Fw: [Ind-Arch] Archaeologist L.S. Rao passes away

January 27, 2009

Dear Mr.Michael Danino,

Please convey my heart felt condolonces to the family of Mr.L.S.Rao.

B.C.VENKATAKRISHNAN.

----- Forwarded Message ----Michel Danino <micheldIndiaArchaeology <IndiaArchaeology >Saturday, January 24, 2009 9:23:06 PM[ind-Arch] Archaeologist L.S. Rao passes away

It is sad to hear of Shri LS Rao's sudden passing away. He was well known tothe archaeological community and was in the limelight in recent yearsparticularly for his excavations at Bhirrana in Haryana (a Mature Harappansite with Early Harappan dates going back into the Neolithic).I was lucky to meet him a few times, including at the recent tripleconference at Bhubaneswar (December 29-31). He gave a fascinatingpresentation on a unique inscribed terracotta cake from Bhirrana (see hispaper "Does the Inscribed Terracotta Cake from Bhiranna Represent the MatureHarappan Creed?" in the last issue of _Puratattva_ , no. 38, 2008, pp.192-194). He told me that his report on Bhirrana was almost complete and hewould be moving on to other excavations (of Neolithic sites in Karnataka, ifI remember correctly). Eight days later he was no more.Regards,Michel************ ********* *********

********* ********* ********* ********* ********* *********(From an electronic newsletter of archaeology)15.01.2009S A N A T A NEditorDr Alok TripathiYear 2. No. 1 Issue 17Shri L.S. Rao(8.9.1952 - 8.1.2009)Shri L.S. Rao, Superintending Archaeologist, Excavation Branch, Nagpurpassed away onthe night of 8 January 2009 after a massive heart attack.Shri Laxmikant Srinivas Rao was born on 8.9.1952 in village Gungera,district Koppal inKarnataka. He joined the Archaeological Survey of India on 7.10.1976 inAurangabadCircle as Technical Assistant. On 7.10.1992 he became Deputy SuperintendingArchaeologist through UPSC and was posted at Mumbai, Nagpur and Trivendurm.During his service he worked in different fields and different parts of thecountry. Heconducted village-to-village survey in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala andAndhra Pradesh,and problem-oriented

surveys in Kachchh district of Gujarat, Jaintia Hillsin Meghalya, westcoast of Karnataka. Besides, he carried out architectural survey of Cholatemples in Mandyaand Coorg districts and structural temples of Imperial Rashtrakutas inBagalkot, Belgaumand Gadag districts of Karnataka.Shri Rao was a good excavator and was posted at Excavation Branch, Nagpursince28.9.2000. During last three decades he participated in several excavationsincludingDaimabad and Panhale Kazi (Maharashtra) , Ramapuram (Andhra Pradesh),Banawali(Haryana) Dholavira (Gujarat), and also directed important archaeologicalexcavations atJaintia Hills (Meghalaya), Baikal Fort (Kerala) and Bhirrana (Haryana).Excavations atBhirrana has revealed some good evidence shedding fresh light on Harappanculture. Hemade his contribution to various branches of art and archaeology andprojected his works indiverse areas of

research.