PU to analyse remains of soldiers killed in 1857 revolt

Bhartesh Singh Thakur 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, August 14 

Panjab University (PU) has entered a research agreement with the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Genrmany, to analyse the archaeological remains of soldiers, who mutinied against the British Government. The remains were recovered from Ajnala, Punjab, in 2014. 

At present, Dr Jagminder Sehrawat of the Anthropology Department, PU, is investigating the remains. As per the agreement, the purpose of this research collaboration will be to undertake scientific analysis of archaeological  remains using stable isotope analysis. “This method can provide a new insight into different aspects of human lifestyle such as diet, mobility and life histories,” said Michael D Petraglia, Professor of Human Evolution and Prehistory of Max Planck Institute, in a letter to Dr Sehrawat.  This joint project will add data to the existing biological, anthropological and the DNA data obtained by Sehrawat’s lab. 

Over 250 mutineers are believed to have been executed — most shot in the head — on August 1, 1857, at Ajnala (Amritsar). They were buried in a well. 

A gurdwara had come up over the well over the years. But when a new building was raised, the Gurdwara Shaheed Gunj Management Committee decided to dig the well, known as ‘Kalianwala Khu’ (black people’s well). 

The digging started on February 28, 2014, and went on till March 2.

Sehrawat led a team of research scholars from his department to collect the remains. “We can know their age, gender, cause of death, nativity, migration pattern and even the caste of a person after the project is over,” said Dr Sehrawat. He secured close to over 6,000 teeth in airtight boxes. About 36 intact skulls were also recovered. Most of them have a bullet shot in the head. In some cases, the stone bullets are still embedded. 

However, his team had managed to secure over 700 hand and foot remains, about 300 clavicle bones and over 600 parts of skulls and about 15 brain casts during their four-day visit to the site.

Purpose of study

The purpose of this research collaboration will be to undertake scientific analysis of archaeological  remains using stable isotope analysis. At present, Dr Jagminder Sehrawat of the Anthropology Department, PU, is investigating the remains. This method can provide a new insight into different aspects of human lifestyle such as diet, mobility and life histories,” said Michael D Petraglia, Professor of Human Evolution and Prehistory of Max Planck Institute.