Indian Archaeology 1971-72 A Review - Archaeological Survey of

246 Pages·2008·5.86 MB·English

by  Sunil Jairath

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1971-72

—A REVIEW

EDITED BY
M. N. DESHPANDE
Director General
Archaeological Survey of India

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA NEW
DELHI 1975

Cover
Excavated remains at Surkotada: a Harappan settlement in District Kutch, Gujarat

1975
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Price : Rs. 24-50
PRINTED AT NABAMUDRAN PRIVATE LTD., CALCUTTA, 700004
PREFACE
The publication of the 1971-72 issue of the Review further reduces the number of
those issues which had fallen into arrears; the issue for the year 1966-67 is in a
press-ready condition and will be sent to the press shortly; the issues for the years 1972-73
and 1973-74 are in various stages of editing. It is hoped that we shall soon be up to date in
the publication of the Review.
Deeply conscious of the value of the cooperative effort which lies behind such a
publication, I take this opportunity of expressing my indebtedness to all the contributors
from (i) the universities and other research institutions including the Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research, (ii) the State Departments of Archaeology, and (iii) my
colleagues in the Archaeological Survey of India, for sending their reports and illustrative
material for inclusion in the issue. As usual, however, I do not hold myself responsible for
the views expressed in the respective reports.
Lastly, I would like to thank my own colleagues in the Survey who helped me in
the various stages of the publication of this issue, including that of editing and printing.
31 March 1975 M. N. DESHPANDE

CONTENTS
PAGE
I. Explorations and Excavations ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1
Andhra Pradesh, 1; Bihar, 4; Delhi, 7; Gujarat, 8; Haryana, 22; Jammu and Kashmir, 24;
Kerala, 27; Madhya Pradesh, 27; Maharashtra, 31; Meghalaya, 36; Mysore, 37; Punjab, 39;
Rajasthan, 41; Tamil Nadu, 42; Uttar Pradesh, 43; West Bengal, 49.
II. Epigraphy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 52
Sanskritic and Dravidic inscriptions, 52.
Andhra Pradesh, 52; Gujarat, 53; Kerala, 53; Madhya Pradesh, 53; Maharashtra, 56;
Mysore, 56; Rajasthan, 58; Tamil Nadu, 58; Uttar Pradesh, 60; Neighbouring
countries, 61,
Arabic and Persian inscriptions, 61
Gujarat, 61; Haryana, 62; Madhya Pradesh, 63; Punjab, 64; Uttar Pradesh, 64; West
Bengal, 66.
III. Numismatics and Treasure Trove ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 67
Andhra Pradesh, 67; Assam, 67; Gujarat, 67; Kerala, 68; Madhya Pradesh, 68; Maha- .
rashtra, 68; Punjab, 70; Rajasthan, 70; Tripura, 71; Uttar Pradesh, 71; West Bengal, 72.
IV. Other Important Discoveries ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 73
Andhra Pradesh, 73; Delhi, 73 ; Gujarat, 73; Haryana, 73; Jammu and Kashmir, 73; Kerala,
74; Madhya Pradesh, 74; Maharashtra, 75; Meghalaya, 76; Orissa, 76; Rajasthan, 77;
Tripura, 79; Uttar Pradesh, 79; West Bengal, 81.
V. Radiocarbon Dates ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 82
Assam, 82; Bihar, 82; Kerala, 83; Madhya Pradesh, 83; Maharashtra, 83; Mysore, 85;
Punjab, 85; Rajasthan, 86; Tamil Nadu, 86.
VI. Museums ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 87
VII. Architectural Survey of Temples ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 99
Northern Region, 99; Southern Region, 99.
VIII. Preservation of Monuments ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 103
Monuments of National Importance, 103.
Central Circle, 103; Eastern Circle, 105; Frontier Circle, 107; Mid-eastern Circle, 107;
Northern Circle, 109; North-western Circle, 110; Southern Circle, 112; South-eastern
Circle, 113; South-western Circle, 113; Western Circle, 117.
Monuments maintained by States, 119.
Andhra Pradesh, 119; Assam, 119; Gujarat, 120; Kerala, 121; Maharashtra, 121;
Orissa, 121; Punjab, 122; Rajasthan, 122; Tamil Nadu, 122; Uttar Pradesh, 123;
West Bengal, 124.
IX. Expedition Outside India ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 125
Structural preservation, 125; Chemical preservation, 125.
X. Archaeological Chemistry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 127
Treatment of Monuments and Paintings, 127.
Andhra Pradesh, 127; Bihar, 127; Delhi, 127; Gujarat, 127; Madhya Pradesh, 128;
Maharashtra, 128; Mysore, 129; Orissa, 129; Punjab, 130; Tamil Nadu, 130; Uttar
Pradesh, 131; West Bengal, 131.
Treatment of Excavated Objects and Museum Exhibits, 132.
Analyses and research, 132.
XI. Archaeological Gardens ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 133
Andhra Pradesh, 133; Delhi, 133; Goa, 134; Jammu and Kashmir, 134; Madhya
Pradesh, 134; Maharashtra, 135; Mysore, 135; Orissa, 136; Rajasthan, 136; Uttar
Pradesh, 136.
XII. Publications ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 138
Publications of the Survey, 138.
Other Publications, 138.

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1971-72

—A REVIEW

I. EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS
ANDHRA PRADESH
1. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT GUNTUR.—During the course of his exploration along
the right bank of the river Krishna, Dr. T. V. G. Sastri of the South-eastern Circle of the
Archaeological Survey of India1 collected several Early Stone Age tools (pi. I A) on a high
terrace south of Amaravati town. The tools, made of dull brownish quartzite, consisted
of choppers and scrappers. Some of them also showed a patinated surface.
Shri Ballabh Saran of the South-eastern Circle of the Survey, assisted by Dr. T. V. G.
Sastri and Shri B. Raja Rao, during a small-scale clearance-work at the western side of
the Maha Chaitya, identified three structural phases. Of these, the first two belonged to
the Satavahana period (pi. I B) and the uppermost, to the early medieval.
2. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT HYDERABAD.—The Department of Archaeology, Govern
ment of Andhra Pradesh, explored: (i) the Armenian cemetery, located about 1 km. south
of Huppunguda railway station on the Secunderabad—Dronachalam section of the South-
Central Railway; and (ii) Gaddimalkapur, 5 km. from Hyderabad. While the former
was found to belong to the early nineteenth century, the latter yielded finds of the Qutb
Shahi period.
3. EXCAVATION AT GOLCONDA, DISTRICT HYDERABAD.—In continuation of the last
year's work (Indian Archaeology 1970-71—A Review, p. 1 )2 the Department of Archaeo
logy, Government of Andhra Pradesh, undertook excavation at the site and brought to
light many important structures of the Qutb Shahi period (A.D. 1618-1689).
The structures exposed during this field-season included a mosque with three arched
openings, parts of palace-complex, residential quarters, guardrooms, and an open hall
distillery with necessary adjuncts like three vats, and three rectangular chambers, used
perhaps for heating and cooling purposes. One of the chambers adjacent to the vats
contained a large drain covered by stone slabs. Many cisterns connected with drains and
conduit pipes were also exposed.
Excavation on the eastern side of the main mosque brought to light a flight of four
steps (pi. II), flanked on each side by four guardrooms. The existence of the guardrooms
near the main entrance indicates that the mosque was perhaps used by the king.
The palace-complex seems to have suffered from a heavy fire as evidenced from
deposits of ashy layers and cinders, found in the various excavated trenches. This, in all
probability, must have happened when Aurangzeb invaded Golconda fort. The excavation
also brought to light an intricate system of drainage connected with manholes as also the
arrangements for running water. Glazed tiles were found to be used in the inner apartments.
1 The Archaeological Survey of India is referred to in the following pages as the 'Survey'. 1
This publication is referred to in the following pages by the year only.
1