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| The volumes embody the results of archaeological excavations conducted at Senuwar, district Rohtas, Bihar by Dr. Birendra Pratap Singh, one of the senior-most archaeologist of the Banaras Hindu University who has experience of field research of over three decades. The work highlights the potential of this area in terms of understanding the socio-economic conditions of the Neolithic, Neolithic-chalcolithic and Chalcolithic population. The site provides conclusive evidence of a unilinear evolution of culture in this region from Neolithic to NBPW.
The meticulous investigations at Senuwar have enabled us to reach such deduction that may alter the course of archaeological and historical reconstructions made so far. Comparative study between Neolithic complex of the Belan valley with Senuwar not only reveals the striking similarity but demonstrates the eastward expansion of the former. Senuwar excavation testifies an early contact of Senuwarians with Indus civilization and the South Indian Neolithic folk.
Volume II has been synthesized to bring together the broad ranging and thought provoking articles by some learned scholars of diverse scientific backgrounds, to mark a close-knit integration with the economy, technical skills and the exploitation of material wealth of ancient settlers at Senuwar. Dr. R.S. Pappu, an archaeologist and Quatonamy geomorphologist attached to the Deccan College, Pune has contributed to 'Site Catchment Analysis'.The welcome narrative on plant economy has been contributed by Dr. K.S. Saraswat, Senior Scientist at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow and a noted palaeoethnobotanist of the country. He is known to have extensively contributed to the overall archaeological perspective of Harappan-culture in the Middle Ganga Plain. His approaches have offered a body of empirical evidence against which archaeological models are being evaluated. On plant remains from Senuwar excavations, botanical approach opens up avenues to conceptualize the growth and concomitant development of agriculture based economy from the earliest Neolithic to Chalcolithic times, and also furnishes information on economic and ecological background of ancient settlers in this region. The empirical data produced by Senuwar excavations is exceedingly important to surmise that Harappans in north-western regions in India, during much earlier time, did have substantial influence in the agricultural development of far distant areas in the east. The diffusion of the founder crops of Harappan economy, must have had entailed the modifications in the technological skills of Neolithic farmers to enhance food production in the rice-growing Kaimur region of Bihar, around 2000 B.C. These results are expected to be reckoned with, in the context of archaeology of Middle Ganga Plain. Dr. Vijay Sathe of the Deccan College, Pune and Dr. G.L. Badam (Joint Director, Deptt. of Culture, Raipur, Chhattisgarh) a renowned Quaternary geologist and palaeontologist has analysed the Faunal remains of the site. Dr. (Mrs.) Anupama Kshirsagar (The Deccan College, Pune) has contributed on the soil sample analysis from the site. Dr. R.N. Singh of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology of the Banaras Hindu University analysed the metal objects from Senuwar and has contributed a valuable appendix.decades, the present volume highlights the potential of this area in terms of understanding socio-economic conditions of the Neolithic, Neolithic-chalcolitchi and Chalcolithic population. One of the important contributions of the excavations of Senuwar is the almost conclusive evidence of a unilinear evolution of the culture in this part of the Continent from Neolithic to NBPW Culture.NBPW Culture.The contribution of various experts viz., Palaeobotanical study by K.S. Sarsawat of BSIP, Lucknow, catchment study by R.S. Pappu, osteological study of the faunal remains by G.L. Badam and Vijay Sathe, pedological study of soil samples by A. Kshirsagar, all of the Deccan College, Pune and metallurgical study by P.K. Chattopadhyay of SAIL, Durgapour and R.N. Singh Of BHU in collaboration with John F. Merkel, Institute of Archaeology, London gives an idea of scientific and technological development of inhabitants of Middle Ganga Plain particularly of the Kaimur region. The contribution of various experts viz., Palaeobotanical study by K.S. Sarsawat of BSIP, Lucknow, catchment study by R.S. Pappu, osteological study of the faunal remains by G.L. Badam and Vijay Sathe, pedological study of soil samples by A. Kshirsagar, all of the Deccan College, Pune and metallurgical study by P.K. Chattopadhyay of SAIL, Durgapour and R.N. Singh Of BHU in collaboration with John F. Merkel, Institute of Archaeology, London gives an idea of scientific and technological development of inhabitants of Middle Ganga Plain particularly of the Kaimur region.The book is significant work of scholarship, a path breaking study in the archaeology of the Middle Ganga Plain which incorporates the latest research in the field, lucid and accessible. Profusely illustrated with line drawings, plates, tables, maps and histograms. |
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