ARCHAEOLOGICAL ATLAS OF BIHAR BY VIVEK KUMAR SINGH (BIHAR HERITAGE DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY) HARDCOVER

‘Archaeological Atlas of Bihar’, published in both English and Hindi, . For all intents and purposes as many as 800 photographs and 21 maps embellish this 400-four colour page atlas. This atlas is divided into three sections; while the first two covers as many as 71 sites protected by the Union government and 54 by the Government of Bihar, the third section covers the archaeological sites located in different divisions of Bihar. Maps detail time periods and factors that led to the evolution and development of the sites. Published by the Bihar Heritage Society and distributed by study Today Publications Pvt. Ltd., this low priced book is the first of its kind in India. It deciphers the supremely rich but complex cultural heritage of Bihar, based on the most updated and reliable archaeological and geographical database covering prolong years of the state’s human history. Photographs of sculptures, potsherds or broken pieces of ceramic, artefacts, buildings, ruins and monuments add context to mythologies, historical accounts, travelers' tales and folk stories. The publication, said to be the first of its kind and took seven years of ground work with the technical team covering over 25,000 Kilometers on the ground to collect the data from every nook and corner of the state. Being an integral part of showcasing heritage, archaeo-tourism in the state has tremendous potential. This atlas will be of immense significance in highlighting the archaeological sites as tourist destinations in the state of Bihar. It will not only prove to be a tool to endorse cultural tourism but will promote public interest in archaeology and the conservation of historical sites scattered all over state.