Ancient Bangladesh A Study of the Archaeological Sources

by Chakrabarti, Dilip K.; Shamsuddin, S. Dara; Alam, M. Shamsul

• ISBN13: 9780195628791
• ISBN10: 0195628799
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1993-01-28
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Although the modern nation state of Bangladesh has long been known to possess rich archaeological sources--especially of the historical periods--there is a dearth of publications analyzing their scope and detailed pattern. The present volume, based on the researches of Bangladeshi and other scholars, as well as on the author's own fieldwork and a first-hand study of the material, offers a coherent and connected account of the available archaeological knowledge of that country. This book contains, among other things, a detailed aboriginal study of the prehistoric and early historic situation in Bangladesh, and points out the wealth and diversity of explored and excavated sites of the later periods.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction	p. 1
Geographical Background	p. 1
Ancient Historical Geographical Units	p. 22
A Brief Review of Archaeological Research in Bangladesh and the Scope of the Present Work	p. 25
Prehistory: A Fossilwood Industry in the Lalmai Hills	p. 31
The Finds of Neolithic Celts	p. 31
The So-Called Palaeolithic Specimen from Rangamati, Chittagong	p. 33
The Palaeolithic Scraper from Chhagalnaiya	p. 33
The Discovery in the Lalmai Hills	p. 34
The Inventory of Sites and Artifacts	p. 34
Stratigraphy and Other Issues	p. 41
Early History	p. 44
Mahasthangarh	p. 44
The Other Relevant Sites in North Bengal	p. 51
Wari-Bateshwar and the Associated Evidence from the Padma-Meghna Deltaic Region	p. 56
Discussion	p. 62
The Excavated Data: The Stupas, Monasteries and Temples	p. 67
The Dynastic Framework	p. 67
The Excavated Data	p. 89
Miscellaneous Data on Ancient Settlements	p. 143
Surface Survey	p. 143
Inscriptional Data	p. 162
The Issue of 'Hirikela Coinage'	p. 166
The Evidence of Sculpture	p. 170
Summary	p. 172
References	p. 186
Appendix	p. 188
Index	p. 199
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