The idea of this hook was first suggested by Sri. J.P.Joshi (Ex. D.G, ASI) and Dr. Agam Prasad of Agam Kala Prakashan way back in 2000. Later while taking classes on Pre and Proto History of Orissa in Utkal University and Utkal University of Culture both in Bhubaneswar, it was seen that the materials on the subject was scarce and scattered. Then the only book available was published long back in the 60's which, only dealt with the Lower & Middle Palaeolithic and Mesolithic cultures of Orissa and at that time Upper Palaeolithic culture was unknown in Orissa. Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Iron Age (Megalithic) were not discussed. The materials on later researches in this field are scattered in various journals, edited volumes and are lying unpublished in the libraries of various Universities in the form of M.Phil dissertations and PhD thesis.
So, to do away with these shortcomings, materials on pre and proto historic researches in Orissa were collected, then, adding upon the work of Dr. G.C. Mohapatra with the latest finds on the basis of extensive explorations and excavations carried out in different parts of the state by various scholars and institutions, the emerging scenario on the basis of the new finds and the grey areas in this field have been discussed in this book. |
