 325