Distribution of Sites/Settlements

Abstract

The fourth chapter delineates the distribution of sites/settlements and the recorded archaeological assemblages, both excavated and explored. The sites/settlements have been traced out on the basis of the three arbitrary zones and they have been classified for each zone under excavated sites and explored sites. While discussing the individual sites the author has provided an elaborate description of the location, discoveries of antiquities through antiquarian efforts, corroborative references from ancient literary sources, if any, as well as a detailed report of the archaeological findings. The contexts of the findings if known have also been highlighted. In case of excavated sites, details have been given on the basis of the concerned excavation reports. Different aspects of the settlement matrices in association with their chrono-cultural developments have been traced out in the site reports. This chapter constitutes the nucleus of the present reconstruction of the settlement history of coastal Bengal.