Robert Bruce Foote (22 September 1834 – 29 December 1912) was a British geologist and archaeologist who conducted geological surveys of prehistoric locations in India for the Geological Survey of India. For his contributions to Indian archaeology, he is called the father of Indian prehistory.[1][2][3][4] He discovered the site of Attirampakkam (then part of the Madras Presidency, near Chennai), a Madrasian culture.[5][6]
Robert Bruce Foote | |
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 | |
| Born | 22 September 1834 |
| Died | 29 December 1912 (aged 78) |
| Resting place | Ashes- Holy Trinity Church, Yercaud, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Known for | Geology and archaeology of India |
Work
editFoote joined the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on 29 December 1858 and was posted in the Madras Presidency, Hyderabad State and Bombay Presidency. An interest in Paleolithic life was inspired by the work of Joseph Prestwich in 1859. In 1863, after his archaeological survey began, he discovered India's first conclusive Paleolithic stone tool (a hand axe). He found the tool in southern India (Pallavaram, near Madras). After the discovery, he and William King went on to discover more such tools and settlements in Southern and Western India. In 1884, he discovered the 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) long Belum Caves, the second largest cave in the Indian subcontinent.[7] In 1887, he became a Director of the GSI, and retiring in 1891, he joined the state of Baroda.
As a geologist, one of his significant contributions[citation needed] to Indian geology was the "Geological Features of the South Mahratta Country and Adjacent Districts" (i.e., Border districts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh States in India).
Foote built a valuable collection due to 40 years of geological and pre-historic expeditions in various parts of western and southern India. Foote's collection of antiquities was all sold to the Madras Government Museum in 1906, where it is quoted to be a valuable treasure.[8]
Later Life
editLater, he settled in Yercaud, where his father-in-law Reverend Peter Percival had worked and lived.[9]
Death
editHe died on 29 December 1912 and was cremated at Calcutta; his ashes were deposited at Holy Trinity Church, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India. There is a memorial to him there.[10] Foote was a Fellow of the Geological Society, London, from 1867 and a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute.
Family
editHis grandson was Major General Henry Bowreman Foote, who was the recipient of the Victoria Cross for his contributions to realm's defence during the Second World War.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Avari, Burjor (2016). India : a History of the Indian Subcontinent from c. 7000 BCE to CE 1200 (2nd ed.). New York: Taylor and Francis. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-317-23673-3. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Rao, V.R. (2007). Human origins, genome and people of India : genomic, palaeontological & archaeological evidences. Kolkata: Anthropological Survey of India. p. 281. ISBN 81-8424-199-2. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Allen, Charles (2017). Coromandel : a personal history of South India. London: Little, Brown. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-4087-0539-1.
- ^ Kandaswamy, Deepa (15 October 2016). "Robert Bruce Foote: The father of India's prehistory". Mint. HT Media. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Avari, Burjor (5 June 2007). India, the Ancient Past: a history of the Indian sub-continent from c. 7000 BC to AD 1200. Routledge. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-0-415-35616-9. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ Kenneth Oakley (30 April 2007). "Paleolithic Cultures in Asia". Frameworks for Dating Fossil Man. Transaction Publishers. pp. 229–. ISBN 978-0-202-30960-6. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Underground adventure in Belum caves". Deccan Herald. 27 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 June 2008.
- ^ Rao, Satyanarayana (4 June 2013). "Tracing Foote's steps in Bellary". Deccan Herald. No. Bangalore. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ Chakrabarti, Dilip K. (1979). "Robert Bruce Foote and Indian Prehistory". East and West. 29 (1/4): 11–26. JSTOR 29756503.
- ^ Subramanian, T (8 July 2009). "The trail of two British innovators in India". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2013.