Grave truths

Scientists run into India8217;s first cancer patient and rare genetic anomalies after studying the first human skeletons of the Painted Grey Ware PGW era

In November last year, archaeologists discovered two human graves at Abhaipur, a village near Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, belonging to the Painted Grey Ware PGW era8212;the possible setting of Ved Vyas8217;s Mahabharata. As it turns out, they also ran into the remains of India8217;s first cancer patient.

Analysis of the first skeletal remains8212;an adult and a child8212;of the age has yielded rare insights into this important pre-historic age. 8220;The adult skeleton, dating to 1100 B.C., is one of the best preserved in the Indian protohistoric context. It8217;s of a healthy male, about 50-60 years old at the time of his death, and around 180 cm tall. What8217;s important is the rare morphological traits we found,8221; says paleo-anthroploogist Dr S.R. Walimbe of Pune8217;s Deccan College.

Walimbe was handed over the skeletal material for examination by the team who led the excavations8212;Dr Anup Misra and Professor U.P. Arora of M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, Bareilly. The anthropology laboratory of the college8217;s post-graduate and research institute is the only one in the country that carries out research on human skeletal remains recovered during excavations.

Walimbe, who was assisted by Dr Veena Mushrif, also found an instance of Neoplastic bone formation in the femur8212;one of the earliest instances of cancer detected in Indian history. 8220;The lesion in the Abhaipur specimen can be diagnosed as benign neoplasm, where the growth remains solely at the site of origin and tends to spread locally without a generalised bodily effect,8221; said Walimbe. 8220;What8217;s important is that these are the only known skeletal remains of humans dating to that era.8221;

The PGW culture existed in the upper Ganga valley region, spanning Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kashmir, and the striking characteristic of this culture is its pottery, which also gives it its name. The first remains were found at Ahicchatra in Bareilly in 1944.

The examination of the adult skeleton has revealed many genetic anomalies reported for the first time. These include large 8220;wormian bones8221; irregular plate of bone found in sutures between large cranial bones, incompletely fused neural arches of a few vertebrae, age-related degenerative arthritis, joint problems and dental caries.

Walimbe and Mushrif also found an open suture in the forehead of the skeleton. 8220;Not many specimens of open metopic suture are known in India. The frontal bone of the skull at the forehead is divided at birth into two halves by a verticle line or opening called the metopic suture. This suture usually closes between the first and second years of life, but rarely persists throughout life as a discrete suture separating the frontal bone, which is what seems to have happened in the case of this adult. Though not wholly unknown it8217;s a rare anamoly,8221; explains Walimbe.

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Another striking anomaly was the absence of a vertebra in the skeleton. 8220;The care with which the skeletons were removed from their graves leaves no doubt that this anomaly existed before the excavation. The presence of four lumber vertebrae instead of five is very unusual and rare. A few diseases can lead to such a condition but they are accompanied by severe deformities that this individual does not possess,8221; says Walimbe.

The relics are also expected to unfold information on the customs, diseases, gene pool and food habits of the era. The discovery of the graves has already busted the myth that the people of this age cremated their dead. In most big cities of the time, burial sites or cemeteries were found outside the cities. In Abhaipur, the graves were inside the village. 8220;Perhaps only bigger cities had separate cemeteries. Or was this person so important to his society that he was given special treatment? These are some of the questions that need to be studied,8221; Walimbe says.

The other skeleton, presumably of a two-year-old, was discovered in a very poor condition. The femur showed evidence of 8216;Harris lines8217; that indicate childhood illness. The findings by Walimbe and Mushrif will soon be given over for publication in journals.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More