Lok Sabha Question No. 183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Popularisation of Historical Findings
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 183

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.7.2021

## POPULARISATION OF HISTORICAL FINDINGS

183.    SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  major  achievements  in  historical  and  archaeological  findings  of  the Archaeological Survey of India in the last five years;
- (b) whether  the  recent  excavations  have  revealed  new  information  about  the  Indian Civilization and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to undertake research and study of these findings for a better understanding on the ancient Indian Civilization;
- (d) whether the Ministry has proposed inclusion of these findings in textbooks for school students and course material for students at graduate and postgraduate level;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to popularize these findings about the  glorious  past  of  Indian  Civilization  through  various  forms  of  media,  especially through movies and documentaries; and
- (f) the steps taken to promote Museums in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) to The archaeological excavations carried by the ASI during last five field seasons from 2015-16 to 2019-20 along with summarized findings/outcomes are at Annexure.

(c)

- (d) At present, no such proposal is there.
- (e) ASI creates cultural awareness through press/media, research publications, organizing photo exhibitions, short films, etc.
- (f) ASI has fifty two (52) Archaeological Site Museums across the country which organize various promotional and awareness programmes on different occasions of national and international importance.

## ANNEXURE

## TABLE SHOWING BRIEF DETAILS OF FINDINGS/OUTCOMES OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS DONE BY THE ASI DURING LAST FIVE FIELD SEASONS (2015-16 TO 2019-20)

|   Sl. No. | Name of Site                                  | Filed Season              | Findings/outcomes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Binjor (4 MSR) District Ganganagar, Rajasthan | 2015-16, 2016-17          | The excavation at the site brought to light three fold cultural deposits of Harappan Civilization i.e. Period I Pre/Early, Period-II Transitional Phase from Early to Mature Phase and Period III belongs to Mature Phase. A total of eleven seals of steatite stones and terracotta were found from the excavations. A sizable amount of botanical and faunal remains were collected which throw light on the food economy and faunal exploitation of the Harappans. The investigations revealed complete process of copper craftsmanship of Harappan times. The material remains indicate that it was an industrial settlement during Harappan times in all likelihood.                              |
|         2 | Keeladi, district Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu       | 2015-16, 2016-17          | The excavation brought to light artefacts consisting of beads of various materials like glass, terracotta, semiprecious stones, like carnelian, quartz; ivory, etc., ornaments and dice, terracotta figurines, dice, spindle whorls, disc, gamesmen and terracotta seal, various forms of copper and iron objects, bone points, shell bangles, legged quern, etc. The site has also yielded good number of graffiti sherds in Tamil Brahmi. A threefold cultural periods; Period-I Iron Age (pre 300 BCE), Period-II Early Historic Period (300 BCE - 300 CE) and Period-III Post Early Historic Period (Post 300 CE) were identified at the site.                                                     |
|         3 | Rukministhan, District Nalanda, Bihar         | 2015-16                   | The excavation on the site revealed a plethora of cultural materials and structural remains on the basis on that the site divided into two cultural phases; Period I belongs to Gupta and post-Gupta Period (ca.300 CE to 800 CE) and Period-II belongs to (ca. 800 CE to 1200 CE). Besides, it gave evidence of impressive religious establishment comprising a massive temple platform, small monastery and brick votive stupas encircling the temple platform. Important findings include around 400 terracotta inscribed sealings and two stone sculptures of the Buddha.                                                                                                                          |
|         4 | Suabarei, District Puri, Odisha               | 2015-16                   | The excavation resulted in the discovery of a separate Neolithic and Chalcolithic horizon, early and late Chalcolithic phases and two structural phases. The habitation pattern was known with the discovery of an almost complete circular structure made up of mud wall and a few sun dried bricks of irregular shape. The excavation revealed that the site is an important neo-Chalcolithic settlement in between the Daya River and the Gangua rivulet. They were subsisted by hunting gathering, fishing and farming as evident from the charred animal bones, fish bones, fish hook and charred grains. A single shark tooth found from the excavation suggests some sort of probable sea link. |
|         5 | Vangchia, District Champhai, Mizoram          | 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19 | The menhirs and burials and its related structures of the Period-I dated 600 CE to 1400 CE are main findings, and the structures of the Period-II are dated to1400 CE to 1750 CE. The antiquities recovered from excavation are a number of terracotta smoking pipes with nail designs on the exterior and polished surface having two perforations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

|   Sl. No. | Name of Site                                 | Filed Season                                | Findings/outcomes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         6 | Vadnagar, Disrtrict Mehsana, Gujarat         | 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 | Continuous occupation from 3 rd cen. BCE onwards to modern times; excavation carried out at different locations at the site such as Sharmistha lake, Amba ghat, etc. excavation findings include various ceramics type along with artifacts viz., shell bangle, cowrie, beads, pendant, hopscotch and wheel, iron nail, stone sling ball, bone dice, coin, terracotta gamesman, etc.                                                                       |
|         7 | Sakatpur, District Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh | 2016-17                                     | The excavation revealed a single cultural phase deposit dated to 2000 BCE marked by pottery which includes black-on-red ware, bi-chrome decorations, incised decorations, reserved slipped sherds and plain red ware sherds. Among other finds include bead made of faience, beads of various colours and shapes, stone beads and copper bangles.                                                                                                          |
|         8 | Urain (Uren), District Lakhisarai, Bihar     | 2016-17, 2017-18                            | The excavation has yielded structural remains, artefacts like beads, pendants, ear studs, balls, weights, bangles, stoppers, potters, stamp, gamesmen, pottery discs/hopscotches, dabber, wheels, crucibles, etc and a number of sealings which are palaeographically dated to timeframe from 9 th -10 th cen. BCE to 2 nd -3 rd cen. CE. The terracotta figurines of both animal and human were also recovered.                                           |
|         9 | Rithi Rajana, District Nagpur, Maharashtra   | 2017-18                                     | Excavation at this Early Iron Age settlement has revealed habitation of remains based on agriculture and pastoralism dated to 10 th cen. BCE to 4 th cen. CE. The cultural remains exposed are storage bin platforms, circular huts with postholes, hearths, cup marks and different floor activities. The antiquities reported from the site comprises of beads made of semi-precious stone and terracotta, animal figurines and iron implements.         |
|        10 | Bharati Huda, District Cuttack, Odisha       | 2017-18                                     | The excavation has yielded structural remains of second millennium BCE in the form of circular mud walls and mud platforms in five phases, a large quantity of potsherds. The excavation has also yielded a huge quantity of faunal remains in the form of charred animal, fish, tortoise and bird bones. Besides, shark teeth have also been retrieved from the excavation, which indicates some sort of sea faring activities at that time.              |
|        11 | Jharhiamba, District Angul, Odisha           | 2017-18                                     | The excavations brought to light sculptural remains of a temple premises and architectural members datable to 200BCE and 100CE, pottery, and both secular as well as religious structures made of burnt bricks and stone. The evidence of tiles in and around the structures are also suggests that they are roofed with tiles.                                                                                                                            |
|        12 | Taranga Hills, District Mehsana, Gujarat     | 2017-18, 2018-19                            | The excavation carried out at Taran Dharan Mata Temple, Taranga Hills brought to light the remains of baked brick structures like platform like structures of rectangular and circular shapes, and several votive stupas belonging to Solanki period.                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|        13 | Kodumanal, District Erode, Tamil Nadu        | 2017-18                                     | The remains of early historical period habitation datable to early centuries of common era, brought to light beads made of semi-precious stones and rock crystal, a crucible furnace, iron smelting furnace, gem stone industry, shell industry suggesting intensive craft production like metallurgy and lapidary particularly on rock crystal and beryl. Significantly, hundreds of potsherds bearing Brahmi letters and graffiti marks were also found. |

|   Sl. No. | Name of Site                              | Filed Season              | Findings/outcomes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        14 | Barnawa, District Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh  | 2017-18                   | The excavation yielded the cultural sequence of Painted Grey Ware (Period I), Black Slipped Ware, NBPW and Grey Ware (Period II), Kushana (Period III), Late Kushana (Period IV), Early Medieval (Period V) and Medieval (Period VI). The habitational remains are datable from around 1200 BCE to 800 CE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|        15 | Purana Qila, District Central, New Delhi  | 2017-18                   | The recent excavation at Purana Qila have revealed the eight folded sequence of cultures right from Mauryan (300 BCE-200 BCE), Sunga (200 BC - up to the beginning of CE), Kushana (beginning of CE - 200 CE), to Mughal without any break and few materials of succeeding cultures viz. British Period from the surface.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        16 | Thed (Ther), District Sirsa, Haryana      | 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 | The excavation revealed numerous antiquarian remains ranging from Gupta Period (3 rd c. CE) to Mughal Period (17 th c. CE). The antiquities found are pottery, beads, jewelry, etc. from all the periods.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        17 | Kabrakala, District Palamu, Jharkhand     | 2017-18                   | During excavation a large number of antiquarian remains have been encountered including red ware, black ware, black slipped ware, huge number of NBPW and Grey ware in various shapes such as bowls, vessels, dishes, spouted pots. Architectural findings include brick structures, terracotta ring wells, etc. The entire deposit of the site has been divided into fourfold cultural sequence i.e. NBPW, Kushana, Gupta and Post Gupta respectively from period I to IV. Antiquarian remains consist of terracotta human and animal figurine, beads of terracotta and semi precious stones such carnelian, agate, etc., arrow head, bone points, hilt, games man, iron objects such as knife, nails, etc., coin, dice, stone objects, etc. |
|        18 | Erich, District Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh     | 2017-18                   | The excavation at Erich brought to light three cultural periods wherein period-I has been dated to 1900-1500 BCE, period-II from 1500-200 BCE, and period -III from 200 BCE-300 CE. The common ceramic findings are black and red ware, northern block polished ware (NBPW), Glazed ware and in some cases porcelain ware is also reported. The antiquarian remains consist of terracotta, human and animal figurines, iron implements, bead of semi precious stones and terracotta, domestic tools made out of stone, glass object, bone objects, shell objects, coins, stamps, etc.                                                                                                                                                         |
|        19 | Phupgaon, District Amaravati, Maharashtra | 2018-19                   | The excavation brought to light early human inhabitation at this site in the form of floor activities, hearths, circular mud structures, stone and terracotta objects. The site revealed a single cultural habitation belonging to the Iron Age period of Vidarbha region. The pottery of the site Phupgaon consists of red slipped ware, black burnished ware and Black-and-Red ware.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        20 | Kesariya, District East Champaran, Bihar  | 2018-19                   | The findings so far include, complex brick structures which may form part of a water management system and two covered drains. Besides, a rammed floor/path is also found in association with these brick structures. The notable findings were terracotta and stone bead, votive stupa/gamesmen and decorated pottery. The evidence of working floor along with presence of hearth, charcoal sample has been collected. The presence of cell structure built of brunt brick is also recovered.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

|   Sl. No. | Name of Site                                     | Filed Season     | Findings/outcomes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        21 | Asurgarh Fort, District Kalahandi, Odisha        | 2018-19          | The findings so far include brick structures along with fallen brickbats and terracotta tile fragments in large quantity. The main findings include silver and copper punch marked coins, beads of carnelian and terracotta; bone antler, fragmented bangle pieces of copper, pottery and stone hopscotches, etc. The pottery finds arered and red polished ware along with a few sherds of black, black burnished and black polished ware with shapes mostly of vase and handi followed by bowls, dish, long necked jar and storage jars. Besides, two number of broken terracotta earthen lamps are also found.                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|        22 | Gunja, District Mehsana, Gujarat                 | 2018-19          | The excavation at Gunja brought to light the remains of Solanki period structural remains and architectural members of the temple.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|        23 | Gottiprolu, District SPS Nellore, Andhra Pradesh | 2018-19, 2019-20 | The excavation so far has revealed portion of two large brick structures along with a brick wall of early historical period datable to early centuries of common era. The main findings are area huge quantity of pottery, bones, ash, broken grooved roof tiles, etc. The pottery repertoire recovered during this period includes Black and Red Ware, Red Ware, Black Ware, Russet Coated painted ware, roulette ware and broken conical jars. Among the antiquities mention may be made of TC beads, hopscotch and few iron objects.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|        24 | Sanauli, District Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh         | 2018-19          | The excavation brought to light the remains of late Harappan cemetery datable to early second millennium BCE consisting of 8 burials, interestingly 6 burials have been found within this limited area which includes coffin burials, fragmentary burial, extended burial, symbolic burial, animals and burial of bird. The outstanding findings are a chariot in addition to a whip, chalice, helmet, antenna-sword, etc., wooden coffin burial associated with most probably fitted with a canopy on four pillars decorated with copper sheets, copper swords with hilt; uniquely decorated cover of the coffin showing anthropomorphic figures, three symbolic burials and a dog burial. Apart from this a twin burial having two skeletons is a noteworthy finding. It has been dated to c. 2000 BCE to 1800 BCE. |
|        25 | Kalibangan, District Hanumangarh, Rajasthan      | 2019-20          | The project basically aimed at preservation of the site through filling of excavated trenches and rain gullies, and excavation outside the fortified area. During the course of excavation, common antiquities like terracotta bangle pieces, steatite beads and sling balls are recovered.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|        26 | Sitagarha, District Hazaribag, Jharkhand         | 2019-20          | Buddhist site of Early Medieval period dated to 9 th to 11 th cen. CE; findings includes structural stupa complex made of brick, fragment of Buddha image, panel of miniature Buddha images, fragment of plaque depicting Jataka story, fragment of Chhatravali, miniature stupa made out of black schist, disjoined piece of temple, plain stone slabs along with hopscotch and wheel, iron nail, stone sling ball, terracotta dabber, spindle whorls, bead, etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

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