The present volume embodies a collection of articles grouped into themes which are varied in their scope and orientation. The articles are categorized into four broad sections high-lighting on philosophical and methodological issues, specific contexts of India's prehistory to early history, material practices and technological heritage and ethnological links. A number of well-known scholars have contributed articles to make this a rich and informative volume which will enlighten readers about the present state of research in India. The contributors have explored different and specific contexts and methods of studying the past with the help of archaeology and analytic sciences on the one hand and ethnology and history on the other. The themes of the articles especially look at the interfaces between archaeology and history as tools of knowing the material culture of the past, focusing on the importance of the scientific approach.