Black and Red Ware Culture in West Bengal/Asok Datta. 1995, xv, 270 p., 49 plates, figs., $33.
Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. An overview of black and red ware culture in eastern India. 3. Geology and geomorphology. 4. Distribution of sites. 5. Excavated sites. 6. Classification of pottery. 7. Pottery paintings. 8. Iron technology. 9. Nature of transition. 10. Ecological background. 11. Minor antiquities. 12. Burial customs. 13. Epilogue. Bibliography. Index.
"The black and red ware or the so called chalcolithic culture in West Bengal was initially identified by late P.C. Dasgupta subsequently it was recognised through his excavation at Pandurajardhibi in the early sixties. Since then, at least, seventy eight black and red ware sites have been discovered with its core centre in the Ajay-Damodar divide. Archaeological research on black and red ware culture for the last three decades has brought about many changes in our approaches to the concept, structure and many other related issues connected with these early agricultural communities of West Bengal. But unfortunately despite this work, no comprehensive account on black and red ware culture in West Bengal is available. The present volume is expected to fulfil this long demand." (jacket)
[Asok Datta teaches Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology, Calcutta University. He also wrote Palaeohistory of Man and His Culture and Neolithic Culture in West Bengal.]
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