Indian Archaeology 1984-85 A Review - Archaeological Survey of

300 Pages·2008·4.92 MB·English

by  Sunil Jairath

Indian Archaeology

1984-85-A REVIE
Edited by
R.C. TRIPATHI
Director General
Archaeological Survey of India

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
NEW DELHI
1987
1987
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Price Rs. 140/-
Design/Print: Vap Enterprises,
H-24, Green Park Extension, New Delhi - 110016
Tel: 656787.
PREFACE
I am happy to release Indian Archaeology 1984-35— A Review and place it in the hands of
readers and scholars. The publication of the Review has been somewhat in arrears.
With this volume the gap has been further reduced. I hope we would be soon able to
catch up with the arrears and make the publication uptodate.
I gratefully express my indebtedness to all the contributors who have so genero-
usly supplied the information with illustrations for this issue.
This publication, as is obvious, is the outcome of the work of several hands. It is
the result of the combined efforts of the contributors, compilers and others. It is likely
that, inspite of our best efforts and care, some errors and omissions might have crept
into the publication. I, on behalf of all the concerned and on my behalf, would like to
tender apology. However, the Archaeological Survey of India or I have no responsi-
bility for factual information which is supplied by the contributors.
I thankfully acknowledge the assistance of the members of the Archaeological
Survey of India who have helped in many ways in bringing out this volume. I also
express my sincere appreciation for the cooperation received from Shri Jagat Pati
Joshi, Additional Director General and also Shri K.N. Dikshit, Director Publication,
Smt. Shubra Pramanik, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Shri K.P. Padhy,
Senior Technical Assistant, Shri J.C. Gupta, Production Officer of the Publication
Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India, who arduously compiled and have seen
the issue through its editing and publication.
R.C.TRIPATHI
Director General,
Archaeological Survey of India and
New Delhi Joint Secretary,
2.11.1987 Department of Culture
IN THIS lSSUE

EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 1; Andhra Pradesh, 1; Assam, 8; Bihar, 9; Goa,
Daman and Diu, 13; Gujarat, 13; Haryana, 20; Himachal Pradesh, 22; Jammu and
Kashmir, 23; Kamataka, 24; Madhya Pradesh, 39; Maharashtra, 48; Manipur, 56;
Orissa, 56; Punjab, 61; Rajasthan, 66; Tamil Nadu, 77; Tripura, 78; Uttar Pradesh,
80; West Bengal, 92.
EPIGRAPHY 130
Sanskritic and Dravidic Inscriptions, 130.
Andhra Pradesh, 130; Gujarat, 131; Kamataka, 131; Madhya Pradesh, 133;
Maharashtra, 134; Pondicherry, 134; Rajasthan, 135; Tamil Nadu, 136.
Arabic and Persian Inscriptions,139.
Delhi, 139; Gujarat, 139; Kamataka, 140;Madhya Pradesh, 142;
Tamil Nadu, 142; Uttar Pradesh, 143.
NUMISMATICS AND TREASURE TROVE 144
Jammu and Kashmir, 144; Kamataka, 144; Madhya Pradesh, 144;
Maharashtra, 145; Manipur, 145.
OTHER IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES 146
Andhra Pradesh, 146; Assam, 146; Goa, Daman and Diu, 146; Gujarat, 146;
Himachal Pradesh, 147; Jammu and Kashmir, 147; Madhya Pradesh, 147;
Maharashtra, 149; Meghalaya, 151; Punjab, 151; Rajasthan, 151; Tamil
Nadu, 154; Uttar Pradesh, 154.
RADIOCARBON DATES 155
Arunachal Pradesh, 155; Assam, 155; Bihar, 156; Jammu and Kashmir, 157;
Madhya Pradesh, 157; Rajasthan, 157; Tamil Nadu, 158; Uttar Pradesh, 159,
West Bengal, 159. Samples from abroad, 160. Sri Lanka, 160.
PALAEOBOTANICAL AND POLLEN ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATIONS 161
Punjab, 161; Uttar Pradesh, 161.
MUSEUMS 176
ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY 181
Temple Survey, 181.
Building Survey, 186.
PRESERVATION OF MONUMENTS 215
Monuments of National Importance, 215.
Central Circle, 215; Delhi Circle, 234; Eastern Circle, 236;
Mid-eastern Circle, 238; Mid-southern Circle, 239; Northern Circle, 243;
North-western Circle, 245; Southern Circle, 250; South-eastern Circle, 253;
South-western Circle, 255; Western Circle, 256.
Monuments maintained by the States, 259.
Assam, 259; Gujarat, 259; Kamataka, 260;Madhya Pradesh, 260;
Manipur, 261; Nagaland, 261; Rajasthan, 261; Uttar Pradesh, 262;
West Bengal, 262.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 263
Andhra Pradesh, 263; Assam, 263; Bihar, 263; Delhi,264; Gujarat, 265;
Haryana, 265; Himachal Pradesh, 266; Jammu and Kashmir, 266;
Kamataka, 266; Maharashtra, 267; Orissa, 268; Rajasthan, 269;
Tamil Nadu, 2 69; Uttar Pradesh, 270; West Bengal, 271.
Treatment of Excavated objects and Museum Exhibits, 272.
Research and Analysis, 274.
Future plan for Research Work, 275.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL GARDENS 284
Delhi, 284; Gujarat, 285; Goa, Daman and Diu, 285; Himachal Pradesh, 285;
Jammu and Kashmir, 285; Kamataka, 285; Madhya Pradesh, 286; Maharashtra,
286; Orissa, 286; Punjab, 286; Rajasthan, 286; Tamil Nadu, 287; Uttar Pradesh,
287.
PUBLICATIONS 288
Publications of the Survey, 288.
Other Publications, 289.
Cover: Excavated remains at Hampi,
District Bellary (Kamataka).

EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
1. Exploration in Andaman Islands.—Zarina M. Cooper of the Deccan College Post
graduate and Research Institute, Pune, carried out an archaeological survey in the Andaman
Islands and brought to light thirty-eight shell midden sites. Their distribution is as follows:
Austen Strait 6
Baratang Island 2
Buchanan Island 1
Evergreen Island 3
Interview Island 1
Middle Andaman 2
North Andaman 12
South Andaman 6
Swamp Island 5
These sites marked the original camping places of the prehistoric Andamanese, and be-
sides yielding remains of molluscs, they also consist of animal bones, pottery and stone tools^
The middens were generally situated on an elevation, behind or within the mangrove
swamps that fringe the coastline as well as on the banks of creeks and streams. Most of them
occurred along the water's edge. The washing away of material was a common factor which
indicated recent sea-level fluctuations and changing tides. Land development as well as the ex-
traction of shells from middens for the manufacture of lime caused the rapid destruction of
these sites. The average area covered by a midden is 234.02 sq. m while the mean height is
1.60 m.
ANDHRA PRADESH
2. Exploration in District Cuddapah.—D.R.Rajuof the Deccan College Post-graduate and
Research Institute, Pune, discovered several palaeolithic sites during the course of his explora-
tions along the rivers Gunjana, Kalletivagu, Penneru and Sagileru.
A stratified Acheulian site was located at the foothills about 150 m to the left of the
Siddhavatam-Badvel road facing the fort. The river Penneru is about 1 km east of the site and
the town of Siddhavatam, which is also the taluk headquarters situated on the right bank of
the river. Fresh, as well as, weathered handaxes, cleavers, cores, polyhedrons, scrapers and
flakes made on dark brown quartzite were recovered from the rubble, dug out of 1.5 m deep
2 Indian Archaeology 19S4S5 - A Review
trenches meant for the foundation of a local hospital. The vertical sections of the trenches
showed three layers. The topmost layer was 25-45 cm and consisted of dark brown loose sandy
silt. The layer appeared to represent a historical period. Layer (2) varied in thickness from 35 to
60 cm and had boulders and pebbles in the red loam. Layer (3) was over 60 cm with more or less
the same composition as Layer(2) but slightly different in colour of the sediment. Both layers,
(2) and (3), yielded Lower Palaeolithic artifacts.
Three Middle Palaeolithic sites were discovered, one each at Vellalavarikandrika, Chcrlo-
palli (Kodur taluk) and Brahmamgari Mattam (Badvel taluk). The artifacts consisted of a
variety of side-notched and denticulated scrapers, borers, points, cores, flakes and blades made
on fine quartzite.
Several find spots of Stone Age sites were noticed around Nandipalli on the right bank of
the Sagileru on the Badvel-Mydukur road, 7 km south-west and west of Badvel. Several
clusters of the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic and numerous Mcsolithic work stations were
noticed. The raw material for the Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic is fine quartzite of
various shades and that for the Mesolithic is quartzite.
The Upper Palaeolithic site at Rallachenu was studied during 1976-81 on the basis of
its surface material. A lot of fossil bones of Bos and servos species (especially the upper and
lower jaws with many teeth intact) were recovered along with lithic artifacts, potsherds, ash
and bones. However, on flourine content analysis, the bones appear to be older than 10,000
years. Consequent upon this finding a small trial trench of 2 x 1 x 1.5m was sunk. The top
lm revealed potsherds, ash and charcoal. Below 1 m from the top, the red loam was hard to
dig and was completely devoid of potsherds. Between 140 and 160 cm several fresh flakes, blades
and cores of fine dark brown quartzite were recovered. This trial trench suggests that the
historical habitation was on the abandoned Upper Palaeolithic settlement. As very few open
air Upper Palaeolithic sites in India are known to have yielded faunal remains associated with
lithics, a systematic large-scale excavation of the site may produce interesting evidence of the
terminal pleistocene human habitations on the south-east coast of India.
In the course of explorations thirteen new Upper Palaeolithic find spots have been
located both on the valley floor and on the plain surfaces on top of Rapur-velikonda Forest
hill ranges ranging from 610 to 915 m above MSL in Kodur and Rajampet taluks. It was
very interesting to find evidence of human habitation at such high altitudes.
Majority of the sites in the Valley floor were found stratified and were exposed due to
erosion of the top soil. The artifacts in most cases were mint fresh and consisted mostly of
blades, flakes (end flakes), cores, scrapers, worked and unworked nodules, chunks and blocks
of stone used as raw material.
As the Gunjana valley, which is about 15-20 km west, north-west and south-west of Kalle-
tivagu, has revealed several Lower, Middle and Late Upper Palaeolithic sites, a further proper