Archaeological Investigations at and Around Umbardi, Taluka Mangaon, District Raigad, Maharashtra
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Archaeological Investigations At and Around Umbardi, Taluka Mangaon, District Raigad, Maharashtra Anjay Dhanawade1, Salil Sayed2 and P. P. Joglekar2 1. M. M. Jagtap Senior College of Arts, Science and Commerce, District Raigad, Mahad 402 301, Maharashtra, India (Email: [email protected]) 2. Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Deemed to be University, Pune – 411 006, Maharashtra, India (Email: [email protected]) Received: 26 July 2017; Revised: 21 September 2017; Accepted: 04 November 2017 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5 (2017): 1013‐1029 Abstract: The archaeological remains of a deserted town were discovered in 2014 at Umbardi in Mangaon taluka of Raigad district. This article presents the preliminary findings of the explorations at the site and its surroundings, with a primary aim of reporting newly discovered structural remains. Many features such as fortification walls, dilapidated temple complexes and foundations of houses point to a large settlement. Perhaps this was an important town controlling a mountain pass that connected the Konkan and the upland region during the Medieval period. The ruins of the town and those in its surrounding area are described and put in relation with the local and regional geography to forward the hypothesis about importance of mountain passes for guarding trade connections. Keywords: Medieval Archaeology, Konkan, Trade Routes, Umbardi, Temple, Fortification, Ceramics Introduction During one of the visits (in 2012) while exploring the surroundings of Kurdu Fort in Mangaon taluka of Raigad district remains of old constructions in the thick forests near Umbardi village were observed by the first author (Figure 1). Further visits revealed that these remains point to existence of a large historical, so far unknown town or a settlement of large size. Subsequent exploration showed presence of ancient and medieval remains in several villages (Dhanawade 2017a). This article is focused on reporting of the remains at Fort Kurdu, Umbardi, Kadape, Sangi, Maluste, Shiravali, Borivali, Yelavade and Jita. Also, the importance of these remains in connection with ancient trade routes (that connected upland Maharashtra and the Konkan region) and the forts associated with such passes has been discussed. The Konkan region of Maharashtra comprises five districts, viz. Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. Konkan is a narrow coastal strip in between the Arabian Sea and the hilly Western Ghat. Present‐day village of Umbardi is located on ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 the banks of River Kal, a tributary of River Savitri. The archaeological site of Umbardi is situated in densely forested area from where River Kal originates. Several streams join each other to form River Kal. The source region of this river, locally known as ‘Satnal’ has very dense forest. To the north of Umbardi is the preset‐day pass known as Tamhini Ghat and to the south is Fort Kurdu, also called Vishramgad (18° 22’ 27’’ N; 73° 25’ 07’’ E). These two features form a U‐shaped valley. Figure 1: Location map of Umbardi and the Study Area Kadape Kadape (18° 21’ 22’’ N; 73° 21’ 11’’ E) is a small village located 13 km to the northeast of the taluka headquarter Mangaon. Archaeological remains were found in the vicinity of three temples, i.e. Bapujibuva, Kalkai and Rameshwar Shiva temple. Near Rameshwar temple, two hero stones (Veergal) and a Sati stone (in memory of a Sati) were found. Besides these, eight dressed stones of a Maratha period Samadhi were seen in scattered condition. The temple of Kalkai or goddess Kalika also has three fragmented hero stones and a stone slab. The slab (35 x 70 cm) has depictions of a Kalasha, the sun, the moon and cow‐calf sculpture in the middle (Figure 2). The lower 30 cm portion of this slab is vacant. Perhaps there was an inscription in this portion. Based on style the hero stones and the cow‐calf sculpture can be assigned to 11th‐13th centuries CE. 1014 Dhanawade et al. 2017: 1013‐1029 Figure 2: Cow‐calf Sculpture at Kadape 1015 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 Figure 3: Mahishasuramardini, Sangi Sangi Sangi (18° 22’ 24’’ N; 73° 22’ 08’’ E) is situated at a distance of 17 km from Mangaon. Near a small local goddess temple (Gavdevi) four sculptures were found. These sculptural fragments could not be identified due to heavy corrosion of their surface. Perhaps one of these is of Mahishasuramardini (Figure 3) assignable to the 12th century CE. Maluste Maluste (18° 21’ 07’’ N; 73° 22’ 03’’ E) is 15 km northeast of Mangaon. Archaeological remains were found in the premises of two temples – Maljai and a Shiva temple. The foundation of the Maljai temple is old and without any ornamentations. Though the temple walls are modern, the plan is older and a few corroded sculptures of Ganesh, a nandi (Figure 4) and Vishnu point to a period of 13th‐14th centuries CE. Behind the Maljai temple a fragmented female bust, three hero stones and a Sati stone were observed. 1016 Dhanawade et al. 2017: 1013‐1029 Figure 4: Nandi, Maluste Shiravali Shiravali village (18° 10’ 30’’ N; 73° 15’ 47’’ E) is situated on the right bank of River Kal, 7 km southwest of Mangaon. The temples of Kalbhairav and Shiva have been recently renovated. Hence, old sculptures were found scattered in the backyards of these temple. These fairly eroded sculptural elements include two hero stones (Figure 5), a Sati stone, a nandi and a Shivalinga. In addition, a few dressed stones of some Samadhi were found in loose condition. Based on comparison of these elements with those found in other places, these have been dated to 17‐18th centuries CE. Borivali Borivali (18° 21’ 50’’ N; 73° 21’ 55’’ E) is included in Shiravali Grama Panchayat. It has a Shiva and Kalbahirav temple. Though both these temples have been renovated, old sculptural elements are still preserved in the premises. These include an image of Parvati in Samabhanga posture (85 x 40 cm), an image of Ganesh (Figure 6), two nandi sculptures, and twenty hero stones (Figure 7). All these based on style can be dated between 12th and 15th century CE. A few fragments of glazed ware sherds were noticed from the Shiva temple. 1017 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 Figure 5: Hero Stone at Shiravali Yelavade The village (18° 22’ 44’’ N; 73° 21’ 37’’ E) is 2 km away from Shiravali. It has the temples of Kalbhairav and Shiva. However, both are completely renovated, perhaps in the 19th century. Older archaeological remains were not found in this village. 1018 Dhanawade et al. 2017: 1013‐1029 Figure 6: Ganesh, Borivali Figure 7: Hero stones at Borivali 1019 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 Jita Jita (18° 21’ 7’’ N; 73° 22’ 03’’ E) is located 19 km northeast of Mangaon and at the base of Kurdu Fort. Scattered archaeological material was found in the courtyard of modern Hanuman temple. It includes hero stones (Figure 8) and a Sati stone. Also, one eroded female sculpture was found. These remains belong to 12‐13th centuries CE. Figure 8: Hero Stones, Jita Fort Kurdu This was an important fort (18° 22’ 27.08’’ N; 73° 25’ 7.31’’ E) during the medieval period overlooking the pass known as Lingya Pass that connected Konkan to the areas in Pune district (Figure 9). Rock‐cut caves have been reported from the eastern portion of this fort earlier (Joshi 2011). During exploration the first author discovered two west‐ facing rock‐cut caves along a 300 m high pinnacle near the Kurdai temple on the fort. These caves are at 95 m above the base of the pinnacle and could be reached only with mountaineering equipment. Two rock‐cut caves (Figure 10) and two rock‐cut water tanks were found. Tank No. 1 (3 x 4 m) is filled with soil at present. Tank no. 2 has rectangular columns. A room is excavated in the middle of its southern wall. Its internal details could not be investigated as it was filled with water. Cave No. 1 (1.90 x 2.3 x 1.70 m) is situated above this tank appears to be an ancient vihara. The walls and roof are flat without any decoration. Cave No. is shaped like an axe blade ‐ narrow at the entrance and wide inside with a semicircular rear portion. At first glance it appears 1020 Dhanawade et al. 2017: 1013‐1029 like water tank as its floor is by 1.40 m deep. The northern wall has a hidden chamber (1.70 x 0.90 m). The pivot holes suggest provision of wooden shutters. A similar hidden chamber was dug in the eastern wall but this is in L‐shape. This chamber has a 1.30 m high and 0.30 m wide door opening. These hidden chambers may have been used for keeping valuable goods or arms. Because one can have a long‐distance view from this cave, it could have had a watch‐tower like function. Based on the pattern of cave excavation it is suggested that these caves were excavated during the Shilahara period (800‐1260 CE). Figure 9: Pinnacle of Kurdu Fort The entrance to the fort has rock‐cut stairs. This path has holes indicating it was once covered with wooden paving. The hero‐stones on the fort are very similar to those at the base in Umbardi village and the whole region in general. Near the temple of local goddess Kurdai, a worn out Gajalaksmi sculpture and a stone slab was found.