Reconstructing Domestic Architecture in Ancient Pundranagar: An Ethno-Archaeological Hypothesis Based on Pāla Period Evidence

Abstract

This paper investigates the domestic architecture of ancient Pundranagar through an ethno-archaeological reinterpretation of existing archaeological excavation data rather than new field excavation. Drawing on structural remains, material findings, and comparative vernacular traditions of northern Bengal, the study constructs a hypothesis on dwelling patterns during the Pāla period. While previous scholarship has largely focused on fortifications, monuments, and administrative structures, residential architecture remains poorly documented due to fragmentary evidence and limited household artifacts. By synthesizing secondary excavation data from the 1928–31 ASI investigations and the 1990s France–Bangladesh joint excavations, alongside living traditions of mud-and-brick construction, this paper proposes a more nuanced understanding of domestic spaces. The study argues that ordinary dwellings likely relied predominantly on unburnt clay walls and mixed-material construction, while burnt brick masonry was restricted to elite households and institutional structures. Roofing systems, semi-open porticos, and courtyard-based layouts are interpreted through both archaeological traces and continuing regional practices. This interdisciplinary approach offers a refined hypothesis of the socio-spatial fabric of Pundranagar and contributes to the broader discourse on ancient urbanism in Bengal.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (Hum.), Vol. 70(2), December 2025, pp. 171-191