INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1974-75 —A REVIEW EDITED BY B. K. THAPAR Director General Archaeological Survey of India ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA GOVERNMENT OF INDIA NEW DELHI 1979 Cover Antiquities from Antichak, Mathura and Piprahwa 1979 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Price : Rs. 55.0 PRINTED AT NABA MUDRAN PRIVATE LTD., CALCUTTA, 700004 PREFACE This annual Review, like its predecessors, incorporates matter on the archaeological activities in the country during the year 1974-75. As usual the material has come from diverse sources, and I gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of all those whose contri- butions have been included here. As already known, these have been done without making any basic changes in respective facts and interpretations thereof. I heartily thank my colleagues in the Archaeological Survey of India who have helped me in bringing out this issue within a very short time. New Delhi 1 May 1979 B. K. THAPAR CONTENTS PAGE I. Explorations and Excavations ... ... ... ... ... ... ... l Andhra Pradesh, 1; Assam, 7; Bihar, 7; Gujarat, 11; Haryana, 16; Himachal Pradesh, 16; Karnataka, 17; Kerala, 21; Madhya Pradesh, 21; Maharashtra, 29; Meghalaya, 36; Orissa, 36; Punjab, 37; Rajasthan, 37; Tamil Nadu, 37; Uttar Pradesh, 38; West Bengal, 51. II. Epigraphy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 Sanskritic and Dravidic inscriptions, 53. Andhra Pradesh, 53; Gujarat, 53; Karnataka, 54; Madhya Pradesh, 54; Orissa, 55; Tamil Nadu, 56; Uttar Pradesh, 59; West Bengal, 59. Arabic and Persian inscriptions, 60. Gujarat, 60; Haryana, 61; Jammu and Kashmir, 61; Karnataka, 62; Maharashtra, 63; Uttar Pradesh, 63; West Bengal, 64. III. Numismatics and Treasure Trove ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65 Gujarat, 65; Madhya Pradesh, 65; Rajasthan, 65; Uttar Pradesh, 66. IV. Other Important Discoveries ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 Bihar, 68; Gujarat, 68; Kerala, 69; Madhya Pradesh, 69; Maharashtra, 70; Orissa, 70; Rajasthan, 70; Uttar Pradesh, 71; West Bengal, 71. V. Radiocarbon Dates ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 73 Delhi, 73; Gujarat, 73; Haryana, 74; Madhya Pradesh, 74; Maharashtra, 74; Tamil Nadu, 75; Uttar Pradesh, 75; West Bengal, 77. VI. Palaeobotanical and Pollen Analytical Investigations ... ... ... ... ... 78 Samples from India, 78. Bihar, 78; Delhi, 78; Gujarat, 78; Karnataka, 79; Madhya Pradesh, 79; Maharashtra, 79; Punjab, 79; Rajasthan, 79; Uttar Pradesh, 80. Samples from Abroad, 80. Nepal, 80; Sri Lanka, 81; Thailand, 81. VII. Museums ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 82 VIII. Preservation of Monuments ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 91 Monuments of National Importance, 91. Central Circle, 91; Eastern Circle, 94; Mid-eastern Circle, 96; North-western Circle, 98; Southern Circle, 101; South-eastern Circle, 106; South-western Circle, 108; Western Circle, 112. Monuments Maintained by the States, 114. Assam, 114; Gujarat, 114; Karnataka, 115; Maharashtra, 115; Orissa, 116; Rajasthan, 116. IX. Expedition Outside India ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 118 Preservation of Buddhist shrines at Bamiyan, Afghanistan, 118. X. Archaeological Chemistry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 119 Treatment of Monuments and Paintings, 119. Andhra Pradesh, 119; Bihar, 119; Delhi, 119; Himachal Pradesh, 119; Karnataka, 120; Madhya Pradesh, 120; Maharashtra, 121; Orissa, 122; Punjab, 122; Rajasthan, 123; Tamil Nadu, 123; Uttar Pradesh, 124; West Bengal, 124. Treatment of Excavated objects and Museum Exhibits, 125. Analyses and Research, 126. XI. Archaeological Gardens ... ... ... ... ... ... 127 Andhra Pradesh, 127; Bihar, 127; Delhi, 127; Goa, 128; Gujarat, 129; Jammu and Kashmir, 129; Karnataka, 129; Kerala, 130; Madhya Pradesh, 130; Maharashtra, 131; Orissa, 131; Rajasthan, 131; Uttar Pradesh, 132. XII. Publications ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 133 Publications of the Survey, 133. Other Publications, 133. INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1974-75 —A REVIEW I. EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS ANDHRA PRADESH 1. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICTS ADILABAD AND KARIMNAGAR.—During the course of his exploration, Shri Thakur Raja Ram Singh, an advocate of Peddapalli, discovered several Stone Age sites in the mid-Godavari valley. Early Stone Age tools were found at Naspur (locality 1) in Luxetipet Taluk, District Adilabad and Godavari-khani (localities 1 and 2), Medpalli-Malkapur (localities 2 and 3), Ramgundam-Buchiahpalli (locality 1) and from Anthergaon to Manthani, a stretch of 35 km from west to east and 20 km north to south touching the Ramgiri hills (Raki ranges), along the southern bank of the Godavari in Peddapalli Taluk, District Karimnagar. The tools are mostly made on quartzite and rarely on chert. The tool-types (pl. I A) include a variety of handaxes, including arrow and spear-pointed tools and picks, cleavers, ovates, discoids, flakes and scrapers on flakes. Occasionally, rostrocarinates and unifacial and bifacial pebble tools were also found. The length of the handaxes range from 8 to 20 cm. Middle Stone Age tools were found at Naspur (locality 2) and adjacent villages in Luxetipet Taluk, District Adilabad, and Godavari-khani (localities 1 to 3 and 5), Medpalli- Malkapur (localities 4 to 6 and 9), Ramgundam-Buchiahpalli (localities 2 and 6), Goelwada, Sundilla, Kannal (Bodagutta) and Gundaram in Peddapalli Taluk District Karimnagar. The tool-types include cores and flakes with or without prepared platforms, flake-blades, a variety of scrapers—round, biconvex, convex, concave, side, end, tanged— knives or cutting tools, notches, noses, unifacial and bifacial points, borers, awls, spear- heads, arrow-heads with or without tang and miniature handaxes and rarely burins. The intentionally-thinned butt ends of the points and spearheads indicate that they were hafted. Fossils including a partly broken jaw bones of Bos namadicus and a piece of Serves antler were discovered at Gundaram and Malkapur. Amongst the many Late Stone Age sites located during the exploration, mention may be made of Thakkallapalli (Bugga, localities 1 and 2 and Sabbitham near Goun- gundam, a seasonal waterfall in Ramgiri hills. The microliths are made of varieties of chert, chalcedony, agate, carnelian and jasper The blade cores are of three types: conical based, flat based and oblique based. The assemblage includes primary flakes chips, parallel- sided blades, blunted backed blades, including lunates variety of points m high proportion and occasionally trapezes, triangles and burins There are but a few scrapers in the assemblage. However, in a few sites like Bugga (locahty 1) and Bodagutta the pebble and core scrapers were found to be smaller in size than the microliths. No pottery is associated with these sites. INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1974-75—A REVIEW 2. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT GUNTUR.—Shri I. K. Sarma of the South-eastern Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India1, assisted by Dr T. V. G. Sastry and Shri D. Hanumantha Rao, explored the hillocks towards the west of the village Viakuntapuram, and collected early historical pottery such as black-and-red, fine black-slipped, red-slipped wares, and the Rouletted Wares. Within the fields on way to Amaravati, a number of mega- lithic cairn-circles with or without cist-chambers and capstones were noticed. Megalithic Black-and-red Ware sherds and pieces of bones were collected from a transepted cist. Shri I. K. Sarma, assisted by Sarvashri D. Hanumantha Rao and K. S. Mani, also located an extensive, early historical mound, of 5 to 6m in height, at Juna-Chundur. Large quantities of bricks, black-and-red, red-slipped and black-slipped wares, bone pieces, lead and copper coins of late Satavahana period were obtained from the site. A temple of Venugopala, in the centre of the village, having early adhishthana, raised on dressed and neatly moulded lateritic blocks, recalling the early Salankayana temples at Peddavegi in West Godavari, and loose sculptures such as Vinayaka, Trimurti-plaque, Nandi, etc., of red sandstone, a linga with yoni, and Venugopala belonging to circa tenth century A.D. were also noticed at this site. 3. EXCAVATION AT AMARAVATI, DISTRICT GUNTUR.—The South-eastern Circle of the Survey resumed (Indian Archaeology 1973-74—A Review, p. 4)2 excavation at Amaravati stupa-site (pl. IB). The work was directed by Shri I. K. Sarma, assisted by Shri D. Hanumantha Rao, the objectives being: (i) to link up stratigraphically the eastern ayaka and the drum of the Mahachaitya with the trenches excavated earlier; and (ii) to know the structural phases of the Mahachaitya, particularly its nature during the pre-Satava- hana periods. The excavation revealed that the core of the stupa contained successive earth fillings made during the last two centuries out of indiscriminate diggings. A huge pit was found right through the core of the stupa to a depth of 4.75 m. It may be recalled here that when Burgess (1887) visited for the second time, he noticed that the stupa-site had become a big tank. However, the four ayaka platforms and part of the pradakshinapatha of the Satavahana period (Period III) appear to be comparatively undisturbed. 4. EXCAVATION AT GOLCONDA, DISTRICT HYDERABAD.—In continuation of last year's work (1973-74, p. 5 ), the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, excavated a mound on the western side of the Summer House. Excavation revealed a residential complex having a central hall (15.65 x 9.00 m) with entrances on south and east, and attached with five rooms on the southern side. On the eastern side a kitchen with attached bathroom was exposed. Another hall (11.00 x 3.85 m) was exposed on the western side of the central hall. A small road running north-south and joining the main road exposed earlier, was unearthed in the close proxi- mity of this complex. Another house-complex was exposed from a low lying mound on the north of Summer House. This complex is enclosed by walls running north-south on the east and west, the exposed length being 36 m. The complex had a central hall (3.35 x 2.90 m) with a court- yard and two rooms (305 x 2.50 m and 2.90 x 2.50 m) on either side. The rooms were 1 The Archaeological Survey of India is referred to in the following pages as the 'Survey'. 2 This publication is referred to in the following pages by the year only. EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS internally connected by small door-ways. At the rear end, on the south-eastern comer of the complex were unearthed a small kitchen, bathroom and latrine which were connected to a drain partly covered by stone-slabs. The drain, in turn, was connected to a soak-pit. At the centre of the complex two cisterns (l.80 x l.25 x 0.85 m and 1.85 x 1.55 x 0.90m), prefacing the courtyard were laid bare. One of them seems to have been used as a fountain. A conduit pipe which fed the tank and being connected to another cistern near the well was also traced. Yet another residential complex, in the same alignment and little away from the above one, was also laid bare. It had large central room and two adjacent rooms. Two halls in front of the central room were also unearthed. A passage and flight of steps were also exposed. A little away from the above complex, a wall running zigzag in plan for about 50 m with pillar-bases at regular intervals of 585 m was exposed. This might have been a horse stable, as plenty of horse-shoes were recovered from the area. At one corner of this wall were two rooms which might have served as guard-rooms. One more residential complex was unearthed towards north of the throne palace. It consisted of three rooms with a verandah. Two small platforms were exposed in front of the verandah. This structure had been plastered and a good number of stucco remains with designs were also recovered. A conduit pipe line, running to a length of 5.55 m, was exposed in close proximity of this structure. Noteworthy finds recovered from the site include: copper coins and needles; iron poniard, axe, arrow-heads, scissors, knives; terracotta elephants; copper and silver rings, inset with carnelian and jasper stones; beads of faience, paste and glass with segmented, gardooned, cylindrical and disc types; gamesmen made of ivory; and glass bangles. A rich repertoire of pottery, including paper-thin variety and Celedon Ware represented in types like chalices, dishes, etc., and a few with Chinese script, was collected. A miniature plaque, carved with two Brahmanical deities, is another noteworthy find . 5. EXCAVATION AT DHULIKATTA, DISTRICT KARIMNAGAR.—The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, excavated Dhulikatta and encountered a baked brick wall of six courses, running north-south, built over rubble foundation, in the trench across the mud fortification. Another wall, running parallel to the latter and having a width of 1.6 m and of exposed length of 5.2 m was encountered in another trench. The size of the bricks was 53 x 30 x 10 cm. In a trench in the middle of the mound, a wall with five courses was encountered at a depth of 80 cm. The structures can be dated to Satavahana period on the basis of pottery including black-and-red, dark red and red wares, and two Satavahana coins, carnelian bead, iron knife and a nail, etc., recovered from the excavation. However, a few microliths such as cores, blades and flakes were encountered below a sterile layer which underlies the Satavahana deposit. 5. EXCAVATION AT KADAMBAPUR, DISTRICT KARIMNAGAR.—The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, conducted excavation at Kadambapur, an extensive megalithic site, 8 km north of Peddabankur situated on the bank of the river Maneru, a tributary of the river Godavari. Five megaliths and a small area of the habitation site were excavated, the results of which are as follows: Megalith I is a pit-burial oriented east-west, cut to a depth of 2 m and capped by a huge capstone measuring 7>0x4>0x0"4 m. It is marked by double stone-circles, with
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