ASI finds evidence of 4000 years old civilisation at ‘Mahabharat era’ excavation site, different from Indus Valley Civilisation
Previously, the Archeological Survey of India has discovered the ‘First Ever’ physical evidence of chariots being used in a near 2000 BC period
Sinauli village in Uttar Pradesh has become an archaeological hotspot for excavations. In a first, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed two decorated ‘legged coffins’ during an excavation process in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. Officials claim that this is the first of a kind discovery in the Indian subcontinent.
Baghpat: ASI has unearthed two decorated 'legged' coffins with skeletons during excavation in Sanauli. Dr. SK Manjul, Director,Institute of Archaeology says,"We've also unearthed chariot, helmet, shield, sword & dagger from grave.We started this excavation in January."
265 people are talking about this
This excavation is a continuation of the work started in 2018, at Sanauli, this being carried out under the direction of SK Manjul, Director, Institute of Archaeology of ASI to understand the extension of the burial site and habitation area in context with earlier findings. The site’s proximity to Hastinapur, and its time period had raised the possibility that the site may be related to Mahabharat era.
According to SK Manjul, these artefacts do not belong to the Harappan or Indus Valley civilisation. He hints that there might have been a parallel civilisation then, which India is still unaware of. He also confirmed that pieces of burnt wood found near with the legged coffin boxes hint that the people dwelling then, gave a bath to the deceased before carrying out their last rituals.
- Advertisement -- Article resumes -
Previously, the Archeological Survey of India had discovered the ‘First Ever’ physical evidence of chariots being used in a near 2000 BC period which was considered the bronze age. As per reports, the excavation that had turned up royal burial sites with sophisticated weaponry, ornaments, pottery and other materials suggested that a highly sophisticated ‘warrior class’ civilisation existed in that region.
Meanwhile, sacred chambers along with furnaces, ‘legged coffins’ with skeletons were amongst the things discovered by the team of ASI personnel. It is being believed that all the artefacts discovered are more than 4000 years old.
“This is for the first time such discoveries were made in the Indian subcontinent, which is different from Harappan culture. It existed in upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab region. All these articles such as weapons, chariots, and shields have never been found in the sub-continent. The new findings give a new idea and dimension to Indian archaeology for understanding ancient literature and Vedic literature,” said Manjul.
The excavation, which restarted in January, is being done at two different locations. “In the first area, two burial pits and a sacred chamber of burnt brick were discovered along with burial goods. One wooden ‘legged coffin’ decorated with steatite inlays having extended skeleton of a female was excavated. This burial pit contains evidence of decomposed bow, bone points, armlet of semiprecious stones, gold bead and pottery systematically arranged towards north and eastern sides of the coffin,” said an ASI statement.
In one of the burials, the ASI recovered copper mirror, hairpin, channel, beads, painted vanity and pottery with a female skeleton.
Two big pots are placed under the coffin which could have contained food and other organic remains associated with rituals,” said an official.
At the second location, the ASI unearthed remains of four furnaces with three associated working levels. “The furnaces yielded slags, potsherds, and few charred bones. Stone weights, anvils, animal figurines, etc are a part of the antiquities recovered from this area. The overall ceramic assemblage has late Harappan characters,” said the ASI furthering that “The nature of burial pottery, coffins, antiquities suggest a complex of late Harappan period. Sanauli is important in not only giving new evidence of copper decorated chariots and coffins, shields in the subcontinent first time but also in the understanding of the cultural scenario of the upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab.”
Meanwhile, the excavation process is still underway, the experts state that these findings suggest that the civilisation was theologically advanced and also culturally, aesthetically sophisticated.
Sanauli site yields OCP Culture coffins, burial goods
Sanauli (Uttar Pradesh) | Tuesday, 2019 8:15:06 PM IST
A recent excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Sanauli has unearthed these artifacts belonging to the Copper Hoard Culture and the Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) Culture, the ASI Institute of Archaeology Director S.K. Manjul told IANS on Tuesday. The fresh excavations, being undertaken till January this year, explored two sites -- one which was inhabited, and another where the people buried their dead. Sanauli is located on the left bank of the Yamuna river, 68 km northeast of Delhi. In the habitation area, a few metres away from the burial site, the excavations unearthed the remains of four furnaces that yielded slags, potsherds, and a few charred bones. Stone weights, stone anvils, animal figurines, and gamesmen were also recovered. Manjul said that of the four furnaces, three are oval and were possibly used for copper smelting, indicating that the culture had expertise in copper tool making. He also said that two coffin burials with meticulous decoration around the coffins were recovered from the more extensive burial site. "The wood has completely perished, but the geometrical pattern of the steatite inlay decoration is visible. "This burial pit contains evidence of decomposed bow, bone points, armlet of semi-precious stones, gold bead and pottery, including vases, jars, bowls and dish on stand", he added. Another coffin contains an extended female skeleton in a disturbed condition where the burial goods include copper mirror, hairpin, channel, beads and pottery. "Two big pots -- a copper and a fiance pot -- are placed under the coffin which could have contained food and other organic remains associated with the rituals," Manjul said. To the north of the two coffin burials is a sacred chamber of burnt bricks. "This could have been used for making preparations for the soul before the burial was made," the ASI official said. The Copper Hoard and OCP Cultures were urban cultures found around the second millenium BC, and these excavations reveal a great deal about their ways of living and burying the dead. Manjul also said that these cultures are different from the Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation since they have different making techniques for pottery and beads, as well as distinct burial practices. "Legged coffins with decorations, and an antenna sword also differentiate this culture," Manjul said. The excavations at the site, which began in 2018, are still in progress. --IANS sj/bc 2019-04-30-14:16:10 (IANS) |
ASI digs out 4,000-yr-old sacred chambers
Thursday, 02 May 2019 | PNS | New Delhi
Ongoing excavations at 4,000-year-old burial sites at Sanauli in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat continue to enthrall archeologists as for the first time the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed underground "sacred chambers", decorated "legged coffins" and fascinating artifacts in what is being claimed to be a first in the Indian subcontinent.
The excavation, which is continuation of the work started last year, is being carried out to understand the extension of burial site and also habitation area in relation with earlier findings.
The present excavation is being carried out under the direction of Dr SK Manjul, Director, Institute of Archaeology, ASI, to understand the extension of burial site and also habitation area in relation with earlier findings, a senior ASI official said.
Sanauli is located on the left bank of River Yamuna, 68 km north-east of Delhi which brought to light the largest necropolis of late Harappan period datable to around early part of second millennium BCE.
Three chariots, some coffins, shields, swords and helmets had been unearthed, pointing towards the existence of a "warrior class in the area around 2,000 BCE," said an official from the ASI.
These findings are being considered important to understand the culture pattern of the Upper Ganga-Yamuna doab. During excavation, the excavators have found copper swords, helmets, shields and chariots.
The excavators have also found rice and urad dal in pots, cattle bones, wild pig and mongoose buried along with bodies. "These may have been offered to the departed souls. We also found sacred chambers below the ground. After the procession, they put the body in the chamber for some treatment or rituals," he said.
The excavation is being carried out at two different areas, the first in the area in continuation of 2018 excavation and the second in the area 200 m east of the former.
In the first area, two burial pits and a sacred chamber of burnt brick were discovered along with burial goods. In burial pit no. 9 one wooden 'legged coffin' decorated with steatite inlays having extended skeleton of a female oriented North-South, tilted 10 ?west is excavated. This burial pit contains evidence of decomposed bow, bone points, armlet of semiprecious stones, gold bead and pottery including vases, jars, bowls and dish on stand systematically arranged towards north and eastern sides of the coffin, said the official.
An interesting find from this burial pit is the antenna sword placed near the head. Also, the pelvis of the skeleton is sinking in the middle indicating the process of decomposition of wooden base of the coffin. Other burial pit (no 10) includes extended female skeleton in disturbed condition. The burial goods include copper mirror, hairpin, channel, beads and pottery. Interestingly steatite inlays forming a figure of eight which is probably the lid of a vanity box found between two legs of the coffin in north. The coffin is also decorated with steatite inlays similar to coffin in burial no.9. Two big pots are placed under the coffin which could have contained food and other organic remains associated with the rituals.
Furnaces have narrow top and broad base with air ducts and mouth to regulate temperature. The nature of these furnaces suggests their long term usage.
The discovery of furnaces from the site indicates towards habitation activity of the period associated with the necropolis. The nature of burial pottery, coffins, antiquities such as antenna sword, pottery, etc. suggest a complex of late Harappan period.
ASI unearths treasure at U.P. site
Coffins inside the burial chambers at the excavation sites in Sanauli.
4,000-year-old rice, dal, sacred chambers and coffins found in Sanauli
The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) ongoing excavation of 4,000-year-old burial sites in Uttar Pradesh’s Sanauli has unearthed underground “sacred chambers”, decorated “legged coffins” as well as rice and dal in pots and animal bones buried with the bodies, ASI Institute of Archaeology director S.K. Manjul said on Tuesday.
The excavation in the Baghpat district of U.P. was first started in 2018 and resumed in January this year, Dr. Manjul said, adding that the process of listing and preservation at the site was on at the moment.
He said three chariots, some coffins, shields, swords and helmets had been unearthed, pointing towards the existence of a “warrior class in the area around 2,000 BCE”.
“As an excavator, I think this is different from Harappan culture. It is contemporary to the last phase of the mature Harappan culture. These findings are important to understand the culture pattern of the Upper Ganga-Yamuna doab. We found copper swords, helmets, shields and chariots,” said Dr. Manjul.
The excavators have found rice and urad dal in pots, cattle bones, wild pig and mongoose buried along with bodies, he said.
“These may have been offered to the departed souls. We also found sacred chambers below the ground. After the procession, they put the body in the chamber for some treatment or rituals,” he said.
Right now, the ASI is in the process of carrying out DNA, metallurgical and botanical analysis of samples and ground penetrating radar survey of the site, Dr. Manjul said.
Largest necropolis
While Dr. Manjul said he felt the site was different from the Harappan culture, an ASI statement on the excavation said: “Sanauli is located on the left bank of the River Yamuna, 68 km north-east of Delhi which brought to light the largest necropolis of the late Harappan period datable to around early part of second millennium BCE”.
In one of the burial pits, the excavators found a wooden legged coffin that was decorated with steatite inlays with a female skeleton, the ASI said. The pit also contained an armlet of semiprecious stones, pottery and an antenna sword placed near the head.
Another area of the site included remains of four furnaces with three working levels and the “overall ceramic assemblage has late Harappan characters”, the ASI statement said.
महाभारत काल की सच्चाई से उठ सकता है पर्दा, 4000 वर्ष पुराने अवशेष दे रहे हैं गवाही!
Publish Date:Wed, 01 May 2019 01:50 PM (IST)
हड़प्पा के समानांतर या इससे पहले की संस्कृति है। पश्चिमी उत्तर प्रदेश के बागपत के सिनौली में अभी तक तीन बार खोदाई हो चुकी है। सबसे पहले वर्ष 2005-06 में खोदाई हुई थी। इसके बाद वर्ष 2018 में और फिर इस साल जनवरी में खोदाई का कार्य शुरू हुआ था। यह कार्य 31 मार्च को पूरा हो चुका है। खोदाई में जो साक्ष्य मिले हैं, वे नई सभ्यता की ओर इशारा कर रहे हैं। इस बार भी खोदाई पिछले साल वाले खोदाई स्थल के पास कराई गई। इसमें पिछले साल की तरह चार पाये वाली दो शाही शव पेटिकाएं मिली हैं, जो बहुत अधिक सुसज्जित हैं। इन लकड़ी की पेटिकाओं पर चूना मिट्टी के मनकों से बड़ी बारीकी से पच्चीकारी की गई है। इनमें महिलाओं के दो कंकाल हैं, जिनकी उम्र 30-40 साल की रही होगी। एक कंकाल की एक बाह में चूना मिट्टी का बाजूबंद मिला है। चेहरे पर सोने का एक टुकड़ा मिला है।
अनुमान लगाया जा रहा है कि यह संभवत: अंतिम संस्कार के समय मुंह में डाला गया होगा या महिला ने सोना नाक में पहन रखा होगा। इसी शव पेटिका के नीचे चित्रकारी किया हुआ बाक्स मिला है, जो संभवत: श्रंगारदान रहा होगा। तांबे की फ्रेम वाला एक शीशा व सींग से बना एक कंघा मिला है। तांबे का एक बर्तन मिला है, जोकि लंबाई में है। दोनों शव पेटिकाओं के सिर की ओर 21 से अधिक मृदभांड मिले हैं। इनके पास एक विशेष चैंबर मिला है, जिसमें एक हवनकुंड है। इसमें लकड़ी के जले हुए टुकड़े मिले हैं।
खोदाई कार्य से जुड़े एएसआइ के निदेशक डॉ. संजय मंजुल ने बताया कि इस तरह का विशेष चैंबर आज तक की किसी भी खोदाई में नहीं मिला है। इसे देखने से लगता है कि पेटिका में रखे जाने से पहले यहां शव को नहलाया जाता रहा होगा व पूजा-पाठ, हवन आदि का काम किया जाता रहा होगा। इस खोदाई स्थल से 200 मीटर दूर खोदाई में एक बसावट वाला स्थान भी मिला है, जहां तांबे को गलाने वाली चार भट्टियां मिली हैं। भट्टियों के पास ही तांबे को गलाने के कुछ अवशेष मिले हैं। पिछले साल इसी स्थान पर खोदाई में आठ शाही शव पेटिकाएं, तीन रथ, युद्ध का सामान मिला था।
इस खोदाई में और हड़प्पा सभ्यता में क्या है अंतर
- हड़प्पा सभ्यता में मुख्य रूप से ताम्र सामान आदि की आकृति एक-दूसरे से अलग हैं।
- ताम्र हथियार बनाने की प्रक्रिया और उनके आकार हड़प्पा सभ्यता की किसी भी खोदाई में मिले साक्ष्यों से नहीं मिलते हैं।
- यहां मिले मनके आदि हड़प्पा तकनीक से अलग हैं।
- हड़प्पा सभ्यता के लिए अभी तक 500 स्थानों पर खोदाई हो चुकी है, लेकिन शवाधान में चार पाये वाली शव पेटिकाएं, रथ व युद्ध के समय उपयोग में लाए जाने वाले हथियार आदि किसी अन्य स्थान पर नहीं मिले हैं।
यह हड़प्पा सभ्यता नहीं है
डॉ. संजय मंजुल हम इतिहास में केवल हड़प्पा की बात करते हैं? लेकिन सवाल यह है कि हमारा देश इतना विशाल है और यहां क्या केवल एक ही संस्कृति के लोग रहते रहे होंगे। एक ही संस्कृति विकसित रही होगी, ऐसा कैसे हो सकता है। मैं इसी विषय पर काम कर रहा हूं कि यमुना से लेकर गंगा घाटी तक यह कौन सी संस्कृति थी। हमारा प्रयास इस संस्कृति को लेकर अंत तक जाना है, ताकि पूरे मामले से पर्दा उठाया जा सके। मैं यह बात साक्ष्यों के आधार पर कह रहा हूं कि यह हड़प्पा सभ्यता नहीं है। यहां मिले साक्ष्य हड़प्पा की संस्कृति से बिल्कुल मेल नहीं खाते हैं। यह संस्कृति यमुना और गंगा के बीच के इलाके में पुष्पित और पल्लवित हो रही थी।