Archaeologically Vidarbha is one of the most important and richest regions of the country. It has played a vital role during the Early Historic period as a cultural catalyst to pass the traditions of the north to south and vice versa. Among such cultural traditions, terracotta art was also played its part during Early Historic period of Vidarbha. The present book throws light on the artistical and typological as well as socio- religious profile of the ancient society of the Vidarbha through four phases, ranging from the Late Fifth Century BCE to Late Fifth Century CE as gleaned through the terracotta art.

A large number of terracotta art objects are reported from the various excavations as well as explorations in Vidarbha. Terracotta art traditions had begun from the Chalcolithic period onwards and increase in the Early Historic period. This was the period when Vidarbha region enjoyed terracotta art to its fullest extent. During said period the multi-dimensional clay modeling activities in the Vidarbha appears to be of significant value. Due to the political and cultural evolution urban centers came up and flourished. The internal as well as external Indo-Roman trade helped in exchange of ideas and techniques.

Adaptation and modification of some of the foreign elements appear to have influenced art and craft traditions immensely. For a proper understanding of these aspects, it is imperative to have reliable data in the form of excavated objects coming from well stratified archaeological horizons. In accordance, the present book is the first comprehensive work on the Early Historic terracotta art of Vidarbha.

The author critically analyses the published and unpublished terracotta art objects to understand the types, forms, styles and techniques related to various cultural phases of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The four Phases are representing different cultural changes in the art established the fact that Vidarbha terracotta have their own distinct regional identity with some stylistic as well as theme based influence from outside. The author has also traced the artistical and typological continuity in the terracotta art from early to late phases.

The stylistic comparison of terracotta art of the early historic period from Vidarbha along with other art forms of the Early Historic phase in India reflects the flow of thoughts and concepts in the contemporary society. It also establishes the developmental stages of the Early Historic terracotta art of Vidarbha and the surrounding region. The social and religious aspects of the life in the Early Historical period of this region have also be understood on the basis of the terracotta art.