Archaeometallurgy in India: Studies on Technoculture in Early Copper and Iron Ages in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal

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I have great pleasure in writing a foreword to Dr. P. K. Chattopadhyay's significant work on "Archaeometallurgy in India Studies on Technoculture in Early Copper and Iron Ages in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal". The positive feature of this work lies in the fact that it attempts to trace the origin of copper metallurgy in Eastern India from the copper finds discovered from Senuwar in Rohtas district and that of iron technology from the iron finds discovered from Barudih in Singhbhum district. It is actually from these two centers that technological traditions relating to Early Copper and Iron Age technology travelled to other parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In addition to bringing into focus the notable technological features of Early Copper and Iron technology of Eastern India, Dr. Chattopadhyay has also provided a harmonious and balanced picture of geological and geographical, chemical, metallographical, literary and archaeological data as known form the region of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Besides, the Copper hoard artifacts of Eastern India have been distinguished from the Coppe hoard finds of Western India on the basis of differences in chemical composition. Further, the early Iron-age technology of Eastern India as compared to those of Western India is characterized by mass scale quenching, tempering and carburizing processes. It may, therefore, be said that Dr. Chattopadhyay's work is a valuable contribution in understanding the technology of early copper and Iron Age cultures of Eastern India. It is, in fact, a pioneering work particularly on Archaeometallurgy in Eastern India covering the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. I welcome this publication and recommend the book to the younger generation.

The present study is the outcome of the author's deep interest in the History of Metallurgy in the Indian Subcontinent, particularly in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal for more than two decades. The archaeometallurgical studies made in the region represent the pioneering work based on multidisciplinary approaches and, thus, serve as a basis for future work in this field. I am really fortunate to have the associations with the giants of Indian Archaeology and Archaeometallurgy. My informal contact and endeavour has helped me in acquiring greater knowledge relating to archaeological and archaeometallurgical problems.

This research has been completed with the constant inspiration of my guide, Dr. Basudev Narayan, who has kindly helped me with all the facilities available in Patna University. It is indeed difficult to acknowledge the efforts offered to me by the scholars at large but special thanks are due to the persons mentioned below.

Whenever I wanted any help or information, Prof. D. P. Agrawal, Dr. Vibha Tripathi and Dr. Bhanu Prakash not only helped me immediately, but at the same time, they have informed me of the latest developments in the global context.