Rishika has received her Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Vadodara, India. She, then went on to pursue her Master’s from the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University, Netherlands. Currently she is a PhD candidate at Leiden University and her thesis focuses on ancient Afro-Eurasian trade networks and the role of Indian Subcontinent in these exchanges. This will be studied along with the connection between trade and Buddhism across the Indian subcontinent. Her recent fieldwork experience includes excavations at Nani Rayan in Gujarat, India, as well as an internship in Silk Roads ceramics analysis as part of the LID project (Leiden Inventory Depot) at Leiden University.