CHAPTER II ARCHAEOLOGY
During the period under report, the Archaeological Survey of India continued to give its best attention to the various fields of activity under its charge. There was a major shift of emphasis towards considerably greater attention being paid to conservation of monuments. The funds provided were almost doubled, increases in staff took place at all levels, and the entire organisation was geared to effectively discharge its responsibility to preserve the monuments and sites.
Explorations and Excavations During the course of explorations sites of Early Stone Age and early Historical and Medieval periods were found respectively in Districts Guna, Ranghra and Jullundur.
In continuation of the previous years' work at Antichak, District Bhagalpur, Bihar, ten more monastic cells and the western boundary wall were uncovered. Besides, five cells were also partially exposed. The antiquities discovered from the excavation comprise terracotta figurines and objects of iron, copper and ivory. The terracotta sealing discovered earlier bears the inscription Shri Purushottama Pala and not Srimad Vikrama () la as reported earlier.
At Piprahwa, District Basti, Uttar Pradesh, thirty-one terra- cotta sealings bearing an inscription reading_Kapilavastu, were also found. The evidence provides a clue to the location of Kapilavastu, the capital of the Sakyas.
Excavations were also taken up at Majiwada, District Thana, Maharashtra, with a view to ascertaining the antiquity of the site. Some fragmentary sculptures of the eleventh-twelfth century were found from the excavations. As a result of further exploration in the vicinity Stone Age tools were discovered at Majiwada, south of the lake known as Pokharan (Pushkarini). The tools comprise leaf-shaped points, arrow-heads, blades and scrapers made on flakes. The excavation also, brought to fight three floor-levels of the early medieval period and a large Jar in situ. The
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earliest floor can be dated to Circa eleventh-twelfth century A.D., where the latest floor, made of lime mortar, belongs to the earlier phase of the Charch (A.D. 163.0). Besides, door-sockets, stone drain pipes, sculptures and architectural members of the eleventh twelfth century, some of which bear mason's names, copper bangles, ear-rings and coins of the medieval and British Periods were also found. A significant find was a small glazed jar with a loop handle bearing the impression of a Chinese seal.
Epigraphy The more important inscriptions which were examined are the Brahmi records in a mixed dialect be-longing to the second century A.D. from Mathura. One hundred and thirty-five silver coins sent by the Collector, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, were examined. Impressions of copperplates and stone inscriptions were microfilmed. The work of listing inscriptions for the Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy 1972-73 was continued. The Report will include notes on the important inscriptions noticed during the year. The important ones among these are the inscriptions belonging to the Hada chiefs of kota in Rajasthan, a copper plate charter belonging to the Chahmanas of Nadol in Rajasthan and copper plate grants of the Vijayanagara rulers discovered from Tamil Nadu and Mysore.
Museums
Archaeological Museum, AmravatiPending the construction of the store room, the antiquities have been shifted to the Travellers' Bungalow. Steps are being taken for the construction of the Antiquity Room.
Archaeological Museum, Red Fort, Delhi Plans for the re-organization of the Entrance Gallery were prepared and steps were initiated for the display of objects according to the period of each of the early Mughal emperors and the display of inscriptions, coins, Farmans, miniatures, textiles, lade and porcelinware, arms, manuscripts, specimens of calligraphy, metalware, astrolobes etc. The Bahadur Shah Gallery was thrown open to the public.
Archaeological Museum, HalebidThe, Museum, acquired a stone inscription in old Kannada characters from Benne Gudda which had been discovered earlier, in 1930.
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Archaeological: Museum, Hampi Detailed plans for the selection and display of antiquities and scale-models were prepared taking in view the newly-constructed. museum building.
Archaeological Museum, Konarak Physical verification of the antiquities is in progress. Two hundred and seventy-three loose sculptures lying ;road the Sun Temple were removed to the museum compound. Preparation of a chart showing development of the Oriya script, map showing extent of the empire of Narasimha and a conjectural plan of the Sun Temple is in progress.
Archaeological Museum, Kondapur Steps were taken to provide water facilities in the museum. Fort St. George Museum, Madras
Painting and carpentry work in the French and Wodeyar Galleries were completed. Among the new acquisitions may be mentioned a painting showing Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar of Mysore and thirty-four silver-rupees of Queen Victoria.
Archaeologic at Museum, Nagarjunakonda Facelifting of the museum was completed and steps were taken for the construction of a partition-wall in the gallery and the store-room for antiquities.
Archaeological Museum, Sanchi The Museum acquired a copper coin of a Muslim ruler and a late medieval fragment of a lion's head in stone from Sanchi. Twelve hundred index-cards of the antiquities were prepared in duplicate.
Archaeological Museum, Sarnath As part of general improvement, the galleries and labels were re- painted information boards in Hindi and English were provided at the gate and the labels of the exhibited objects were re-painted. The pedestal show-cases and wall-cases were replaced and the sculptures in the galleries and reserve-collection were
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properly displayed. Index-cards of the accession antiquities were brought upto-date incorporating all the relevant details.
Tipu Sultan Museum, Srirangapatna
Antiquities, model of the Srirangapatna fort and the painted portrait of Tipu Sultan were displayed in a special gallery on the ground floor on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister to the Museum. All round improvements were made in display by providing new labels in the show-cases and Pedestals which were also re-polished
The damaged portions of the walls of the sculpture and portrait Galleries were repaired and re-painted. An inscribed stone plaque in Portuguese commemorating the building of a bridge by a Portuguese Governor of Goa, connecting Panjim with Ribardar was acquired by the Museum.
Preservation of Monuments
The northern and western parts of the fortification-wall with its battered masonary were repaired. The work involved pointing of the joints. Steps have been initiated for the face-lifting of the area and strengthening of the fortification wall.
The first phase of drilling and grouting of the foundation under low pressure has been completed. Preparation for the next phase of work was started and face-lifting of the Qutab is in progress.
An approach road to the Asokan rock-edict was constructed. The boundary wall was extended towards the north and the south. A groyne wall was built at the back of the edict to protect it from, landslides.
The temple at this site had suffered heavy damages due to natural causes and the, Pillar bases, lintels and roof-slabs cracked and were dislodged due to water-logging and subsidence. The original courses of the plinth and the walls of the temple had
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been covered to a height of two metres due to the accumulation of the debris.
The work at this site involved the removal of debris, rein- forcement of the cracked lintels by inserting girders and re-setting the domed roof of the Sabhamandapa and plugging of the holes. As a result of the removal of accretions, the original entrance has been exposed to view. The stone pavement of the sabhamandapa was re-set after dressing.
In order to arrest the accumulation of dust on the paintings the rock-cut floor of Cave Nos. 1, 12, 16 and 17 were provided with jute- matting of matching colours and arrangements were made, for removal of dust by means, of vacuum cleaners.
The original rock-cut floor outside the main entrance of Cave Nos. 30 and 32 was exposed by removing the accumulated debris. The uneven and disintegrated rock-cut floor of Cave Nos. 10 and 21 was chiselled and fresh concrete of matching colour and texture was laid.
Debris were removed from the important buildings inside the fort which include the Queen's Palace, Hathi Talay, Coronation Hall, Bazar Peth, Jagdishvara temple, Samadhi of Shivaji, Kushavarth tank, etc. During the course of clearance-work, a new entrance was noticed at Tak-Mak-Tak. The joints in the brick masonry of the Queen's palace were recess-pointed. after the removal of moss and lichen. The missing portions of the brick and stone masonry minars were restored.
Excavation was undertaken all around the Ambigergudi temple with a view to exposing the plinth and the original working level after the removal of accumulated debris. The work brought to light a brick structure perhaps of pre-Chalukyan times below the stone foundations of the temple. On the basis of the presence of Red Polished Ware this structure may be ascribed to the late Satavahana phase.
The cracked pillars and lintels of the Gaudargudi temple were replaced. Gardening operations and dressing up of the area around Lad Khan and Durga temples is in progress.
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A massive brick structure was brought to light as a result of the excavations which were conducted for the construction of a compound wall around the Jaina temple. The modern accretions around the Galagaratha, Sangameswara, Kasivisvesvara and other temple-groups at Pattadkal were removed and lawns and inspection paths were laid. The dislodged course of the platform of the Sangamesvara temple were, re- set and new ones were provided in place of the missing ones. Roofs of the other temples were made watertight.
The work of making the roofs of the Bhutanatha group of temples (east and north) watertight was completed. The broken portions of the rock-cut pillars in Cave No. 1 were restored.
The work of repairs and colour washing of the extrados of the dome was taken up.
The area around the fort wall was levelled and the dislodged stones of the steps leading to the gun were re-built.
The over-handing, pillars of the porch between the sanctrum and the Mandapa of the Nagaresvara temple were given support and the plaster covering the carvings on the roof of the Mandapa was removed.
The cracked lintels of the mandapa were replaced. The partially- burried base, of the temples was exposed and the open joints in the masonry of the subsidiary shrines were recess-pointed.
The decayed plaster was removed and a fresh coat was given. Damp- proof courses were provided at the plinth level. The paintings on the walls were treated.
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On the recommendation of the expert Committee decision has been taken to declare this important temple as a protected monument.
Decision has been taken that gradually these, forts will be transferred by the Defence Ministry to the Archaeological Survey of India, and meanwhile the Survey will be provided with facilities to maintain the walls and other historical structures of these forts.
Expedition outside India
The work of preservation of the Buddhist shrines at Bamiyan in Afghanistan, taken up in 1969 was continued. The preservation of the 38 m. high small Buddha has been completed after repairing the fractured west wall of the niche and reconditioning the buttress wall with cement concrete plaster. The work has been finished in a manner so as to match with the contour of the rock facade and simulate the original. De original entrance to the spiral staircase in the west wall which was blocked, has, been opened up and the fractured steps have been reconditioned for re-use.
Cleaning with chemicals the surfaces of the walls and ceilings of the shrines which were covered with modern plaster and a layer of sooty matter, has revealed paintings hitherto unknown. Beautiful figures of Buddha in dhyana mudra and a panel depicting the miracle of Sravasti are noteworthy. The paintings so exposed have been preserved with the application of chemicals.
The loose sculptures from the village Kadwaha and the sculptures fixed on the two vaishnava temples at Kadwaha, District Guna, Madhya Pradesh, were documented. Seven loose sculptures lying in the shed of the Asokan rock-edict at Kalsi, forty loose sculptures in the Mahasu temple at Hanel in District Dehra Dun and forty-two loose sculptures at the Qutab, Delhi and the fixed inlay work at Nakodar and the Dakhni Sarai were documented. One thousand and fifteen photographic prints and six albums of Halebid Museum were Prepared. The documentation of loose and fixed sculptures at the Jagatsukh, Bajaura and Hodimba Devi in District Manali, Himachal Pradesh is in progress.
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The re-orientation of the Darya Daulat Bagh on the pattern of the Mughal gardens was almost completed. Planting of new plants, construction of brick parterre design on the Mughal style around the Saroo plants, barbeb-wire fencing and re-orientation of the Gumbad garden on Mughal pattern are in progress.
Re-turfing of lawns at Gol Gumbad and Jod Gumbad was completed. At Gol Gumbad, preliminary work relating to the erection of conservatory and ornamental fencing in the upper khatta was started. At Gagan Mahal and Arquilla, laying out a net-work of pipe-lines was completed.
Re-turfing of lawns in the Church gardens was started.
The construction of an overhead tank for regular supply of water into the distributory pipe-lines is in progress.
Antiquities and Art Treasure Act
The rules under the act were promulgated. Decisions were taken about the initial staffing pattern in the States and In the Survey. A conference was field of State Directors of Archaeology and representatives of concerned Government Organisations to discuss working problems. These arrangements being completed, it is expected that States will be able to place staff in Position so that the Act and Rules can be brought into effect ending in 1974-75.
Ancient India No. 22 and Indian Archaeology 1965-66. A Review' were printed. Epigraphia India. Vol. XXXVIII, part IV, Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy, 1968-69 and 1970 are in advanced stages of printing. Inscriptions of the Silaharas, South Indian Inscriptions, reports on the excavations at Lothal and Nagarjunakonda (Part I) guide-books on the Chola Temples, Khajuraho Museum, Sanchi, Delhi and Its Neighbourhood, Ajanta and Monuments of Kerala are in different stages of printing. The guide-books to Rajgir and Sanchi, in Hindi, are in an advanced stage of printing. Black and white picture post- cards of Fatehpur
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Sikri, Ellora, Bijapur and Aurangabad and Daulatabad were reprinted, while those of Vidisha and Bagh Caves were introduced. Coloured picture post-cards of Mahabalipuram, and Ellora were printed.
The Central Programmes in the field of Archaeology included in the Draft Fifth Five Year Plan are:--
Total alloca-
S. No. Name of Scheme tion in the
Fifth Five
year Plan
(Rs. in lakhs)
(1) (2) (3)
1. Preservation of Cultural heritage of India including
Security Arrangement. 300.00
2. Development of monuments, including improvement to
their and rawing environments.
3. Research Training (including cultural exchange)
4. Documentation of monuments sites, sculpture, photone-
gatives
5. Publication (including preparation of national cata-
logue of monuments) 680.00
6. Setting up of Archaeological Museums and sculpture
galleries including reorganising galleries in the museums
7. Promotion of archaeological studies in Universities
8. Implementation Machinery including building and eq-
uipment
9. Enforcement of Legislation on Antiquities & Art
Treasures.
Total 980.00