This book is the result of the visit Dr. S.P. Gupta paid to the USSR and his laborious research of the Russian scientific literature. This work could not have been possible without long contacts between Indian scholars and Soviet archaeologists. This is a wonderful example of fruitful international cooperation and it would be better if S.P. Gupta's experience inspires his colleagues who are interested in the later periods of archaeology of Central Asia.
The necessity to publish quite extensively the achievements of Soviet archaeology in the sphere of studies in the ancient past of this country was felt long back. At present more specialists from various countries of the world visit the Central Asia and acquaint themselves with the archaeological sites and monuments, including the prehistoric ones. However, very few of our colleagues sufficiently well know the Russian language and therefore a considerable number of various publications remain inaccessible. (At present only on the palaeolithic of the Central Asia five monographs and over 200 scientific papers have been published). This gap cannot be filled by a few articles published in recent years in European languages. All the above mentioned things underline the value of the book, written by the well-known Indian scholar; it sufficiently extensively covers the Central Asian archaeological material. The author has very well succeeded in trying to create the full picture of the present idea of the given subject.
E.J. Brill (Leiden) for our Vol. II, Figures G. 1, M. 3.6, and M. 3.7 based on the illustrations published by them in G. Frumkin's book Archaeology in Soviet Central Asia. ISMEO (Rome) for Figures 2.8, 2.13 (b), 2.15, 2.19, 3.25, 3.26, 3.40, 3.41, 5.8 and a few others, although they had already appeaerd in Russian publications. M. Tosi for Figs. 1.1, 2.20, M. 2.1, Μ. 2.2 Μ. 2.3, Μ. 3. 3, Μ. 3.4, M. 2.5, 5.1, 5.2 and a few others published in Mesopotamia, Vol. VIII-IX (1973-74). G.F. Dales for 5.7. H.D. Sankalia for 1.13. J.F. Jarrige for 2.24, 5.5a, 5.5 (b). B. Lyonnet for 5.3a, 5.3b, 5.3c and 5.3d. Lamberg-Karlovsky for 5.3. Mrs. B. Allchin for 7.25 and 26 of Vol. I.
For the various other illustrations, we very humbly acknowledge the courtesy of several Soviet scholars from whose publications the illustrations have been taken. In some examples, where specific points and views of in-dividual authors were to be made their names appear below the figures. In other examples they have been either modified for our needs, such as those from Sapalli Tepe and Dashly Tepe (After A. Askarov and V.I. Sarianidi respectively) or else they have been reproduced completely as in Vol. I Chapter 2 in which several figures on Pleistocene Geology occur (After A.Y. Dodonov et el, International Symposium on the Neogene Quaternary Boundary Moscow 1977, Guidebook). In this context we must acknowledge the courtesy of V.M. Masson and V.A. Ranov who have been most obliging. Most of the illustrations in Vol. I Chapters from Lower Palaeolithic to Upper palaeolithic and, in Vol. II in Chapter on Bronze Age are from the book Middle Asia, Epoch Stone and Bronze, V.M. Masson (Ed.). Some illustrations on Sapalli Dashly (Late Bronze Age) Culture have been adopted from A. Askarov's book Sapallia Tepa and V. I. Sarianidis article "North Afghanistan in the Bronze Period" which appeared in Afghanistan Vol. XXIV, 2/3 (1971).
But admittedly, this work could not be completed without the goodwill and kind gesture and immense cooperation of several Soviet scholars. To all of them my most grateful thanks are due. Of the several scholars who helped me even in procuring photographs and publications are Prof. V.M. Masson, Prof. P.I. Boriskovsky, Prof. S.A. Semenov, Prof. Y. Knorozov, Dr. A.Y. Seshetenko, Dr. Y. Zadneprovsky and Dr. V. A. Ranov, In this context I must also thank my friend Dr. D.P. Agrawal who very kindly lent me several Russian publications he brought from his recent visit to the USSR.
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