View a T-Rex's jaw fossil, ancient Indian games, and mesolithic tools discovered in Manori among other archaeological treasures at a Mumbai University exhibition
Last year, a bunch of student volunteers, led by six senior researchers and archaeologists, including Dr Suraj A Pandit and Dr Kurush F Dalal, ventured into demarcated areas from Bandra to Thane to unravel hidden facets about the physical and communal heritage of the city.
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A massive amethyst geode from South America
They found sculptural and structural fragments dating back to the Shilahara-Yadava epoch in Thane, Marol and Juhu; prehistoric stone tools at Tulsi Lake and Manori, and cannons from the Portuguese and British eras. This marked the first year of Archaeological Exploration Project of Salsette Island (Bandra to Thane) initiated by Mumbai University's Centre for Extra-Mural Studies (CEMS), India Study Centre (INSTUCEN) and the Sathaye College.
"This year, we have discovered a rock-cut grotto at Gundavli Tekdi, mesolithic tools at Manori, a Persian inscription from Gorai as well as a double burial stone dated 1620-1630 AD in Portuguese from Deonar," informs Dr Dalal.
A T-rex's 60-million-year-old teeth fossil
These objects will be on display at the third edition of a mega exhibition that includes archaeological and geological artefacts, minerals, fossils, weapons, ancient sculptures, flint-knapping (remaking ancient tools), numismatics and ceramics. Objects have been sourced from various collections, including The Deccan College in Pune; The Makki Collection, Pune; The Vikram Rao Collection and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.
Jaw and teeth fossils of an extinct rhino
Some exhibits to look out for include coins of ancient and medieval India, damascened Rajput swords and a Japanese WWII katana. Also, check out a 30-plus metre core of the bedrock of Mumbai, courtesy the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited as part of the exhibition's Geology of Mumbai section. It also displays Deccan basalt, minerals and fossils associated with it along with examples of the fauna found during work in Mumbai.
The earliest known Ganesh idol wearing a Koli dress from CEMS collection
The exhibition includes interactive stalls like stone tool and pottery making, and quiz competitions for kids. The organisers have also created a mock excavation trench that simulates a real archaeological trench, replete with ruins and treasures for school children to find.
Kungser or sholo guti will be featured with nine men’s morris (Navakankari, Navakhade) game. Aadu puli attam (vagh-bakri), ganjifa cards and vitti-dandu in the ancient Indian games section
On: December 14 to 17, 10 am to 7 pm
At: Sports Complex, Mumbai University, Santacruz East
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