Ref ID:	37511
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Rahman, Mizanur Murphy, Charlene Weisskopf, Alison Champion, Louis Castillo, Cristina Fuller, Dorian Q.
Title:	Wari-Bateshwar and Vikrampura: Successful Case Studies in Archaeobotany, Bangladesh
Date:	2019
Source:	Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies
Abstract:	Archaeological research in Bangladesh is a relatively new discipline with archaeological excavations beginning in the late 20th century. The first Archaeology Department in Bangladesh was established at Jahangirnagar University in 1992. As in other tropical areas, palaeo-environmental research has been slow to be adopted and investigated in Bangladesh. This article uses the excavationsof Wari-Bateshwar and Vikrampura as successful case studies of the first systematic environmentalarchaeological recovery undertaken by a joint Anglo-Bangladesh team led by Mizanur Rahmanfrom the Department of Archaeology, Jahangirnagar University (JU) with collaboration from University College London (UCL), Institute of Archaeology. Contrary to the long-held assumptionsregarding the poor preservation and recovery of archaeobotanical remains in tropical conditionsflotation, results from Wari-Bateshwar and Vikrampura proved to be successful. The recovered archaeobotanical remains suggest that the inhabitants at these sites likely practised rice and milletagriculture in permanent settlements, and importantly, further demonstrate that environmental sampling is worthwhile even in the tropical conditions found in Bangladesh.
Volume:	44
Number:	1
Page Start:	62
Page End:	72