The Norwalk Community College Archaeology Club will present a lecture on Firearms and Fortifications: The Historical Archaeology of Military Conflict in Islamic South India, 1450-1600 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10 in East Campus room 229.
This program is free and open to the public.
The guest speaker will be Phillip B. Wagoner Ph.D., Professor of Art History and Archaeology at Wesleyan University. Dr. Wagoner specializes in the architecture, archaeology and cultural history of late medieval and early modern South India.
Gunpowder weapons were introduced into the Indian subcontinent as early as the mid 15th century and by the 16th century are regularly mentioned in historical accounts of sieges and battles. Actual cannons and fortifications survive from pre-colonial India in significant quantities.
Professor Wagoner and historian Richard M. Eaton carried out two seasons of field research in 2005 and 2006, devoted to exploration of 33 early modern fortified sites in southern India. Through this work, they identified and documented more than 100 specimens of early modern cannons, many of which have been preserved in situ on the ramparts of forts.
The NCC Archaeology as an Avocation Certificate Program is designed to train the amateur archaeologist in extensive field work, directed toward the rescue and preservation of local prehistory and history. Success completion of the certificate enables the student to participate effectively in archaeological excavations at home or abroad.
For more information, contact Professor Ernie Wiegand, coordinator of the Archaeology as an Avocation program, at (203)857-7377 or ewiegand@ncc.commnet.edu.
