The Wari Bateshwar site is located 75km from Dhaka near villages in Narsingdi District. [1] Excavations have uncovered artifacts indicating an ancient urban civilization dating back to at least the 1st century CE, including coins, pottery, and structural remains. [2] The coins in particular suggest a wealthy trading center with a money-based economy and administrative system. [3] Recent excavations have found the remains of a Buddhist temple and other brick structures, further implying the site was an important political and economic hub in ancient Bengal.

1. Know Your Past: Wari Bateshwar

2. ……LOCATION…….
The site is about 75km
from Dhaka situated near
the Wari and Bateshwar
villages in the Belabo
Upazila of Narsingdi
District

3. First Founder of This Ancient
Civilization:
Mohammad Hanif Pathan (right) and his son Mohammad Habibullah Pathan

4. History
Ancient fort city
In Wari-Bateshwar found various
kinds of Artifacts included silver
punch marked coins, copper
plates with inscriptions, terracotta,
broken parts of black-and red
earthenware etc which are the
signs of ancient glory.
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5. History (Continue…)
Urban Civilization
 The discovery of coins
provides substantial and
significant information about a
well-established urban
civilization.
 The existence of coins
found in Wari-Bateshwar
indicate trade, banking system
and administration besides
bearing socio-cultural and
sociopolitical condition.
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6. Symbol of Rich Trade Center
 The discovery of Wari-
Bateshwar indicating trade
that was of the rouletted
ware (a particular pattern on
the vessel),the attributes of
the Roman Empire.
 It’s also a part of
Gangaridae,which was
described as a rich place of
trade in the estuary of the
river Ganges in Greek.
 A few semi-precious stone
beads with motifs indicate
that the spot was a rich trade
center.
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7. Excavation Program
 The recent excavation
has unearthed the
perfectly square brick
built structure of a
Buddhist Lotus Temple
which is made of
dressed red bricks.
 The red lotus signifies
the original nature and
purity of the heart.
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8. Excavation Program
(Continue…)
 A 70cm circumambulation path
was also found around the
temple.
 The discovery of a number of
century old brick structures and
artifacts proved the existence of
an ancient, powerful & a well
planned fortified city.
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9. Remains of Various Artifacts
 The artifacts of Wari-Bateshwar included different types of
earthen pots, northern black Polish ware, common ceramics
& Iron artifacts include knives, nails and slugs, melted pieces
of iron etc.
 It is might be the oldest place in the world which have a
money based currency system.
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10. Remains of Various Artifacts
(Continue…)
 Burnt bricks like clay
lumps, result of a high
temperature burning, were
also discovered.
 The discovery of brick
structures at Wari hints at
the existence of Buddhist
practice in the region.
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11. Discovery of Historical Coins
obverse view (left) and reverse view
 The vast quantities of round and square silver coins found
in the area indicate that the ancient city was one of great
wealth involved in commercial activities.
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12. Coins Lost in Negligence
 Though the silver punch-marked coins were
first discovered in 1933 & and reported to
National Museum authorities, the government did
not take any initiative to conduct research or
protect those.
 A huge number of coins were lost, destroyed or
used by individuals.
In many cases discovery of coins remained
unreported as individuals sold those secretly or
made ornaments out of the silver coins.
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