Recent archaeological researches in orissa with special reference to the Early historic phase

There has been a general tendency amongst archaeologists to neglect the lim ited information available for the Early historic period, and pay greater a ttention to the prehistoric and protohistoric periods. Although the region of Orissa comprising of vast deltaic plains, long coast lines with rich min eral and forest resources, which are the most essential components of urban isation has yielded a large number of Buddhist and urban sites of early his toric phase with impressive art and architecture, two Asokan Ediets and man y ancient ports, yet it has received scant attention pertaining to this pha se of research.