The book offers a comprehensive archaeo-historical study of Vidarbha – a vastly sprawling region in the eastern extremity of the present-day Maharashtra State. From the archaeological point of view, the region is distinctly positioned having already thrown up enough evidence of proto-historic human settlements, dating back to the Chalcolithic period, around first millennium BCE. In its effort towards the cultural reconstruction of the Vidarbha region, the study makes use of a relatively unconventional historical-archaeological approach. It employs not only the literary sources, but also the scientific techniques of archaeology, like structural phases, ceramics, coins, inscriptions, archaeo-zoological, and archaeo-botanical remains.

Covering a vast time span from c. 7th-6th centuries BCE to the 6th century CE, this archaeo-historical profile of Vidarbha offers certain fresh insights into the cultural history of the region. It includes, notably, the author’s effort to reconstruct the process of state formation, understand the phenomena of urbanization and de-urbanization, and also the concomitant changes in the material culture. Contextually, the author has reexamined various stages of the history of Vidarbha: from early state formation to de-urbanization during the Satavahana and Vakataka periods. In sum, she has made a serious attempt to place Vidarbha on the cultural map of India during the early period of history and highlight its importance in the processes of state formation in the Deccan – or its importance in the political scenario during c. 7th-6th centuries BCE–6th century CE.

Dr Reshma Sawant is currently working as an ICHR (Indian Council of Historical Research) post-doctoral fellow at Deccan College, Pune.