Acknowledgement

The author gratefully acknowledges the help, assistance and encouragement received from different quarters during the progress of the investigation.

Dr. D.B. Mishra, the Supervisor of the Project, has rendered invaluable help with his suggestions, corrections of the drafts and, most importantly, his keen and zealous supervision of every stage of the progress which have made it possible for the work to come to the final stage. The author records his deep sense of gratitude and pays his warmest tributes to him on the occasion.

The author acknowledges the kind help of Sri A.K. Sharma, who has been supervising excavations since 1999 till date and publishing Reports and Books on different aspects of Archaeology from time to time, for allowing him to be associated with his works of excavation since 2005. The scholar is greatly beholden to him for his generous help.

The members of the staff of G.M. College Library, Sambalpur; Orissa State Library, Bhubaneswar; Orissa State Museum, Bhubaneswar; Mahant Ghasi Das Museum, Raipur; Sirpur Museum, Sirpur, Chhatisgarh; N.K. Sahu Museum, Sambalpur University; and Sambalpur University Library, Jyoti Vihar, Burla have rendered very kind help to the author during his visits to their respective institutions.

The author also expresses his thankfulness to his parents -Sri S.M. Pradhan and Smt. K. Pradhan, brother Firoj, wife Ketaki and son Vineet have given him their encouragement and cooperation in this work.

Sri M.N.C. Pillai, Retd. Steno, G.M. College (Autonomous), Sambalpur who has worked day in and out and made the excellent D.T.P. works deserve his special thanks.

The author wishes to acknowledge his sincere thanks to Sri Alok Ku.

Pradhan, Alok Studio, Sariya (Chhatishgarh) and Sri B.K. Guru, Samaleswari Xerox, Sambalpur for their excellent scanning and Photoshop works.

The author especially thanks Dr. S.K. Pradhan–Lecturer in History, Hills College of Teacher Education, Naharlagun (Arunachal Pradesh), Dr. M.M. Sahu, Lecturer in History, Belkhandi College, Belkhandi (Kalahandi), Ahalya Gartia, another Lecturer in History, Remuly College, Remuli, Keonhjhar District and Yogesh Chandra Mishra, an Assistant Engineer of Electrical Wing, M.S.P., Marhakuta, Jharsuguda for their help and co-operation during the course of this work.

(Bikash Chandra Pradhan)