Swaveda
Indian history, plainly written.
A short daily post on Indian history — archaeology, genetics, historical linguistics, and the texts. Plus side-by-side translations of public-domain primary works. Plain language; no chest-thumping in either direction.
Plain language
Aimed at any curious reader, not the seminar room. Sanskrit / Pali / Tamil terms get a gloss on first use.
Tradition ≠ evidence
“The Mahabharata describes…” and “the Mahabharata war happened in…” are different sentences, and we don’t silently merge them.
Readers can edit
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Latest articles
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The Carnelian of Sanur: What Micro-Wear Patterns on Iron Age Beads Reveal About Southern Deccan Craft Specialization
A re-examination of micro-drilling wear on carnelian and quartz beads from Sanur, Tamil Nadu, challenges the model of household production, pointing to specialized regional workshops during the South Indian Iron Age.
Rohan Bhattacharya · Aug 17, 2026
The Weight of the Aureus: What the Akkenapally Hoard Reveals About Satavahana Bullion Standards
An analysis of slashed Roman gold coins from the 1959 Akkenapally hoard reveals how the Satavahana dynasty integrated foreign imperial currency into local Deccanese weight standards.
Devika Menon · Aug 17, 2026
The Silt of Keezhadi: What Soil Micromorphology Reveals About Iron Age Flood Cycles
Soil micromorphology at the Keezhadi archaeological site reveals alternating layers of alluvial silt and human debris, challenging assumptions of uninterrupted urban occupation in the Vaigai Valley.
Rohan Bhattacharya · Aug 16, 2026
The Masonry of Vijayanagara: What Longhurst’s 1917 Survey Reveals About Mortarless Construction at Hampi
A 1917 Archaeological Survey of India handbook by Albert Henry Longhurst details how medieval builders at Hampi used interlocking stone joints without mortar to survive seismic activity and deliberate destruction.
Rohan Bhattacharya · Aug 15, 2026
The Digital Concordance: How Mahadevan’s 1977 Grid is Reorganizing Tamil Nadu’s Iron Age Potsherd Debate
The digitization of Iravatham Mahadevan’s landmark 1977 concordance provides archaeologists with a standardized tool to evaluate disputed graffiti marks on Iron Age black-and-red ware.
Rohan Bhattacharya · Aug 14, 2026
Recent translations
All texts →Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 150 · Book 15, Chapter 1: Paragraphical Divisions of This Treatise
Updated Jul 26, 2026
Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 149 · Book 14, Chapter 4: Remedies against the Injuries of One's Own Army
Updated Jul 26, 2026
Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 148 · Book 14, Chapter 3: The Application of Medicines and Mantras
Updated Jul 26, 2026
A note on tone
Swaveda is curious, careful, and dry. There’s no civilizational chest-thumping in either direction here — no “Vedic India invented everything,” no “everything came from outside.” If we get something wrong, tell us. We fix it visibly, with a dated note.