Indian Archaeology 1989-90—A Review

311 Pages·2008·6.08 MB·English

by  Om Prakash

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1989-90 - A REVIEW

EDITED BY S. K.
MAHAPATRA

Secretary
Department of Culture
&
Director General
Archaeological Survey of India

PUBLISHED BY TOE DIRECTOR GENERAL
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
JANPATH, NEW DELHI
1994
1

2 3 4

I Panchavaktra temple, Devli Bhanigram
2 .Terracotta sealing, Adam
3. Terracotta head, Adam
4. Coin, Adam

1994
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYOF INDIA
COVERNMENT OF INDIA
PRICE : Rs. 380.00
PRINTED AT BENGAL OFFSET WQRKS.335, KHAJOOR ROAD, KAROL BAGH, NEW DELHI -110005
PREFACE
I am happy to place this issue of Indian Archaeology 1989-90—A Review in the
hands of scholars. We are deeply aware of the delay in its publication. Several contributors
had to be reminded many times to send material for inclusion in the Review. I would like to
take this opportunity to request my colleagues in the Archaeological Survey of India, the
State Departments of Archaeology and Museums, the Universities, museums and other
research institutions whose contributions go into the making of the Review to send the
material for publication to us well in time and in keeping with the format and style of the
publication. This would also help in expeditious publication and continuity and regularity
of a scholarly publication, which is seminal, is maintained.
The present issue of the Review contains information about the activities in the field of
archaeology all over the country comprising of exploration and excavation, epigraphy,
numismatics and treasure trove, architectural survey, radiocarbon dates, palaeobotanical and
pollen analytical studies, museums, conservation of monuments and sites, archaeological
chemistry, archaeological gardens and publication. It also contains information about the
work done by the Archaeological Survey of India outside its geographical boundaries. Bulk
of the information relates to brief reports on explorations and excavations carried out
throughout the length and breadth of the country. Among the excavations carried out by
various agencies during the year under review, I would like to mention in particular
excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India of the Harappan site at
Dholavira in Kutch (Gujarat), unearthing extraordinarily significant architectural features
including town planning; at the Harsh-ka-Tila in Thanesar (Haryana), revealing sequence of
different historic periods; Adam near Nagpur (Maharashtra) exposing the sequence of
remains from the microlithic to the early historic times; at Kolhua in Vaishali (Bihar), having
Buddhist remains; at Hampi, an early mediaeval period site and Gundnapur, Kadamba site in
District Uttara Kannada (Kamataka) where early mediaeval material dating back to the
fifth-sixth century have been brought to light. Of the important excavations carried out by
various State Governments, mention may be made of Thotlakonda, a Buddhist monastic site
in District Vishakhapattanam (Andhra Pradesh), and Ambari, a historical site in District
Kamrup (Assam). Among the major excavations work done by various Universities may be
mentioned the chalcolithic site of Maner (Bihar) excavated by the Patna University;
Harappan sites at Kuntasi (Gujarat) excavated jointly by the Deccan College, Postgraduate
and Research Institute, Pune and Department of Archaeology, Government of Gujarat;
Nagwada (Gujarat) by the M.S. University; Chalcolithic site at Mangalkot in Burdwan (West
Bengal) by Calcutta University; Purola in District Uttar Kashi (Uttar Pradesh) by the H.N.
Bahuguna Garhwal University. Apart from various conservation works throughout the
length and breadth of the country, the Survey also continued major work of structural
conservation and chemical preservation of the Angkor Vat in Cambodia. The Survey also
completely reorganized the Central Armed Forces Museum at Luanda (Angola).
The publication of this Review is the result of the joint effort of Shri B.M. Pande,
Director (Publication) of .the Headquarters office of the Survey and his colleagues namely
Shri C. Dorje, Superintending Archaeologist, Dr. Arundhati Banerji, Deputy Superintending
Archaeologist and Shri A. Jha, Assistant Archaeologist, in the Publication Section. I would
like to place on record my thanks to them and also to M/s Bengal Offset Works for the printing
of this publication.
NEW DELHI DR. S..K. MAHAPATRA
28 December, 1994
CONTENTS
PAGE
I. Explorations and Excavations ... ...
1
Andhra Pradesh, 1; Assam, 8; Bihar, 10; Goa, 14; Gujarat, 14; Haryana, 26;
Himachal Pradesh, 32; Jammu and Kashmir, 34; Kamataka, 35; Kerala, 45;
Madhya Pradesh, 46; Maharashtra, 55; Manipur, 72; Mizoram, 72; Orissa, 75;
Pondicherry, 86; Punjab, 88; Rajasthan, 94; Tamil Nadu, 94; Uttar Pradesh, 98;
West Bengal, 107.

II. Epigraphy ... ... ... ... 112
Sanskritic and Dravidic Inscriptions, 112
Andhra Pradesh, 112; Gujarat, 112; Kamataka, 113; Maharashtra, 114; Tamil
Nadu, 114; Uttar Pradesh, 115;
Arabic and Persian Inscriptions, 115
Bihar, 115; Kamataka, 116; Madhya Pradesh, 116; Maharashtra, 117;
Orissa, 118; Uttar Pradesh, 118; West Bengal, 119.
III. Numismatics and Treasure Trove ... ... ... 120
Andhra Pradesh, 120; Gujarat, 120; Madhya Pradesh, 120; Maharashtra, 121;
West Bengal, 121.
IV Other Important Discoveries ... ... ... ... 122
Andhra Pradesh, 122; Delhi, 122; Gujarat, 123; Jammu and Kashmir, 123;
Madhya Pradesh, 124; Maharashtra, 126; West Bengal, 127.
V Radiocarbon Dates ... ... ... ... 129
Arabian Sea, 129; Gujarat, 130; Haryana, 130; Jammu and Kashmir, 130;
Uttar Pradesh, 131.
VI. Palaeobotanical and Pollen Analytical Investigations ,.. ... 132
Punjab, 132; Uttar Pradesh, 133.
VII Museums ... ... ... ... 134
VIII Architectural Survey ... ... ... ... 140
Temple Survey, Northern Region, 140
Temple Survey, Southern Region, 155
IX. Preservation of Monuments ... ... ... ... 156
Monuments of National Importance, 156
Agra Circle, 156; Bangalore Circle, 158; Bhopal Circle, 161; Bhubaneswar
Circle, 165; Calcutta Circle, 167; Chandigarh Circle, 169; Delhi Circle, 170;
Guwahati Circle, 171; Hyderabad Circle, 173; Jaipur Circle, 174; Lucknow
Circle, 175; Madras Circle, 178; Mini Circle, Goa, 182; Mini Circle,
Shimla, 183; Srinagar Circle, 184; Vadodara Circle, 187.
Monuments Maintained by the States, 189
Andhra Pradesh, 189; Assam, 189; Delhi, 190; Gujarat, 190;
Manipur, 190; Meghalaya, 190; Nagaland, 190; Tamil Nadu, 191.
X. Expeditions Outside India ... ... ... ... 192
Central Armed Forces Museum, Luanda, Angola, 192
Preservation of Angkor Vat Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 194
Structural .Conservation, 194
Chemical Preservation, 197
XL Archaeological Chemistry ... ... ... 198
Treatment of Monuments and Paintings, 198
Andhra Pradesh, 1.98; Arunachal Pradesh, 198; Assam, 199; Bihar, 199;
Daman and Diu, 200; Delhi, 200; Gujarat, 201; Himachal Pradesh, 201;
Jammu and Kashmir, 202; Kamataka, 202; Kerala, 203; Madhya Pradesh, 203;
Maharashtra, 204; Orissa, 205; Pondicherry, 206; Tamil Nadu, 206;
Uttar Pradesh, 207; West Bengal, 208.
Treatment of Excavated Objects and Museum Exhibits, 208
Research and. Analysis, 209
XII. Archaeological Gardens ... ... ... ... 212
Andhra Pradesh, 212; Delhi, 212; Gujarat, 212; Jammu and Kashmir, 212;
Kamataka, 212; Maharashtra, 213; Rajasthan, 213; Tamil Nadu, 213;
Uttar Pradesh, 214; West Bengal, 214.
XIII. Publications ... ... ... ... 215
Publications of the Survey, 215
Other Publications, 215.
INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1989-90— A REVIEW

I. EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS
ANDHRA PRADESH
1. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT CHITTOOR.— The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums,
Government of Andhra Pradesh, reported the discovery of a temple of Somesvarasvami, datable to
the thirteenth-fourteenth century and temple of Venugopalasvami belonging to the late Chola and
early Vijayanagara period respectively in the village Vijalapuram in Rama Kuppam Mandal of the
district.
2. EXPLORATIONS IN DISTRICT EAST GODAVARI.—The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums,
Andhra Pradesh, reported the discovery of temples at Ramdurgam, Raghudevapuram and
Gangalakudur in the district. Of these Anandesvara temple at Gangalakudur was found to be unique
as it contains a Siva.-linga made of Dachapalli limestone and has an Ardhanarisvara carved on it. The
temple has been dated to circa fifth century AD.
3. EXPLORATIONS IN RAJAHMUNDRY LATERITIC ZONE, DISTRICT EAST GODAVARI. — K. Thimma
Reddy and P. Vijaya Prakash of the Department of Anthropology; Andhra University, Waltair,
carried out archaeological explorations in the Rajahmundry lateritic area on the low lying hillocks
on the left side of the Godavari river near Rajahmundry and brought to light evidence ranging from
the mesolithic to medieval times.
Vemagirigutta (18°45' to 18°50' N; 81°45' to 81°50'E), a small village located about 10 km
south-east of Rajahmundry town or about 4 km south-east of Dhowleswaram barrage where the low
lying hillocks are being subjected to quarrying have exposed archaeological material. Trial
excavations in three localities revealed material belonging to the mesolithic, meolithic and megalithic
periods.
The stratigraphy at Vemagiri is recorded as follows. The topmost layer is humus whose
thickness is 15 cm. The second layer below the humus has the thickness of about 37 cm. It has
occasionally yielded potsherds. The third layer is the compact soil layer which has a thickness of
about 17 cm. It underlies the loose soil. Potsherds, waterworn pebbles and microliths are recovered
from this layer. The pottery includes thin fabric as well as coarse, gritty red ware, red and black ware,
buff ware and black ware. The concrete soil layer is the bottommost layer laid on bedrock. It has a
thickness of about 6 cm. In this layer, two dishes and scores of potsherds were exposed. Also at a
depth of 72 cm a broken bone piece of tibia was obtained.
INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY I989-90-A REVIEW
Mesolithic evidence comprised of geometric microliths made of quartz and chert recovered
from the hill slopes.
The neolithic material comprised of the broken ground and polished axe pieces, ribbon blades
and cores, besides pottery. The pottery is dominated by a coarse red ware besides thin red, red slipped
and red and-black wares. A good number of fluted cores and beads on semi precious stone and a
polished broken axe made on dolerite was found.
The megalithic remains at Vemagirigutta comprise of red ware and Black and red ware, the
pottery shapes being globular pots, bowls and large pots. The large size pots resemble funerary
pottery.
4. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT KHAMMAM.— The Department of Archaeology and Museums,
Andhra Pradesh, discovered a megalithic site covering an area of two to three km comprising
dolmens, dolmenoid cist burials with and without stone circles, the burials containing anthropomor-
phic figures and cruciforms depicting male and female figures; a trikuta temple of the Kakatiya
period at Kothulanaduma; and extensive site covering an area of about 20 acres containing evidence
of occupation during neolithic and megalithic periods; a Siva temple at the village Madigunta in
Chintapalli Mandal belonging to the eleventh-twelfth century; an extensive Buddhist site at
Gopalapatnam village near Tuni containing traces of brick structures and votive stupas, remains of
viharas and broken chhatra pieces; four rock-cut caves, perhaps of Buddhist affiliation about one
kilometre north-east of Bhumikonda; and foundations of a maha-stupa and some votive stupas at
Veeralametta.
5. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT KRISHNA.— J. Vara Prasad Rao of the Hyderabad Circle of the
Archaeological Survey of India.1 found during the course of exploration of early historical mound
at Meduru and medieval sculptures at Gollapudi, both in Tiruvur Taluk.
6. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT KRISHNA-The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Andhra
Pradesh, carried out exploration in the District and brought to light early historic site respectively in
village Kadavakollu in the Vuyyar Mandal, between the village G. Madavaram and Thimmapuram
in the Erlapadu Mandal and in the village Ghantasala. At Kadavakollu, remains ranging from the
neolithic to the early historic periods were noticed while at the site between G. Madavaram and
Thimmapuram, large quantity of early historic black and red ware and black ware were noticed. At
Ghantasala, sherds of red ware and brickbats were recovered from a 15 m high mound. Sherds of
medieval grey pottery were noticed in the Rayapudi village in Tullur Mandal of the district.
7. EXCAVATIONS AT SRISADLAM, DISTRICT KURNOOL.— As a part of the research programme on
culture and history of Srisailam (16° 65' N; 78° 52' E), trial excavations were conducted at three find
1 The Archaeological Survey of India is referred to in the following pages as the Survey'.