Modelling urban settlement in Early Historical and Early Medieval South Asia: the case of Mahasthangarh, Bangladesh
Résumé
The urban character of Mahasthangarh—the ancient Pundranagara, north of the modern city of Bogra in Bangladesh—is attested since its foundation around the 4th century BCE and it is still vivid today. However, the characterization of its urban traits at the different periods of occupation is still unclear despite the fact that archaeological research conducted on the site and its surroundings has started in the 19th century and has been carried out continuously since then.
How was the layout organised within the citadel through time? Was it in accordance with the prescriptive texts? How were the different kinds of human activity (agriculture, craftwork, mobility) set up within the citadel and in the surroundings? What was the place of Mahasthangarh in the local, regional and maritime trade and in the political framework?
Through this presentation, we will try to confront and to combine the written and archaeological sources to trace this development. In doing so, we will present and put in context the last results of the excavation campaigns conducted on the site.