Outreach and Public Archaeology

Podcasts

Co-host, Chippin' Away: Journeys into South Asian Archaeology and Anthropology [https://chippinaway.buzzsprout.com/] [@ChippinAwayIND]

Guest, ArchaeoCafé [https://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeocafe-podcast-ep-226-srinivas/]

Guest, Screen of the Stone Age [https://pasc-scpa.ca/sotsa/sotsa-e32]

Ask An Archaeologist!!

Ever had any questions related to the past?! Curious to find out how archaeologists excavate and discover various details of our history?! Have any doubts about various historical and archaeological claims (especially those from the multiple forwards on WhatsApp and videos shared via YouTube)?! Get all your questions and queries answered by an actual archaeologist!! Contact me by email at: akashsrinivas123 [at] gmail.com, with the subject 'Ask an Archaeologist', and I will do my best to help you with your query! 

Invited Engagements

Invited Speaker, Weekly Seminar of the Health and Humanities Division, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India, on the topic 'Ethics and Archaeology in South Asia' (29 July, 2025)

Invited Speaker, PalaeoHome ECR Series, on the topic 'Beyond the Biface: Investigating variability in the Mode 2 lithic technology of the South Asian Palaeolithic through the holistic analysis of select lithic assemblages', as part of the INQUA-HABCOM funded project Palaeolithic Hominins and Habitats: Out of Africa to India (PalaeoHome) (18 September, 2024) [https://www.palaeohome.com/about-speakers] [https://youtu.be/h0eI_4ufgNM] 

Invited Speaker, 125 Years of the Bangalore Club: Major General S.L. Bhatia, the first Indian President of the Bangalore Club, on the topic 'Maj.-Gen. S.L. Bhatia: The Man, The Myth and the Legend', at the Bangalore Club, Bangalore, India (23 April, 2024)

Invited Speaker, EarthWise IITGn, on the topic 'Leaving No Stone Unturned: Tracing (almost) a Century of Prehistoric Research at the Kibbanahalli Palaeolithic Complex', at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, India (12 March, 2024)

Invited Speaker, Ashoka University History Department Monsoon Series 2023, on the topic 'Leaving No Stone Unturned: Tracing (almost) a Century of Prehistoric Research at the Kibbanahalli Palaeolithic Complex', at Ashoka University, Sonipat, India (29 November, 2023)

Invited Panellist, Panel III: Reimagining Access and Outreach, Facing History and Ourselves: Revisiting Archives and Museums in the 21st Century India, under the Archives and Museums programme of the India Foundation for the Arts, at Emami Art, Kolkata, India (2 and 3 December, 2022) [https://indiaifa.org/programmes/archives-and-museums/facing-history-and-ourselves.html][https://indiaifa.org/events/facing-history-and-ourselves-kolkata-november2022.html] [https://youtu.be/QVAOH2773bs?si=0BldIZaaP4XKkUNK]  

Invited Speaker, Humanities Association of Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bangalore, on the topic ‘What Lies Beneath?: An Odyssey into Archaeology and South Asian Prehistory’ (1 October, 2022)

Invited Panelist, Binalot Talks: Online Edition, on the theme ‘Podcasting Prehistory’ as part of the Archaeology for All: A Roundtable Discussion Series on Public Archaeology (22 June, 2022) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDzG4qO9DJc&ab_channel=SchoolofArchaeologyUPDiliman]

Invited Speaker, Let's Connect: Connectivity, Interactivity, Education and Future of Online Archaeology, on the theme of ‘Interactivity and Social Media’, organised by the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, Chennai, India (31 May, 2021) [www.sharmaheritage.com/down-ancient-trails-archaeology-forum-]

Invited Speaker, Binalot Talks: Online Edition, on the topic ‘Variability of Mode 2 technology: A reinvestigation into the implications of the Movius Line and ‘Acheulean-like’ technologies of South, East and Southeast Asia’ (18 November, 2020) [www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GvXZLol6zk] 

Invited Speaker, PalaeoTalks Session I: South Asian Acheulean, on the topic ‘Variability of Mode 2 techno-complexes in the South Asian Lower Palaeolithic: Three case studies of technological and reduction sequence analyses’ (3 May, 2020)

Invited Speaker, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany, on the topic ‘Variability of Mode 2 techno-complexes in the South Asian Lower Palaeolithic: Three case studies of technological and reduction sequence analyses’ (9 September, 2019)

Invited Speaker, Monthly Scientific Meeting of the Geological Society of India, Bangalore, India, on the topic ‘Palaeolithic Investigations at the Kibbanahalli Palaeolithic Complex, Southern Karnataka’ (14 November, 2018)

Museum Engagements

Co-Facilitator, Museum Walk of the S.L. Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, Library and Archives, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, as part of the community engagement initiative Archiving Health Histories organised by the museum and Curating for Culture collective (22 June, 2024)

Invited Speaker at the Celebrating 50 years of the Maj. Gen. S.L. Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, to showcase the podcast series - Rooh, at the Pope Paul VI Auditorium, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore (12 January, 2024)

Co-organiser, Co-ordinator, Invited Speaker and Panellist, at Museums, Medicine and the Masses, a science communication event and podcast launch of the podcast series - Rooh, at the S.L. Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, Library and Archives, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore (14 October, 2023)

Invited Speaker, S.L. Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, Library and Archives, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India, on the topic 'Contributions of Skeletal Remains towards the study of Archaeology' (25 August, 2022) [https://youtu.be/1ihrhH-FMz0] [https://indiaifa.org/events/akash-srinivas-august2022.html]

Co-Facilitator, Museum Walk of the S.L. Bhatia History of Medicine Museum, Library and Archives, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, as part of the History of Everything series organised by the public archaeology forum, Chai with History (20 August, 2022)

Resource Person, World Heritage Week celebrations organised at the Government Museum, Bangalore, India, by the Heritage Club, Department of History, Vivekananda Degree College, Bangalore and the Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore Circle, Bangalore, on the topic 'Sculptures and Stories' (21 November, 2021)

Invited Speaker, Robert Bruce Foote Sanganakallu Archaeological Museum, Ballari, India, on the occasion of the birth anniversary celebration of Robert Bruce Foote, on the topic 'Prehistoric Archaeology in Karnataka: The Contributions and Legacy of Robert Bruce Foote' (22 September, 2021)

Training Session on Prehistory, Human Evolution and Stone Tool Technology, for the museum docent and technical assistants of the Robert Bruce Foote Sanganakallu Archaeological Museum, Ballari, India (27 March, 2020)

Resource Person,  Ballari: Prehistoric and Historic Cultures workshop organised at the Robert Bruce Foote Sanganakallu Archaeological Museum, Ballari, India, on the topic 'Learning in Museums: Utilizing museums as a resource supplementing classroom education' (26 and 27 March, 2020)

Student Engagements

Resource Person, for various colleges and institutes in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and elsewhere in INDIA.

• • Curated an Immersive Experiential Learning workshop on archaeology titled 'What lies Beneath? An Odyssey into Archaeology and South Asian Prehistory' for the students of the Young Students' Program, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, India (28 May, 2024)

  • Curated and Co-ordinated an Immersive Experiential Learning session for the students of the Young India Fellowship Program, Ashoka University, at the Harappan (Bronze Age) site of Rakhigarhi, Haryana, India (29 March, 2024)

  • Workshop on 'An Introduction to Podcasting: The basics on where to start and how to go about it' for members of the History Association of Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bangalore (14 December, 2023)

  • 'Piecing together our prehistoric past: how the sciences uncover its many pieces' at Ashoka University, Sonipat (6 September, 2023)

  • 'When did we become human?: Contextualising Prehistory in the Contemporary World' at Ashoka University, Sonipat (4 September, 2023)

  • 'When did we become human?: Contextualising Prehistory in the Contemporary World' at Ashoka University, Sonipat (13 February, 2023)

  • 'When did we become human?: Contextualising Prehistory in the Contemporary World' at Ashoka University, Sonipat (8 February, 2023)

  • 'What Lies Beneath?: Contextualising Archaeology in the Contemporary World' at the Young India Fellowship Program, Ashoka University, Sonipat (15 December, 2022)

  • 'Archaeology 101: An Introduction to Archaeology and South Asian Prehistory', at Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bangalore (29 January, 2022)

  • 'Introduction to Archaeology, Prehistory and Stone Tools', at the Vivekananda Degree College, Bangalore, on the occasion of the World Heritage Week celebrations organised by the Heritage Club, Department of History, Vivekananda Degree College, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore Circle, Bangalore (20 November, 2021)

  • 'Archaeology 101: An Introduction to Archaeology and South Asian Prehistory', at Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bangalore (6 February, 2021)

  • 'Archaeology 101: An Introduction to Archaeology and the South Asian archaeological record', at Christ PU College, Bangalore (10 August, 2020)

  • 'People Move: Tracing migrations through time and genes', at Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bangalore (22 February, 2020)

  • ‘Exploration and Excavation Methods in Prehistory’, at the University of Mumbai, Mumbai (16 December, 2018)

  • ‘Archaeology: What is it?’, at Christ Junior College, Christ University, Bangalore (15 September, 2014)

  • ‘Archaeology: What is it?’, at Fergusson College, Pune (6 August, 2014)

  • ‘The Kibbanahalli Palaeolithic Complex, Tumkur District, Karnataka’, at Jyoti Nivas College, Bangalore (1 July, 2014)

  • 'Archaeology and Me', at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore (30 November, 2013)

  • 'The Harappan Civilization', at Fergusson College, Pune (31 August, 2013)

  • 'Archaeology and Its Scope in the Present Day', at Christ Junior College, Bangalore (8 November, 2011) 

Public Engagements

Resource Person, for the public archaeology forum Chai with History, INDIA. 

• • ‘Genes and its Stories’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (10 August, 2024)

  • ‘Some aspects of statistics in archaeology’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (4 May, 2024)

  • ‘Archaeology in the 21st Century: Redefining Rituals and Sacrifices’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (6 November, 2021)

  • ‘Archaeology in the 21st Century: Application of Visual Archaeology’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (11 September, 2021)

  • ‘Archaeology in the 21st Century: Application of Cognitive Archaeology’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (14 August, 2021)

  • ‘Archaeology in the 21st Century: Science in Archaeology (Ancient DNA, Palaeoproteomics and Palaeoenvironmental proxies)’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (10 July, 2021)

  • ‘A Mind Set in Stone: A Review of Indian Rock Art’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (20 May, 2017)

  • ‘Dating Archaeology’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (10 December, 2016)

  • ‘A Sojourn into the Prehistoric Mind’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (26 November, 2016)

  • ‘History before History: The Story of Prehistory in India’, organised by Chai with History, Bangalore (5 November, 2016)

Miscellaneous engagements:

• • 'Archaeology: What is it?', at the Rotaract Club of Pune Sinhagad Road, Pune (19 February, 2012)

Media Coverage

Tekkalakota Excavations:

• Prajavani (19 July, 2025): https://www.prajavani.net/district/ballari/prehistoric-excavation-at-tekkalakote-ballary-3414081 

• Hospet Online (17 July, 2025): https://hospet.online/centre-approves-excavation-of-ancient-sites-in-tekkalakote-ballari/ 

India Today (India, August 19, 2024): https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/up-front/story/20240819-archaeology-humans-of-bandhavgarh-2579945-2024-08-09?utm_source=washare&utm_medium=socialicons&utm_campaign=shareurltracking 

Ghughua Fossil Park Fossil Wood tools:

• The Telegraph (Calcutta, May 22, 2024): https://epaper.telegraphindia.com/imageview/471593/45955182/undefined.html 

• Times of India - Times Travel (May 22, 2024): https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/travel-news/madhya-pradesh-prehistoric-artefacts-on-fossil-wood-discovered-in-ghugwa/amp_articleshow/110334489.cms

• The Organiser Weekly (May 24, 2024): https://organiser.org/2024/05/24/239048/bharat/ancient-artefacts-unveiled-in-ghughua-fossil-park-a-glimpse-into-prehistoric-life/ 

The Hindu (Bangalore, November 6, 2016): https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/Tea-with-history/article16438243.ece 

The Indian Express (Bangalore, September 25, 2014): http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2014/sep/25/Blore-Boy-Gets-Erasmus-Mundus-Grant-664917.html 

The Times of India (Delhi, July 14, 2014): http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=ERASMUS-MUNDUS-BECOMES-ERASMUS-14072014152020 

The Times of India (Pune, March 12, 2012): https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/03/megalithic-burial-site-also-place-of.html 

The Times of India (Pune, April 10, 2011): https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Archaeologists-discover-dolmens-at-Shankarpur/articleshow/7929585.cms?fbclid=IwAR0cnWNRVaFhBq9cAModHCjKBjSJJj2L-PuzenOo92AbT1xq1_yB0485834 

Social Media Coverage and Other Features

Featured by the Fergusson College Antiquarians group: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLFEc85Ttq0/?igsh=dDM0MmgzdnVya2F5 (June 19, 2025)

Interviewed by the Office of Sustainability, Ashoka University for the PULSE project on Sustain-a-Chai: Conversations on Sustainability (April 25, 2025)

Research coverage in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (December 2024: page 59): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/1650059/page/60 

Ashoka Bulletin (November 22, 2024): https://www.ashoka.edu.in/sticks-and-stones-how-can-we-understand-past-environments-by-looking-at-stone-tools/ 

Press coverage of the Bandhavgarh Archaeology Project featured in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (September 2024: page 84): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/1447819/page/84

Research paper (Bandhavgarh) featured in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (July 2024: page 97): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/1287683/page/98 

Press coverage of the fossil wood finds featured in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (June 2024: page 79): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/1202972/page/79 

Featured in Beyond High School: A monthly magazine for parents, teachers and high-schoolers by Ashoka University (March 2024: page 8): https://publuu.com/flip-book/196810/1007895/page/8 

Research paper (Mahadeo Piparia) featured on the website of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research, Ashoka University (December 21, 2023): https://www.ashoka.edu.in/revisiting-the-mahadevian/ and in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (January 2024: page 62): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/823005/page/62 

Featured as a faculty of the Ashoka Horizons program (November 6, 2023): https://x.com/AshokaHorizons/status/1721423509774078348?t=JSdwSWVmf6obdDXloDCNTg&s=08 

Sonipat - Sites and Sights, featured in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (April 2023: page 36): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/295740/page/36 

Professor H.D. Sankalia Young Archaeologist Award in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (March 2023: page 60): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/257581/page/60

Professor H.D. Sankalia Young Archaeologist Award (March 3, 2023): https://www.instagram.com/p/CpUU0pBJUog/  

Professor H.D. Sankalia Young Archaeologist Award (March 3, 2023): https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ashoka-university_ashokauniversity-activity-7037315332411170816-ksYn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Professor H.D. Sankalia Young Archaeologist Award (March 3, 2023): https://alumni.ashoka.edu.in/f/dr-akash-srinivas-postdoctoral-fellow-awarded-the-professor-hd-sankalia-young-archaeologist-award-for-2023-by-the-indian-society-for-prehistoric-and-quaternary-studies-ispqs-20547?utm_source=Campusfeed&utm_campaign=Campusfeed-Sharing&utm_medium=Any%20Social%20Network 

Featured as part of the cover story on the Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research in Ashoka Reflections: The Monthly Newsletter of Ashoka University (February 2023: page 21): https://publuu.com/flip-book/70373/232619/page/22 

IFA-SL Bhatia History of Medicine Podcast Series: Featured in the IFA Annual Report 2021-2022, page 33: https://indiaifa.org/website/about_ifa/ifa_ar/AnnualReport2021-2022.pdf 

Panel III: Reimagining Access and Outreach Spotlight, Facing History and Ourselves: Revisiting Archives and Museums in the 21st Century India, at Emami Art, Kolkata (December 3, 2022): https://www.instagram.com/p/Cli6OqMtKIn/

Focillon Social Media spotlights:

• Vidhana Soudha (October 26, 2022): https://www.instagram.com/p/CkLDw06oeGx/ 

• Bhimbetka (October 19, 2022): https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj5drKNI2rk/

• Lalbagh Botanical Gardens (October 12, 2022): https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjmy6DMIoHE/

• Bangalore's Natural Heritage (October 4, 2022): https://www.instagram.com/p/CjSaUBvoIBn/

PhD work (Quaternary Chronicles: Happenings in the Sub-continent 4(2): 7-8 (August 1, 2022)): https://www.aoqr.org/pimages/22340917112876QCVol04N02compressed1.pdf 

PhD work (PaM Newsletter Summer 2022 (June 27, 2022)): https://eaapalaeomesocommunity.wordpress.com/2022/06/27/summer-2022-newsletter/ 

Invited Speaker at the RBF Sanganakallu Archaeological Museum, Ballari, India (September 22, 2021): https://www.instagram.com/p/CUH8kNrByPN/ 

Testimonial on Womxm in Archaeology for Saira Heritage (September 6, 2020): https://www.instagram.com/p/CEwXqBeFfvq/?igshid=16o0i8b51b0al