The idea of this book was first suggested by Sri. J.P.Joshi (Ex. D.G, ASI) and Dr. Agam. Prasad of Agam Kala Prakashan way back in 2000. Later while taking classes on Pre and Proto History of Orissa in Utkal University and Utkal University of Culture both in Bhubaneswar, it was seen that the materials on the subject was scarce and scattered. Then the only book available was published long back in the 60's which, only dealt with the Lower & Middle Palaeolithic and Mesolithic cultures of Orissa and at that time Upper Palaeolithic culture was unknown in Orissa. Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Iron Age (Megalithic) were not discussed. The materials on later researches in this field are scattered in various journals, edited volumes and are lying unpublished in the libraries of various Universities in the form of M.Phil disserta tions and PhD thesis.

Milan Kumar Chauley born in 1974 at Bihar Sharif, Distt. Nalanda, Bihar. Completed his schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya. Did his graduation from Utkal University, with Honors in History in 1994, with 1st class, secured IIIrd position in the University for which he was awarded National Scholarship. Completed his Masters in A.I.H.C & Archaeology from Deccan College, Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, in 1996, with 1st class. Completed P.G. Diploma in Archaeology in 1998 from the Institute of Archaeology, A.S.I, New Delhi with 1st class. Completed Diploma in Tourism From IGNOU with 1st class and Diploma in Museology from Solapur University, securing 1st class with distinction. He was awarded PhD in Archaeology from Utkal University in 2005.

Prehistory and Protohistory is a fascinating subject, which deals with the dawn of human cultures and its subsequent development through millions of year.

Prehistory as a subject has always been a hard nut to crack for me. Though, I had my masters from one of the most revered institutions in India and abroad i.e. Deccan college. I was a student of general Archaeology there. But in the first year as foundation course we were taught all the basics that an archaeologist needs to know, whether belonging to the field of Prehistory, Art, Architecture or Iconography. After joining the Institute of Archaeology, where we were taught all the branches of archaeology, here, I realized that all that I had learnt in Deccan College came handy, when in field. I always had an edge, when it came to field archaeology, especially when studying the artifacts and the ecofacts available at the site. Then in co-relating the past data with the present (ethnographical investigations) and interpreting the past, which became much easier.

**Contents and Sample Pages**