Itkhori: A Sculptural and Architectural Complex in the Chhotanagpur Plateau (7th13th Centuries CE)

One Of The Features Of The PostGupta Development Is The Proliferation Of Ritual Centres Of Various Sizes, Which Are Mostly Accompanied By Sculptural And Architectural Remains. These Features Can Be Observed In Varying Degrees All Over The Subcontinent. The Current Level Of Documentation Of All These Sites Leaves Much To Be Desired. The Book On Itkhori At The North Western Edge Of The Chhotanagpur Plateau Is A Significant Exception In This Regard. Itkhori Is Still A Living Site. The Authors Have Studied The Site In Detail, Placing It In The Context Of A Regional Development Beginning With The Chalcolithic And Later BlackAndRed Ware Culture. The Itkhori Mound And The Mounds Nearby Are On A Much Grander Scale, The Entire Area Being Full Of Sculptural And Architectural Remains. The Strength Of The Book Is That It Has Attempted A Thorough Documentation Of What Is Available At The Site, Putting Together, Among Others, A Catalogue Of About Five Hundred Sculptures And Architectural Members With All Their Iconographic Details And Explanations. This Catalogue Is By Itself A Formidable Academic Achievement. This Work Is A Scholarly Effort On This Scale Has Yet Been Attempted In The Archaeology Of Eastern India After Debala MitraS Report On Ratnagiri Excavation. This Is A Model Which Should Be Followed In The Case Of Major And Minor Ritual Centres All Over India.