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Kankia –Radhanagar : an Early Historical Buddhist Settlement

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Kankia –Radhanagar : an Early Historical Buddhist Settlement Odisha Review December - 2014 Kankia –Radhanagar : An Early Historical Buddhist Settlement Dr. Sunil Kumar Patnaik 1. Introduction: Jajpur which have numerous cult monuments of Kankia (Lat : 20’ 41’ Long : 86’ 11’ ) Buddhism,Saivism,Visnuism and Shaktism. These locally known as Radhanagar is located in the sites are almost all religious settlements with midst of cluster of villages of high population temples and icons. density on the right bank of river Kelua (Kimiria), Kankia - Radhanagar is a potential early a tributary of Brahmani, about 90 kms to the north historical site and several cultural phases could of Bhubaneswar and 30 kms from the present be marked from the surface finds and shore line. The site is connected with Jaraka a archaeological remains of adjoining areas. The site small town located on National Highway Number was earlier reported by few scholars (Basa & 5 through a motor able road at 2 kms away, in Mohanty, 2000:507.) and confirmed that it is an Dharmasala area of Jajpur District. There was an early historical site like that of Sisupalgarh (Yule. ancient settlement which could be marked from P.2008:36). From our earlier consecutive survey, the existing mound with fortification wall.The site exploration and excavation from the year 2010- was taken for Archaeological Excavation during 11 to 2012-13, it is certain that like other early the year 2011-13 and the findings are discussed historical site, this settlement was started here from here, for further research in Odishan history the beginning of historical period i.e.4th- 3 rd century ,culture and archaeology. The region of B.C and continued till preceding Gupta period Dharmasala is dotted with number of Buddhist th th sites like Langudi, Kayama, Tarapur, Deuli, i.e 4 -5 century A.D. and again sporadically found from early medieval period i.e from 7th -8th Neulapur, Vajragiri etc, which were excavated th th during the year 1997 to 2007 by OIMSEAS1. to 13 -14 century A.D as is known from the The above Buddhist sites are located in the hillocks excavated and explored antiquities, stratigraphy and contains Buddhist remains such as stupas, and structural remains. A brief report of the monasteries, inscriptions and sculptures. At a Excavation is summarized here for further research distance of 20 to 30 kms north-east of Kankia of ancient history and culture of India in general also have large Buddhist sites like Ratnagiri, and Odisha in particular. Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri which all are excavated 2. The Site by Archaeological Survey of India in the recent past. At a distance of 30 kms to the north east of The site as such is spread over in an area Kankia is also located the famous historical site of 9, 02,500 square meters which is enclosed by 88 December - 2014 Odisha Review a mud fortification. Though the fortification / Naupala etc. ancient remains are also noticed in defenses are seen cut through, on the northern the surface. Nearly 1500 families are living in the side providing a passage way, otherwise, intact locality. The local population mainly consists of on northern and eastern side. The western side potters, fishermen, agriculturistes, traders class defense wall is heavily disturbed due to the locally known as teli, blacksmith etc. Presently, construction of houses of the village Radhanagar they are mainly depending on agriculture and poor right on the fortification wall. There are 3 people are working as daily labourers. projections in the northern side i.e, in the middle In Early Historic India, the construction of the eastern side which is locally called as of large size ramparts or defence walls for urban ‘Singhadwar’. The north-west corner projection settlements is a general feature. It is important to is locally called as ‘Hatidiha’ and the middle mention here that cities in any pre-modern society projection of the northern fortification is called were viewed as attempts to recreate the universe ‘Uttaradwara’. Although, the fortifications run in microcosm with large outsized ramparts which all around almost in triangular shape, the western served the purpose of symbolic protection. This side projections are clearly not visible.( index map has been described vividly in the Jatak enclosed). There is a big opening in the northern stories.Defence is the root cause of of the origin side fortification facing straight towards the of the cities as people gathered together in search Kayama Hill rock-cut Caves. Opposite to the of protection. Pali texts speak of villages with gates opening in the southern end of the site there is a (gamadvara) and fences (parikkhitto). The huge pond close to the fortification. Near to the walls also acted as a contrast between the sacred pond, recently some people of nearby village (urban) and profane (rural) space.(Sarao: Derabar have constructed houses over the ancient 2007:31). Between c.700 B.C, the date of the mound. In the south of the pond, there is a modern advent of the NBPW at Sringaverapura in the temple having ancient sculptures mostly of central section of the Gangetic valley and c.300 Buddhist pantheons. Though, the original A.D, the point immediately preceding the Gupta inhabitants of Radhanagar mainly consists of age maturity, India witnessed the growth of urban potters, fishermen and agriculturists but during the centers in all her geographical regions3. recent past some nearby village people are sifted (Chakravarti: 1997:170) The conception might to this village. But the potter’s class people are have enabled the architects of Radhanagar to dominant caste of the village and about 250 create universal order in the spatial layout of the families are living in the village. settlement, which could have legitimated the During the rainy season the back water existing social structure. The construction of of river Birupa comes through ‘Sagadia Nala’ massive earth works also points out a proper to the site which make the land very fertile. The military function required to protect from the fertility of the site is also another cause for the external attack. Thus, the site as such is well increase of the population in the recent past. Due defined and stratified mound with a core to the shifting of the nearby village people to this settlement area. The excavations in the year 2010- side the north-west corner projection of the 11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 have yielded amazing northern projection has been heavily disturbed. results with mud fortification; structures belong In the surrounding villages i.e. Bamphu, to Maurya, Kushana and pre-Gupta periods and Mangalpur, Uttarasasan, Derabar, Gopalpur, exotic pottery specimen and antiquities. In this 89 Odisha Review December - 2014 context the study made by P Yule (2006:42-43) the structure excavation started in this portion. in Odishan Early Historical sites should be Though the left arm of the structure is highly robed referred. Some of the Early Historical Sites of but it was completely traced. The length of the India having similar antiquity are Prakash ,Paithan, wall is 39 mtr and the breadth is 1.30 mtr. The Sopara in Maharastra, Champa, Rajgir in Bihar width of the passage in between the two arms is and Sisupalgarh, Asurgarh (Narla) in Odisha. 4.5 mtrs. In this portion in the wall, laterite stone, 3. Excavation bricks and big size boulders are used. The mortar used in structure is mud mixed with small size Keeping in view the ostensive nature of kankar. Perforated finger tip marked terracotta the site and massive disturbances due to human tile pieces along with huge terracotta tile keys were occupation and agricultural field the site was also unearthed in this area. The structure may be divided in to 4 locations such as location I, and I part of the southern entrance to the site. A, location II, location III and location IV, wherever the deposit is without any massive 3.2 Location: KNK IV – In the extreme end disturbances. During 2010-11 and 2011-12 of the South-West Corner. excavations were concentrated on the north, Four trenches have been laid out in this north-eastern and south-west area of the mound area where small brick structure has been (see Index) . During the year 2012-13 excavations exposed with having two courses of bricks. This were taken up in location III and IV. Location IV could be one of the subsidiary habitational areas is situated in the extreme end of the site in south- adjoining to the massive Mauryan period brick west corner. The excavation was conducted structure area. The concentration of potsherds keeping in view the yielding of cultural material antiquities clearly indicates that this portion might and structural remains. A team of Archaeologists be occupied by the craftsman community of the from OIMSEAS together with participation of site. The most important findings of this area is students of P G Department of AIHCA of Banaras one inscribed stone pendant. Earlier it was Hindu University and Utkal University, the presumed that this portion may be the opening excavation was started in January 2011 and area for easy outlet of the water to outside due to continued up to June 2013. Archaeologists and scholars like Prof.S Pradhan, Prof K K Basa, the one big pond is being there. There is a huge Prof R N Singh, Dr.S.Acharya, Sri A K Patel, opening noticed in the Northern side fortification. Dr. J K Patnaik along with Research scholars of This opening parallelly noticed in the Western side Banaras Hindu University and Utkal University disturbed fortification. In this portion three number extended their helping hand during the excavation. trenches have been excavated during the session 2011-12.
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