Indian Archaeology 1961-62 A Review

357 Pages·2008·10.06 MB·English

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1961-62

-A REVIEW

EDITED BY

A. GHOSH

Director General of Archaeology in India

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

NEW DELHI

1964
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PREFACE

This annual Review, like its eight predecessors, incorporates matter on the archaeo-
logical activities in the country during the previous year. The matter has, as usual, come
from diverse sources, and I gratefully acknowledge the co-operation of all those whose
contributions have been utilized herein. A vast mass of material had to be handled,
sorted and edited within a limited period of time ; that will explain the few inaccuracies
that may be noticed in the following pages. For them I must apologize ; at the same
time, the contributors themselves are responsible for the respective facts and interpreta-
tion thereof.

I heartily thank my colleagues in the Archaeological Survey of India who have
helped me in bringing out this volume.

The present Review includes a new chapter, on Expeditions outside India. The
genesis of the three Expeditions that worked outside India is explained in the introduc-
tory note to that chapter.

Another feature requires mention. Most readers are no doubt aware that an Inter-
national Conference on Asian Archaeology was held in New Delhi in December 1961,
as one of the functions of the Centenary Celebration of the Archaeological Survey of India.
One of the Sections of the Conference set up a committee, consisting of the following
archaeologists, to consider the problem of the terminology of Indian prehistory : Dr. F.R.
Allchin, London; Professor R. J. Braidwood, Chicago; Dr. R. V. Joshi, Nagpur; Shri
V. D. Krishnaswami, New Delhi; Shri B.B. Lai, New Delhi; Professor H. D. Sankalia,
Poona; (the late) Professor B. Subbarao, Baroda; and Professor F. E. Zeuner, London.
With Professor Braidwood (who was in favour of the use of culture-historical terms)
dissenting, the Committee recommended the terms Early, Middle and Late Stone Ages
(in preference to Series I, II and III, which have gained currency in recent years), or
Lower, Middle and Upper Stone Ages, or Lower and Middle Palaeolithic and Microli-
thic for the Food-gathering Stages and Neolithic for the Food-producing Stage. In
the following pages the accepted terms have been extensively used, but in practice it has
not been possible to do away altogether with the term `microlith' or 'microlithic' owing
to the inadequacy of data.

New Delhi:

The 1st November 1962 A. GHOSH

C O N T E N T S
PAGE
I. Explorations and excavations ............................................................................................... 1
Andhra Pradesh, 1 ; Bihar, 3 ; Gujarat, 9 ; Himachal Pradesh, 16 ; Jammu
and Kashmir, 16J; Kerala, 21 Madhya Pradesh, 22 ; Madras, 25 ; Maha-
rashtra, 28 ; Mysore, 34 ; Orissa, 36 ; Panjab, 37 ; Rajasthan, 38 ; Uttar
Pradesh, 50 ; West Bengal, 59 .
II. Expeditions outside India ..................................................................................................... 64
Egypt, 66 ; Nepal, 70 .
III. Epigraphy ............................................................................................................................. 77
Sanskritic and Dravidic inscriptions, 77 .
Andhra Pradesh, 77 ; Gujarat, 81; Jammu and Kashmir, 81; Kerala, 81 ; Madhya
Pradesh, 81 ; Madras, 81 ; Maharashtra, 83 ; Mysore, 83 ; Orissa, 85 ;
Rajasthan, 85 ; Uttar Pradesh, 86 . Arabic and Persian inscriptions, 86 .
Bihar, 86 ; Gujarat, 86 ; Madhya Pradesh, 87 ; Madras, 89 ; Maha-
rashtra, 89 ; Rajasthan, 91 ; Uttar Pradesh, 91.
IV. Numismatics and treasure-trove ........................................................................................... 94
Andhra Pradesh, 94 ; Kerala, 94 ; Madhya Pradesh, 94 ; Maharashtra, 94 ;
Mysore, 95 ; Orissa, 95 ; Rajasthan, 95 ; Uttar Pradesh, 95.
V. Other important discoveries .......................................................................................... 96
Andhra Pradesh, 96 ; Delhi, 97 ; Gujarat, 97 ; Jammu and Kashmir, 98 ;
Kerala, 98 ; Madhya Pradesh, 98 ; Madras, 100 ; Maharashtra, 100 ;
Mysore, 102 ; Orissa, 102 ; Panjab, 103 ; Rajasthan, 103 ; Uttar Pradesh, 103 ;
West Bengal, 104 .
VI. Museums ............................................................................................................................... 105
VII. Architectural survey of temples ............................................................................................ 112
VIII. Archaeological atlas .................................................................................................... 115
IX. Preservation of monuments ......................................................................................... 116
Monuments of national importance, 116 .
Central Circle, 116; Eastern Circle, 118 ; Frontier Circle, 121 ; Mid-eastern
Circle, 121 ; Northern Circle, 122 ; North-western Circle, 124 ; South-eastern
Circle, 128; Southern Circle, 131; South-western Circle, 134; Western Circle, 138.
Monuments maintained by States, 140.
Andhra Pradesh, 140 ; Gujarat, 141 ; Kerala, 141 ; Madras, 141 ; Maharashtra,
141 ;Orissa, 141 ; Rajasthan, 141 .
X. Archaeological chemistry ............................................. ................................... 143
Treatment of monuments and paintings, 143 .
Bihar, 143 ; Delhi, 143 ; Gujarat, 144 ; Madhya Pradesh, 144 ; Madras, 145 ;
Maharashtra, 145 ; Mysore, 146 ; Orissa, 146 ; Rajasthan, 147 ; Uttar
Pradesh, 147 ; West Bengal, 148 . , Treatment of
excavated objects and museum-exhibits, 148 .
Analyses and research, 148 .
XI. Archaeological gardens ......................................................................................................... 150
Andhra Pradesh, 150 ; Bihar, 150 ; Delhi, 150 ; Kerala, 151 ; Madhya
Pradesh, 151 ; Madras, 151 ; Mysore, 151 ; Rajasthan, 152 ; Uttar Pradesh, 152 .
XII. Publications ............................................................................................................... 153
Publications of the Survey, 153 ; other publications, 154 .

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1961-62

—A REVIEW
EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS

ANDHRA PRADESH

1. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT GUNTUR.—The Nagarjunakonda Excavation
Project of the Archaeological Survey of India', under Shri H. Sarkar, assisted by Shri
K. Krishnamurthy, continued (Indian Archaeology, 1960-61—A Review2, p. 1) the examina
tion of some sites in the District. Tools of the Early Stone Age (pl. I A), comprising hand-
axes, large as well as diminutive, discoids, cleavers, scrapers and flakes, were collected
from sites around Dharanikota, Rentala and Chejerla. The last one, which is noted
for one of the earliest living apsidal temples in India, also yielded the Rouletted Ware and
a fluted core on chert. Megalithic cist-burials were located at Nemalipuram, about 63
km. from Guntur, and at Syamarajapuram on the Buggavagu, about 44 km. from Nagar
junakonda ; the latter also yielded a neolithic implement.
2. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT KRISHNA.—At Donabanda, 22 km. north-west of
Vijayawada, along the Masulipatam-Hyderabad road, the same party discovered neolithic
implements with the associated pottery and megaliths, besides pottery-types comparable
with those from the historical levels of Nagarjunakonda. Pottery of the early historical
period was also found at Mungasala and Kisara, on the bank of the river Munneru, and
Nawabpeta, near Nandigama, the first of these sites also yielding a neolithic implement.
The Rouletted Ware was found at Paritala, about 25 km. west of Vijayawada.
3. EXCAVATION AT KESARAPALLI NEAR GANNAVARAM, DISTRICT KRISHNA.—The
Nagarjunakonda Excavation Project of the Survey, under Shri H. Sarkar, assisted by Shri
B. Vidyadhararao, conducted an exploratory digging at the extensive mound of Kesara
palli, about 20 km. north-east of Vijayawada on the Madras-Calcutta trunk road. The
mound, measuring over 1J square km., is being extensively despoiled by indiscriminate
digging. The examination of the already-exposed sections, which, at some places, were fur-
ther cut with a view to stratifying the deposits (pl. I B), revealed the following sequence.
Period I was represented by a 2-7-m. thick deposit. Owing to the sub-soil water-
table encountered at a depth of 5 m. below surface (25th March 1962), the natural soil
could not be reached. The lowest stratum, composed of sandy deposit, yielded only a
few sherds, largely indeterminate in shape, of red, black-slipped, black-and-red and grey

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.
1
INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1961-62—A REVIEW
wares (fig. 1). Although painted pottery was entirely absent, the assemblage
showed affinities with the chalcolithic material from sites in central and western
India. Two polished neoliths recovered from the surface may perhaps be ascribed
to this Period. Other finds included a terracotta spacer-bead, pottery disks and two
bone pins (?). Associated with this Period was also a huge stepped pit, 4 m. in
diameter, filled with ash, burnt earth, charcoal, pottery and mollusc-shells. The
last-mentioned material, along with charred animal bones, was present in all
the layers.

Period II was marked by the appearance of iron and megalithic pottery. Of
the ceramic industries of the preceding Period, the grey ware was completely
absent, though a few shapes of the black-and-red and black-slipped wares
continued for some time. Successive floor-levels with post-holes and remains of
ovens were noticed in this Period.

The megalithic burials, situated 1 km. south-west of the habitation-area,
belonged to the cist-variety.

In Period III, the Rouletted Ware formed the distinctive industry. One of
the sherds of the Ware, collected from the surface, was found rivetted with iron
pins.

In Period IV were encountered brick structures. The Rouletted Ware was
completely absent. An Ikshvaku lead coin, besides beads of terracotta, glass and
stone, formed the typical finds.

The last occupation of the site was represented by remains of the early
medieval period.

4. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT MEDAK.—Shri M. Siviah of the South-eastern
Circle of the Survey noticed stone circles near Siddipet, Akkannapalli, Malial,
Verareddipalli and Venkataraopet in Siddipet Taluk. He also picked up sherds
of the Black-and-red Ware from the last-mentioned site.
5. EXCAVATION AT YELLESWARAM, DISTRICT NALGONDA.—The Department of
Archaeology, Government of Andhra Pradesh, continued (1960-61, p. 3) the
excavation
2