Campus Times | Lucknow

In a rare blend of classroom learning and real-world discovery, students from the Department of History at National P.G. College, Lucknow, stepped into the past during a live excavation visit to Hulaskhera Excavation Site.

The one-day visit, organised by the college’s history department and led by its head Dr. Akriti, aimed at giving undergraduate students practical exposure to excavation techniques and heritage studies.

At the site, experts from the Archaeological Survey of India briefed students on ongoing excavation work and demonstrated methods of digging, documentation, and preservation. Students also interacted with field teams to understand how artefacts are identified and handled.

Officials highlighted key discoveries from the site, including a Kartikeya idol from the Kushana period and large storage vessels, which point to the presence of an early settlement dating back to the Kushana–Gupta era. Structural remains, including exposed walls, offered insights into ancient habitation patterns and town planning.

Students were also introduced to the use of GPS and remote sensing in archaeology, underlining how modern technology is aiding site mapping and analysis.

Faculty members said the visit helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and field practice. “Such exposure allows students to better understand the complexities of excavation and conservation,” a department representative said.

Students described the experience as “eye-opening”, noting that seeing buried structures emerge from the ground gave them a deeper appreciation of India’s historical legacy.

The college said it plans to continue such field-based learning programmes to encourage research interest and critical engagement with history beyond textbooks.