Indian Archaeology 1993-94 a Review
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INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1993-94 — A REVIEW EDITED BY R. S. BISHT C. DORJE ARUNDHATI BANERJI PUBLISHED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA GOVERNMENT OF INDIA JANPATH, NEW DELHI 2000 Lalkot & Anangtal view of excavated site and terracotta human figurines (front cover), glazed pottery (back cover) 2000 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Price: Rs. 340.00 PRINTED AT M/S BENGAL OFFSET WORKS, 335, KHAJOOR ROAD, NEW DELHI -110005 PREFACE I am pleased to present before you yet another issue of Indian Archaeology-A Review, the forty-first in the series. As usual this Review incorporates the materials submitted by various organizations engaged in archaeological activities in different fields of archaeology covering exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, treasure trove, architectural survey, radiocarbon dates, palaeobotanical studies, museums, preservation of monuments, architectural sites, archaeological chemistry and gardens. My sincere thanks are due to all the State Departments of Archaeology and Museums, Universities, Research Institutions, Laboratories and the various agencies of the Survey. I however, request earnestly to all of them for timely submission of material in conformity with the format, terminology and spellings followed in the earlier issues of the Review so as to enable us to bring out the publication in time. It is needless to stress that this is the sole reason for Indian Archaeology-A Review being in arrears. I would like to thank S/Shri R.S. Bisht, C. Dorje, Ms. Arundhati Banerji for compilation and editing the issue and Shri Hoshiar Singh for preparing the dummy of plates and seeing it through the press, Ms. Anju Dhawan and all the staff members of the Publication Section of the Survey for assisting the editors in diverse ways. Lastly, I express my gratitude to Shri Hari Manjhi, Director (Publication) and Mrs. Savi Sagar of M/s Bengal Offset works for their co-operation in bringing out this issue. S.B. MATHUR Director General New Delhi, March, 2000 CONTENTS PAGE I. Explorations and Excavations ... ... ... 1 Andhra Pradesh, 1 ; Arunachal Pradesh, 6; Assam, 9 ; Bihar, 9; Delhi, 11; Gujarat, 25; Haryana, 45; Jammu and Kashmir, 53; Karnataka, 54; Madhya Pradesh, 69; Maharashtra, 73; Orissa, 84; Punjab, 90; Rajasthan, 91; Tamil Nadu, 98; Uttar Pradesh, 100; West Bengal, 121 II. Epigraphy ... ... ... ... ... 123 Sanskritic and Dravidic Inscriptions, 123 Andhra Pradesh, 123; Karnataka, 124; Madhya Pradesh, 125; Tamil Nadu, 126 Arabic and Persian Inscriptions, 128 Andhra Pradesh, 128; Gujarat, 128; Madhya Pradesh, 129; Maharashtra, 129; Rajasthan, 130; Uttar Pradesh, 130; West Bengal, 131 III. Numismatics and Treasure Trove... ... ... ... ... 132 Andhra Pradesh, 132; Gujarat, 132; Karnataka, 132; Madhya Pradesh, 133; Maharashtra, 133; West Bengal, 133 IV. Other Important Discoveries ... ... ... ... ... 135 Andhra Pradesh, 135; Gujarat, 135; Karnataka, 136; Kerala, 136; Madhya Pradesh, 136; Tamil Nadu, 137; Uttar Pradesh, 138; West Bengal, 138 V. Radiocarbon Dates ... ... ... ... ... 139 Gujarat, 139; Karnataka, 141; Oman, 141; Orissa, 142; Uttar Pradesh, 142 VI. Palaeobotanical and Pollen Analytical Investigations ... ... 143 Bihar,143 ; Haryana,143 ; Punjab, 144 VII. Museums ... ... ... ... ... 146 VIII. Architectural Survey ... ... ... ... ... 151 Temple Survey, Northern Region, 151 Building Survey, 151 IX. Preservation of Monuments ... ... ... ... ... 156 Monuments of National Importance, 156 Agra Circle, 156; Aurangabad Circle, 158; Bangalore Circle, 159; Bhopal Circle, 163; Bhubaneswar Circle, 167; Calcutta Circle, 168; Chandigarh Circle, 170; Delhi Circle, 171; Guwahati Circle, 173; Hyderabad Circle, 174; Jaipur Circle, 176; Lucknow Circle, 178; Madras Circle, 181; Mini Circle, Goa, 184; Mini Circle, Shimla, 184; Patna Circle, 185; Srinagar Circle, 186; Vadodara Circle, 186 Monuments Maintained by the States, 187 Assam, 187; Gujarat, 188; Karnataka, 188; Manipur, 189 X. Archaeological Chemistry ... ... ... ... ... 190 Treatment of Monuments and Paintings, 190 Andhra Pradesh, 190; Bihar, 190; Delhi, 191; Goa, 192; Gujarat, 192; Himachal Pradesh, 193; Jammu and Kashmir, 194; Karnataka, 195; Madhya Pradesh, 196; Maharashtra, 197; Orissa, 198; Rajasthan, 198; Tamil Nadu, 199; Uttar Pradesh, 200; West Bengal, 202 Treatment and P reservation of Excavated and Museum Objects, 202 Research and Analysis, 203 XL Archaeological Gardens ... ... ... ... ... 206 Goa, 206; Karnataka, 206; Maharashtra, 206; Tamil Nadu, 206; Uttar Pradesh, 206; West Bengal, 207 XII. Publications ... ... ... ... ... 208 Publications of the Survey, 208 Other Publications, 208 INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1993-94 — A REVIEW L EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS ANDHRA PRADESH 1. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT ANANTAPUR.—In the course of village-to-village survey, the following villages of archaeological importance were noticed by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Village Nature of remains Budidagaddapalli Early historic Peravali Glass industry of medieval period Sasanakota Early historic site 2. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT CHITTOOR.— The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, reported the discovery of an early historical site at Tondamanadu. 3. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT CUDDAPAH.— The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, reported the discovery of a protohistoric site at Kundili Cherlopalli. 4. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT EAST GODAVARI.— The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, reported the discovery of the following sites. Village Nature of remains Bovanapudi Jaina sculptures of medieval period Chollangi Early historic Devipatnam Loose sculptures Gorsa Late medieval mud-fort Nemam Medieval sculptures INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1993-94 —A REVIEW 5. EXPLORATION IN AND AROUND RAJAHMUNDRY, DISTRICT EAST GODAVARI. — R. V. Siva Sarma of the Archaeological Survey of India1 brought to light the following sites of archaeological importance during the course of exploration. Village Nature of remains Bommuru Early historic pottery and remnants of brick-stupa Devipatnam Medieval temple Pedda Kondepudi and Habitational mounds and loose sculptures ranging Chinna Kondepudi from second century to twelfth century AD Raghudevapuram Remnants of medieval mud-fort and early historical pottery Rajahmundry Dilapidated brick-temple with an inscription in Telugu (twelfth century) Ramadurgam fort Medieval fort, temple and tank Vemagiri Mitta Early historic pottery, early medieval temple and remnants of brick-stupa 6. EXCAVATION AT GARAPADU, DISTRICT GUNTUR. — The Birla Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute, Hyderabad, conducted excavation at Garapadu in collaboration with the Nagarjuna University under the direction of G. Kamalakar, Director BACRI and B.R. Subramanyam of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, University of Nagarjuna. V.V. Krishna Sastri (Advisor, BACRI), assisted by M. Veerender, Venu Shankar, G. Maheshwari, V. Satyanand Kumar, Narasa Reddy, G. Ramakrishna and others, supervised the excavations in sixteen trenches which revealed the material and settlement of the Neolithic, Megalithic and early historical periods covering a span of nearly two thousand years or more. Period I (Neolithic), continuing from the lowest level, revealed the most important evidence of nearly ten dwelling-pits of different sizes which were used either for habitation or storage purpose. In these pits, potsherds, stone and bone implements, microlithic blades, steatite beads and charred animal bone pieces were recovered. In the same level, post-holes in circular fashion were also noticed. Two types of burials were noticed, the first type consisted of burying the dead body in full articulation while the second type is marked by an urn-burial or pot-burial exclusively for the dead children. In both the cases, the lower limbs (particularly the ankles) of the skeletons were found missing. As far as the artefacts are concerned, the Neolithic level yielded a good number of polished axes, adzes, microlithic tools, mullers, querns and pounders of stone, steatite beads and bone implements. Besides, the pottery consisted of hand-made coarse red ware, buff ware (sometime burnished), burnished grey/black wares and coarse black-and-red ware. The occupational deposit of Period II (Megalithic) is very thin. The cultural remains include typical burnished black-and-red ware of Megalithic context and iron implements (scracely found) along 1 Archaeological Survey of India is referred to in the following pages as the Survey only. 2 EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS with beads of semiprecious stones. The last phase of this culture was found interlocked with the succeeding early historical culture. Period III (historical) is represented by a very thin occupational deposit which yielded coins of the Satavahana and Ikshvaku dynasties and beads of semiprecious stones besides pottery. No structural remains were found. 7. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT GUNTUR. — In the course of village-to-village survey, the following villages of archaeological importance were noticed by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Village Nature of remains Deepaladinne Medieval Mupalla Early historical Nemalipuri Early historical habitation and stone sculptures of fifteenth century 8. EXCAVATION AT NELAKONDAPALLI, DISTRICT KHAMMAM. — Excavations were resumed in the monastic complex at Nelakondapalli by the Department of Archaeology and Museums,