Dr. Sunil Gupta
My main research interests revolve around the theme of trade and civilization with reference to ancient South Asia and the early Indian Ocean World. I earned my doctorate in Archaeology from the Deccan College, Pune (India) on the subject ‘Roman Egypt to Peninsular India: Archaeological Patterns of Trade (1st century BC to 3rd century AD).
In my post doctoral phase I expanded my research from ‘Indo-Roman sea trade’ to the study of exchange networks across the Indian Ocean region, and to the extended links of the IOR with the Mediterranean world in the west and the Indo-Pacific region in the east. Southeast Asia and East Africa are part of my area of study. In recent years, I am engaged with the idea of ancient globalization and the connections of the ancient Eurasian world with the Indian Ocean. It is in this context that my research at WIVA on Viking connections with the Indian Ocean networks becomes relevant.
%20Sunil%20Gupta.jpg)
I have carried out much of my research based at the Allahabad Museum, a national museum under the Indian Ministry of Culture. After my retirement from the position of director, I joined the Prime Ministers Museum in New Delhi as Officer on Special Duty in 2023. After my contract period at the PMS, I joined the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science as Senior Research Fellow from April to July 2024. The project at Max Planck, with the research on it ongoing, focuses on the transmission of astral imageries from the ancient Mediterranean to India in the early centuries CE. I consider it a highlight of my career to be currently part of the WIVA centre as Visiting Researcher. My other engagements include the editorship of the Journal of Indian Ocean Archaeology, published by the Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi and being part of the curation committee of the National Maritime Museum of India coming up near the Bronze Age port of Lothal in western India.
My research theme at the WIVA centre is titled ‘Scandinavian Connections with South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region in the Late Iron Age – Viking Age Periods (400 – 1000 CE)’. My study aims to examine the spread of Viking exchange networks from Scandinavia through western Europe, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions to ‘supply chains’ extending into the Indian Ocean region. In this context, I will study a range of potentially South Asian and Indian Ocean artefacts excavated from Viking sites. These artefacts include various types of glass beads, semiprecious stone beads, cowrie shells, garnets and a recently discovered Buddha like figure. I will carry out the study on Viking networks in ‘deep time’, examining the distribution of trade artefacts in pre-Viking Iron Age levels in Scandinavia.
The Centre has put forward a research framework which breaks popular stereotypes about Viking society and approaches the Viking Age as one of widespread contact, trade, new settlement patterns and innovation. My work on long distance exchange networks investigating Viking connections with the Indian Ocean world fits into the new ‘global’ worldview of the WIVA centre.
What excites you most about collaborating with our team and being part of our Centre?
As one who has visited Uppsala several times, I have a comfortable feeling of belonging. Besides meeting with old colleagues, it is exciting that the WIVA centre is bringing together visiting researchers specialising in far flung connections of the Viking world with Newfoundland, the Iberian peninsula, central Asia and the Indian Ocean world. I think this is a unique cohabitation of scholars studying different aspects of the World in the Viking Age.
What impact do you hope your research will have, either in the academic community or beyond?
I believe the research at WIVA is global in scope. The Viking networks emanating out of Scandinavia across Eurasia allow the creation of a template to ‘integrate’ the Indian Ocean world with the Eurasian Silk Routes. I take this as an opportunity to study long distance maritime networks in complement with the extended land routes. The Eurasian – Indian Ocean integration promises to open up new research avenues and also facilitate cultural policy making.