Secular Structures of Gangetic Plain: Neolithic-Chalcolithic Age to the Gupta Period

This book is an outcome of my Ph.D. thesis on The study of Secular Buildings in the Gangetic Plain (From Neolithic-Chalcolithic up to Gupta Period) submitted to the Banaras Hindu University, the degree for which was awarded in February 2013. The thesis was supervised by Prof. Vibha Tripathi who helped me to understand the basics of archaeology and architecture and their practical application in the exposed excavated area. To establish a co relation between archaeology and architecture especially secular structure was not an easy task which is why very few scholars have touched this field. The present study has focused on the non religious building unearthed in excavations of the sites of the Ganga Plan. It should be noted that the study of architecture requires information about plan, section and elevation. A close study of the aspects of secular structures of common utility, despite the constraints of limited evidence, has shed light on the social, economic and political life and culture of the Ganga plan.

Contents: Preface. 1. Defining secular structure. 2. Geographical background. 3. Material remains and cultural sequence. 4. Building material and building techniques. 5. Defence structures. 6. The residential structures and the sanitary contrivances. 7. Structures of common utility. 8. Conclusion. 9. Bibliography.