Remnants of Mouryan period found at Asurgarh in Odisha

  • | Thursday | 17th January, 2019

We are expecting to get links beyond the Mauryan period,” Garnayak added.The construction of the ancient fort also indicated about the architectural skills of the people of that period. BHUBANESWAR: The excavation branch of the Archaeological survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar region has unearthed signs of an urban civilisation contemporary to Mauryan period (322 -185 BC) at Asurgarh in Kalahandi district . The archaeological spade works revealed number of brick structures which included an apsidal brick structure with praise worthy brick sizes. “The fort had four wide gates in four cardinal directions and at each gate was installed one guardian deity. The material culture in the form beads and bangle in different shapes and colour shows the artistic talent of the natives of that time.

BHUBANESWAR: The excavation branch of the Archaeological survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar region has unearthed signs of an urban civilisation contemporary to Mauryan period (322 -185 BC) at Asurgarh in Kalahandi district . During the excavation at an ancient fort the ASI team found imperial variety silver coins with punch marks, coral and bead jewellery and floor tiles that indicated that it was an ‘urban’ and ‘cultured’ civilisation with ‘advanced’ lifestyle traits.“From the findings of the excavation it can be concluded that the habitation was an urban settlement belonging to Mauryan to Kushan period, which was about 2300 years back. The imperial coins with punch marks were issued during the Mauryan and Magadhan period,” said Dibishada Brajasundar Garnayak, superintending archaeologist of ASI’s excavation Branch.Besides, silver punch marked coins, silver and copper toe ring and ear rings, large number of pottery hopscotches, beads of carnelian, jasper, beryl, garnet, agate and coral, glass bangle pieces of different designs and colours, sling balls, pestle, iron equipment like small wheel, ring, harpoon and arrow head are found during excavations.“These findings suggest the habitants were living in an urban settlement and had a materialist life style. The material culture in the form beads and bangle in different shapes and colour shows the artistic talent of the natives of that time. The findings of coral beads and Imperial variety of silver punch mark coins strongly indicates about long distant trade and association of hinterland people with seafaring people,” Garnayak said.The first excavation at the site was done in 1973 but it was not very extensive and not much was found at that time. The current excavation started in November last year and will continue till April this year.“To ascertain the exact age of these remnants ASI will conduct both charcoal and ceramic dating at the Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi.These things were found within one metre from the surface level while we are planning to dig up to three metres down. We are expecting to get links beyond the Mauryan period,” Garnayak added.The construction of the ancient fort also indicated about the architectural skills of the people of that period. “The fort had four wide gates in four cardinal directions and at each gate was installed one guardian deity. The archaeological spade works revealed number of brick structures which included an apsidal brick structure with praise worthy brick sizes. Wedge shaped bricks are also noticed in the circular structures. Most of the structures are associated with terracotta tiles having groves and hole for socketing,” he pointed out.Close to the western rampart of the fort, the river Sandul flows to the north thereby forming a natural moat on the western side of the fort. On the eastern side of the fort there is an extensive lake.

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