Indian Archaeology 1985-86 a Review
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INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1985-86 —A REVIEW EDITED BY JAGAT PATI JOSHI Director General Archaeological Survey of India ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA GOVERNMENT OF INDIA NEW DELHI 1990 Cover : Excavated remains at Sanghol © 1990 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Price: Rs. 150.00 PRINTED AT VAP ENTERPRISES, H-24 GREEN PARK EXTENSION, NEW DELHI-1 10024 © 669606, 656787 PREFACE In the process of clearing the backlog of publications of the Archaeological Survey of India, I am happy to place before the readers and scholars, Indian Archaeology 1985-86— A Review. Like its earlier issues, it incorporates matter on archaeological activities in the country during 1985-86 besides a summary of results of excavations at Hamad Town, Bahrain, where a team of archaeological experts of Archaeological Survey of India carried out excavations at the invitation of Government of Bahrain. The succeeding issues of the Review are also under preparation. However, I would like to add that since 1989 to June 1990, Archaeological Survey of India has been hectically engaged in bringing out besides the present issue of Indian Ar- chaeology 1985-86—A Review, Temples of the Pratihara Period in Central India, Temples of Khajuraho Vol. I & II, Excavations at Surkotada, Epigraphia Indica Vol.41 and Gupta Inscriptions of Bagh Caves. As usual for this issue of Indian Archaeology the matter was received from various sources and I gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of those whose contributions have been utilised here. The delay in the publication of this issue is regretted and I apologise for any inaccuracy which may have crept in sorting out, compiling and editing the material for this issue. However, the Archaeological Survey of India or I have no responsibility for factual information which is supplied by the contributors. I take this opportunity to acknowledge with thanks the assistance and also express my sincere appreciations for the work done by Sarvashri K.N. Dikshit, Director (Publication), Chhering Dorje, Superintending Archaeologist, Smt. Shubra Pramanik, Deputy Superintend- ing Archaeologist, K.P. Padhy, Senior Technical Assistant and J.C. Gupta, Production Officer in the Publication Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India who have seen the issue through its editing and publication. Ms. VAP Enterprises, New Delhi, deserve appreciation for publishing this issue. NEW DELHI 18th June, 1990 JAGAT PATI JOSHI CONTENTS PACE I. Explorations and Excavations ............................................... 1 Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 1; Andhra Pradesh, 1; Assam, 7; Bihar, 7; Chandigarh, 15; Gujarat, 15; Haryana, 23; Jammu and Kashmir, 34; Karnataka, 37; Kerala, 47; Madhya Pradesh, 47; Maharashtra, 56; Orissa, 61; Punjab, 67; Rajasthan, 69; Tamil Nadu, 70; Uttar Pradesh, 71; West Bengal, 85 II. Epigraphy ............................................... 91 Sanskritic and Dravidic inscriptions, 91 Andhra Pradesh, 91; Haryana, 92; Karnataka, 92; Madhya Pradesh, 96; Maharashtra, 96; Orissa, 97; Rajasthan, 97; Tamil Nadu 98; Uttar Pradesh, 100 Arabic and Persian Inscriptions 100 Andhra Pradesh, 100; Bihar, 101; Delhi, 101; Maharashtra, 102; Uttar Pradesh, 102; West Bengal, 103 III. Numismatics and Treasure Trove ............................................... 105 Gujarat, 105; Haryana, 105; Karnataka, 105; Maharashtra, 106; Orissa, 106, Rajasthan, 106; West Bengal, 106 IV. Other Important Discoveries ............................................... 107 Andhra Pradesh, 107; Goa, Daman and Diu, 107; Gujarat, 107; Haryana, 108; Jammu and Kashmir, 108; Karnataka, 109; Madhya Pradesh, 110; Maharashtra, 112; Rajasthan, 114; Tamil Nadu, 114; Uttar Pradesh, 115; West Bengal, 116 V. Radiocarbon Dates ............................................... 118 Assam, 118; Gujarat, 118; Madhya Pradesh, 119; Meghalaya, 119; Punjab, 119; Tamil Nadu, 120 Samples from Abroad, 121 Nepal, 121; Sri Lanka, 121 VI. Palaeobotanical and Pollen Analytical Investigations .................................... 122 Punjab, 122; Uttar Pradesh, 122 VII. Museums ................................................ 126 VIII. Architectural Survey ................................................ 132 Temple Survey, Northern Region, 132 Building Survey, 148 DL Preservation of Monuments ................................................ 151 Monuments of National Importance, 151 Agra Circle, 151; Aurangabad Circle, 153; Bangalore Circle, 155; Bhopal Circle, 160; Bhubneswar Circle, 163; Calcutta Circle, 165; Chandigarh Circle, 168; Delhi Circle, 169; Guwahati Circle, 170; Hyderabad Circle, 172; Jaipur Circle, 175; Lucknow Circle, 176; Madras Circle, 178; Patna Circle, 181; Srinagar Circle, 181; Vadodara Circle, 184 Monuments Maintained by the States, 186 Andhra Pradesh, 186; Haryana, 187; Karnataka, 187; Madhya Pradesh, 188; Rajasthan, 188; Uttar Pradesh, 189; West Bengal, 189 X. Expedition outside India ............................................... 190 XI. Archaeological Chemistry ............................................... 193 Treatment of Monuments and Paintings, 193 Andhra Pradesh, 193; Assam, 193; Bihar, 193; Delhi, 194; Goa, Daman and Diu, 195; Himachal Pradesh, 195; Jammu and Kashmir, 196; Karnataka, 196; Madhya Pradesh, 197; Maharashtra, 197; Orissa, 198; Rajasthan, 200; Tamil Nadu, 201; Uttar Pradesh, 201; West Bengal, 202 Treatment of Excavated Objects and Museum Exhibits, 203 Research and Analysis, 204 XII. Archaeological Gardens ............................................... 210 Andhra Pradesh, 210; Delhi, 210; Goa, Daman and Diu, 210; Gujarat, 210; Karnataka, 210; Maharashtra, 211; Orissa, 211; Rajasthan, 211; Tamil Nadu, 211; Uttar Pradesh, 211 XIII. Publications ............................................... 212 Publications of the Survey, 212 Other Publications, 212 INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1985-86 —A REVIEW I. EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS 1. EXPLORATION IN SOUTH ANDAMAN.— B.P. Bopardikar, assisted by S.N. Raghunath, S.S. Gupta, A. J. Nambiraju, Pyare Singh and K.M. Girhe of the Prehistory Branch of the Archaeo logical Survey of India1 carried out a preliminary exploration in South Andaman and Strait Islands to assess the prehistoric potentialities of the archipelago in general and Strait Island in particular. A number of kitchen-midden sites locally known as Sippi tekries were discovered between Port Blair and Hope town in South Andaman. These included Badmash Pahar, Mithakhari, Kudkuchcha, Hathi Top, Dandas Point, Namunaghar quarry, Bamboo Flat and Kanyapuram. A large number of sites were found in clusters located along the creek, while a few were situated near the fresh water source. All these sites occurred in the form of either a mound or a heap consisting of mollusc shells. Among shells, oysters dominate over gastropods. The dimensions of the sites varied considerably from 5 x 5m to 30 x 5 m in diameter and from 1 to 8m in height. The compactness of the deposit at these sites also differed as some sites were more compact than others. The mounds yielded a variety of pottery types such as shallow basins, deep bowls and dishes with knife-edged rim. All of them were handmade, ill fired and probably prepared by coiling technique. A wide variety of incised decorations were noticed on the surface of the potsherds. Some of the sherds were having decorations on both the sides. The antiquities recovered from the surface were a thick blade, prepared on chert and a polished pounding stone. A survey was conducted in Strait Island lying north of Port Blair and on the way to Havloc Island. The island has an area of 2 sq.km. Only one kitchen midden site was found near the tribal settlement. Practically, all the deposits were completely destroyed by the tribals for extracting lime from the shells. ANDHRA PRADESH 2. EXCAVATION AT ADURRU, DISTRICT EAST GODAVARI.— The Hyderabad Circle of the Survey under the direction of H.N. Singh, assisted by D. Hanumantha Rao, M.V.N. Krishna Rao, R.S. Kulkarni, T. Chenchuratnam and Gayasuddin, carried out excavation at Adurru with a view to expose the Buddhist stupa and monastery complex. The Buddhist remains cover an area of 3200 square m (approximately 2.04 acres) with a 4m high mound. The excavation revealed a sprawling stupa built on a plan of spoked wheel within a wheel together with its components. Out of the concentric circles the outer consisted of twenty-four spokes and twenty-four cells and the inner sixteen spokes and sixteen cells. The diameter of the hub was 5.30m. The dome 1The Archaeological Survey of India is referred to in the following pages as the Survey. INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1985-86 — A REVIEW raised over the outer concentric circle left a lime-plastered lm wide space on the drum as an offset. The circumference of the stupa was 64cm with a diameter of 20.40m with an extant height of 3.45m from the plinth level. Below the plinth level, it had eight brick courses, the last one resting over the natural sand. On all the cardinal directions, the stupa was provided with projected platforms, a salient feature of the Andhra stupas. There is no evidence for the existence of a railing around the stupa. But there exists a brick wall, 0.60m in breadth, at a distance of 6m from the eastern platform, its function could not be ascertained due to limited excavations. Towards the northern side of the stupa an apsidal chaitya-griha, measuring 16.10m in length and 6.55m in width, was exposed. The nave portion measures 8.80m in length and 3.45m in width. Within the chaitya griha, there is a provision for a miniature stupa with