Prompting us to re-read and re-write parts of what we know about ancient Bengal, this book primarily delves into the Wari-Bateshwar archaeological sites to establish a historically important factual link between military and society in the stream of time. The volume takes us through a thrilling and historically compelling journey through systematically researched historical data, artifacts, and ecofacts from this rather uncharted archaeological site.

The work successfully infuses geo-political and geo-strategic analyses together with recovered military artifacts, terracotta and stone sling bullets, artillery ammunition, dantakantaka, spearheads etc. which are pertinent to military strategy and history of the period. It also frequently draws parallels to other contemporary civilizations based on unique interpretations.

The author applies a scholarly style in composing his detailed research into this literary piece beginning artfully by portraying a wider context of defensive features and fortifications of different ages and locations of the world. His brilliance is further pronounced in the part of the book that follows, where he presents a minute and detailed analysis of Wari-Bateshwar and its surrounding areas from a purely military strategic perspective. This part also serves to excite the archaeology-enthusiasts and is an eye-opener for the type of study which can be done at the many fortified historic sites of the subcontinent.

While describing the military history of Wari-Bateshwar, the volume combines an array of military aspects like tactics, strategy, principles of war, ethos, terrain analysis, forts, fortifications, organizational structures, weapons and even mentions of military music. Based on intensive and extensive field surveys and research, the present work makes a precious new contribution to the knowledge on military and defence systems of ancient Bengal. The work also places all the forts of Bangladesh in a single map for the very first time. With brilliant reasoning skills and inferences, the volume aptly identifies the fort-city Wari-Bateshwar as Gange, the ancient capital city of economically and militarily superior Gangaridai nation that was situated in the confluence of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.

With an enormous volume of multidisciplinary information contained in the book on ancient Bengal and contemporary civilizations, this should be regarded as a must-read for students of history and archaeology, military personnel, and enthusiasts.

Contents:

Foreword

Preface

Abstract

List of Illustrations

I. Introduction

II. Genesis and Development of Military Fort and Fortification Through the Ages

III. Wari-Bateshwar: An Archaeological Inquest of its Military History

IV. Journey to the Trails of Kings: An Archaeological Inquest to the Forts and Fortifications with Defence System in Ancient Bangladesh and Indian Subcontinent

V. Summary and Conclusions     

Appendix I: Armed Forces of the Dynasties of Ancient India and Bangladesh

Appendix II: List of Officials: Appointed by Various Dynasties of Ancient Bangladesh

Appendix III: Bana’s Description of Harsavardan’s Army on the Move to the Battlefield

Appendix IV: List of Forts and Border Outposts/Buruj/Watchtowers of Ancient Bangladesh

Bibliography

Index