Journey to Wari-Bateshwar, an ancient urban center revealing Bengal's earliest global trade connections.
Archaeological findings in the Wari-Bateshwar region, located in Bangladesh's Narsingdi district approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Dhaka, have revealed one of the oldest urban centers in Bengal. First brought to prominence by local schoolteacher Hanif Pathan in 1933, excavations indicate a fortified city dating back to at least 450 BC, with evidence suggesting habitation from the 6th century BC. This discovery significantly reshaped understandings of early urbanization in the delta, demonstrating a sophisticated settlement predating previous estimations.
Wari-Bateshwar thrived as a crucial riverine port on the Old Brahmaputra, acting as a pivotal hub for ancient global trade. Archaeological evidence, including rouletted ware, knobbed ware, Indo-Pacific glass beads, and silver punch-marked coins, confirms extensive commercial connections with Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Mediterranean, including the Roman Empire. Many scholars identify Wari-Bateshwar as 'Sounagora,' the prominent emporium detailed by the 2nd-century Greek geographer Ptolemy, underscoring ancient Bengal's deep involvement in international commerce.
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Correct Answer: Narsingdi
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