Indian Archaeology 1963-64 A Review

207 Pages·2008·4.34 MB·English

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1963-64

—A REVIEW

EDITED BY
A. GHOSH

Director General of Archaeology in India

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
NEW DELHI 1967

Price : Rupees Ten
1967
COPYRIGHT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF I N D I A
GOVERNMENT OF I N D I A
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, FARIDABAD
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This annual Review, the eleventh in the series, incorporates material received
from different contributors to whom I am grateful for their co-operation. They are no
doubt responsible for the facts and interpretation of data supplied by them. At the
same time, I would hold myself responsible for any editorial errors that might have
unwittingly crept in.
I thank my colleagues and staff in the Archaeological Survey of India for their
help in editing the Review and seeing it through the press.
New Delhi :
The 21st March 1967 A. GHOSH
(iii)

CONTENTS
PAGE
I. Explorations and excavations 1
Andhra Pradesh, 1 ; Assam, 4 ; Bihar, 5 ; Gujarat, 9 ; Kerala, 13 ; Madhya Pradesh, 14 ;
Madras, 17 ; Maharashtra, 21 ; Mysore, 23 ; Orissa, 27 ; Panjab, 27; Rajasthan, 28 ; Uttar
Pradesh, 39 ; West Bengal, 59.
II. Epigraphy ........................................................................................................................ 66
Sanskritic and Dravidic inscriptions, 66.
Andhra Pradesh, 66 ; Bihar, 68 ; Delhi, 68 ; Goa, 68 ; Gujarat, 69 ; Himachal Pradesh,
69; Kerala, 69 ; Madhya Pradesh, 70 ; Madras, 71 ; Maharashtra, 72 ; Mysore, 72;
Orissa, 73 ; Rajasth an, 74; Uttar Pradesh, 74.
Arabic and Persian inscriptions, 75.
Andhra Pradesh, 75 ; Bihar, 75 ; Delhi, 76 ; Goa, 76 ; Gujarat, 76 ; Madhya Pradesh, 77
; Madras, 78 ; Maharashtra, 79 ; Mysore, 80 ; Panjab, 81 ; Rajasthan, 81 ; Uttar Pradesh,
81 ; West B«ngal, 83.
III. Numismatics and treasure-trove ..................................................................................... 84
Andhra Pradesh, 84 ; Bihar, 84 ; Kerala, 84 ; Madhya Pradesh 84 ; Maharashtra, 84;
Mysore, 84 ; Uttar Pradesh, 85.
IV. Other important discoveries ........................................................................................................... 86
Andhra Pradesh, 86 ; Bihar, 86 ; Gujarat, 86 ; Kerala, 86 ; Madhya Pradesh, 87 ;
Maharashtra, 89 ; Mysore, 90 ; Orissa, 90 ; Panjab, 90 ; Rajasthan, 91 ; Uttar Pradesh,
91 ; West Bengal, 92.
V. Museums .......................... ...................................................................................... 93
VI. Expedition outside India ................................................................................................ 100
VII. Preservation of monuments .......................................................................................................... 102
Monuments of national importance, 102.
Central Circle, 102 ; Eastern Circle, 104 ; Mid-eastern Circle, 106 ; Northern
Circle, 107 ; North-western Circle, 108 ; South-eastern Circle, 110 ; Southern Circle,
112; South-western Circle, 115 ; Western Circle, 116.
Monuments maintained by States, 118.
Andhra Pradesh, 118 ; Gujarat, 118 ; Kerala, 118 ; Mysore, 119 ; Orissa, 119 ;
Rajasthan, 119.
VIII. Archaeological Chemistry ..................................................................................................... 120
Treatment of monuments and paintings, 120.
Andhra Pradesh, 120 ; Assam, 120 ; Bihar, 120 ; Delhi, 120 ; Kerala, 120 ; Madhya Pradesh,
120 ; Madras, 121 ; Maharashtra, 122 ; Mysore, 122 ; Orissa, 122 ; Panjab, 123 ; Rajasthan,
123 ; Uttar Pradesh, 124 ; West Bengal, 124.
Geochronological studies, 124.
Treatment of excavated objects and museum-exhibits, 125.
Analysis and research, 125.
DC. Archaeological gardens ................................................................................................................. 127
Andhra Pradesh, 127 ; Bihar, 127 ; Delhi, 127 ; Kerala, 127 ; Madhya Pradesh, 127 ;
Maharashtra, 127 ; Mysore, 128 ; Rajasthan, 128 ; Uttar Pradesh, 128.
X. Publications ........................................................................................................................... 129
Publications of the Survey, 129. Other
publications, 129.
(v)

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1963-64

—A REVIEW
I. EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS
ANDHRA PRADESH
1. EXCAVATION AT POCHAMPAD, DISTRICT ADILABAD.—With a view to salvaging
the antiquities from the area likely to be submerged by the dam across the Godavari,
the Department of Archaeology, Government of Andhra Pradesh, under Shri Mohd.
Abdul Waheed Khan, conducted a small-scale excavation at Pochampad. In the course
of preliminary exploration, cairn-circles, cists and a rectangular platform, perhaps for
exposing the dead body, were located on the right bank of the Godavari. As a result
of excavation, three burials were exposed. One of these, marked by a double circle of
stones on surface, showed a 1-8-m. deep pit, rectangular on plan and with a north-south
orientation. Within the pit and at different levels were found pottery of the megalithic
Black-and-red Ware and all-black and red wares. Besides, iron objects comprising
lances, javelins, daggers, sickles and cross-strapped hatchets were also obtained.
Surface-exploration nearby also yielded microliths including parallel-sided
blades, points, lunates, etc. .
2. EXPLORATION IN DISTRICT CHITTOOR.—Dr. K. D. Banerjee of the Prehistory
Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India1, assisted by Shri M.V. N. Krishna Rao and
Shri B. P. Bopardikar explored Early and Middle Stone Age sites, with a spread of various
types of tools, in the conglomerate hills near Sivasankarapuram. During their exploration,
they discoyerd a cave and two rock-shelters near Vembakhandiga, with Early Stone
Age tools in the vicinity, and also re-examined the rock-paintings near Ubbaracheruvu,
in Nagalapuram hills, discovered earlier by Shri A. V. N. Sharma of the Government
Museum, Madras. The paintings, rendered in white pigment, depict scenes of dancing
and riding on horse-backs. With their style far removed from the other rock-paintings
of India, they do not seem to be of any antiquity and may in fact be tribal. Early and
Late Stone Age sites were also brought to light in the vicinity of Ubbaracheruvu, and
along a nullah.

Shri M. L. K. Murty of theDeccan College.Post-graduate and Research Institute,
Poona, explored the river Rallakalava around Vedullacheruvu, 4 km. north-west of
Renigunta on Kalahasti Road. The site was later visited by Professor H. D. Sankalia, Dr.
V. N. Misra and Shri S. N. Rajguru. Tools of the Early and Middle Stone Ages were
found in the loose gravels as well as from well-defined river-sections and those of the Late
Stone Age from the top of the river-terraces. The river-sections showed three cycles of
deposition: (i) well-cemented pebbly gravel overlain by a thick deposit of red
1 The Archaeological Survey of India is referred to in the following pages as the 'Survey'.