Inscriptions of Nature: Geology and the Naturalization of Antiquity

Pratik Chakrabarti's book "Inscriptions of Nature" explores how the deep history of nature became a dominant paradigm of historical thinking in the 19th century, through the study of landscapes of India. It argues that the deep history of the earth was inscribed in the study and imagination of antiquity and was complicit in the European and colonial appropriation of global nature, commodities, temporality, and myths. The book provides insights into state formation, mining of natural resources, and the creation of national topographies, and reveals how human evolution, myths, aboriginality, and colonial state formation fundamentally defined Indian antiquity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 13 October 2020
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

In the 19th century, a remarkable transformation occurred in the way humans interacted with the earth. Teams of men embarked on extensive digging projects, driven by various motivations such as sewage, transportation, and mineral extraction. These excavations often yielded unexpected findings, including the discovery of human remains. At other times, archaeological excavations in ancient cities unearthed prehistoric fossils, while irrigation canal excavations revealed buried cities. Simultaneously, geologists, ethnologists, archaeologists, and missionaries delved into ancient texts, genealogies, and indigenous populations' lives and bodies, uncovering their myths, legends, and pasts.

This multidisciplinary exploration was intricately intertwined, as each pursuit sought to understand the earth and its inhabitants in different ways. The deep history of nature, landscape, and people became deeply inscribed in the study and imagination of antiquity, shaping the way we perceive the world today.

In his groundbreaking book, Inscriptions of Nature, Pratik Chakrabarti makes a compelling argument that the deep history of nature, landscape, and people was intricately intertwined with the study and imagination of antiquity. This book is the first to position deep history as a manifestation of political, economic, and cultural power, highlighting its role in the European and colonial appropriation of global nature, commodities, temporalities, and myths. Chakrabarti's work offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between nature and history, challenging the conventional understanding of these two realms.

Through a meticulous examination of the Indian subcontinent, Chakrabarti explores how the deep history of the earth became pervasive within historical imaginations of monuments, communities, and territories in the 19th century. He analyzes the processes by which these historical imaginations were shaped, shedding light on the complex interplay between nature, culture, and power. By studying the landscapes of India, Chakrabarti provides a rich and nuanced understanding of how the deep history of nature became a dominant paradigm of historical thinking.

In conclusion, Inscriptions of Nature is a groundbreaking work that challenges our understanding of the relationship between nature and history. By examining the 19th-century excavation projects in India, Chakrabarti demonstrates how the deep history of nature became a dominant paradigm of historical thinking. This book offers a valuable contribution to the field of history, shedding light on the complex interplay between nature, culture, and power and providing a fresh perspective on the past.

Weight: 524g
Dimension: 161 x 235 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421438740