ANCIENT, 7000-YEAR-OLD CITY DISCOVERED IN BHARAT
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By Sandeep Sahu
BBC
Monday, February 18, 2008
[Caption] Eighteen stone pillars have been excavated
(Pics: Sanjib Mukherjee)
Bhuvaneshwar - Indian archaeologists say they have found
remains which point to the existence of a city about 7,000
years old in eastern India.
The remains have been discovered at Sisupalgarh near
Bhuvaneshwar, capital of the eastern state of Orissa.
Researchers say the items found during the excavation point
to a highly developed urban settlement.
The population of the city could have been in the region of
20,000 to 25,000, the archaeologists claim.
The excavations include 18 stone pillars, pottery,
terracotta ornaments and bangles, finger rings, ear spools
and pendants made of clay.
But some historians and archaeologists in Orissa have
expressed reservations about the claim of the researchers -
they say it is too early to say anything about the
population or periodicity of the area.
'Significance'
RK Mohanty of the department of archaeology, Deccan
College, Pune, who is one of the two researchers involved
in the excavations.
"The significance of this ancient city becomes clear when
one bears in mind the fact that the population of classical
Athens was barely 10,000," he said.
Mr Mohanty, along with Monica Smith of the Cotsen Institute
of Archaeology, University of California, has been carrying
out limited excavations at the site every year since 2005
with the permission of the Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI).
[Caption] Archaeologists say it was a planned urban
settlement
The latest round of excavations ended last Monday and the
new discoveries have been covered with special plastic
material and earth to preserve them before further digging
is taken up in subsequent years.
The first excavations at the site were carried out by Prof
B B Lal as far back as in 1948.
On the basis of the architectural pattern and artefacts
discovered during the early excavations, Prof Lal concluded
that this fort city flourished between 3rd century BC and
4th century AD.
On the basis of the new findings, Ms Smith and Mr Mohanty
claim that the fortified city flourished from around 5th
century BC and probably lasted well after the 4th century.
"We have employed geophysical survey, systematic surface
collections and selected excavations in the 4.8km perimeter
of the fortified area and studied individual houses and
civic as well as domestic architecture to arrive at the
figure of 25,000," said Ms Smith.
"If anything, it is a conservative estimate."
'Guesswork'
But some historians and archaeologists in Orissa have
expressed reservations about the claim of the two
researchers.
"At best, it is a guesswork. Without excavating the entire
area of the fortified city, it is not possible to determine
its population or periodicity," said BK Rath, former
director of the state archaeology department.
"The actual area excavated so far is only a minuscule part
of the city. How does one determine the size of the average
family in a period about which very little historical
literature or evidence is available?
[Caption] Some historians say it's too early to say
anything conclusive about the place
"Besides, the comparison with Athens is odious since it was
not a fortified city like Sisupalgarh," he said.
Mr Rath, however, gives credit to Ms Smith and Mr Mohanty
for having focussed attention on the problem of
encroachment that is threatening to engulf a large part of
the fortified city.
The major portion of the land that constitutes the ancient
city is in private possession making an archaeological
study difficult.
Besides, several urban settlements have sprung up in the
vicinity of the area in the last few years owing to its
proximity to the city of Bhuvaneshwar.
With a view to preserving this important archaeological
site for future research, the ASI is now contemplating
asking the state government for control over the land.
Lost
"This way, we can prevent further encroachment and develop
the site as a tourist attraction," said BR Mani, a senior
ASI official.
There is also some concern about the preservation of the
material which has been found during the excavation.
Well-known historian Karuna Sagar Behera voiced serious
concern over the preservation of material unearthed from
the site.
"Its is a shame that some gold coins and terracotta pottery
found at the place during the first excavation in the late
1940s were subsequently lost," he said.
"Measures should be taken to ensure that all the material
excavated are properly preserved for future research."
More at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7250316.stm
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hari....@indero.com
"Bhuvaneshwar - Indian archaeologists say they have found
remains which point to the existence of a city about 7,000
years old in eastern India."
In contrast the words of the people doing the excavation say something
very different:
Wanderer
> Ancient city discovered in India
>
> By Sandeep Sahu
> BBC
> Monday, February 18, 2008
>
> [Caption] Eighteen stone pillars have been excavated
> (Pics: Sanjib Mukherjee)
>
> Bhuvaneshwar - Indian archaeologists say they have found
> remains which point to the existence of a city about 7,000
> years old in eastern India.
[.......]
> On the basis of the new findings, Ms Smith and Mr Mohanty
> claim that the fortified city flourished from around 5th
> century BC and probably lasted well after the 4th century.
Yes, that certainly makes it well over 7000 years old. Jyotishit
"science" at work again.
Doug Weller
So, someone took the headline from The Times of India story
about a 7000 year old city in Egypt and added it to a story
about a 2500 year old city in India?
Doug
Doug Weller
I think what happened is that when it was written, it did
and that was caused by someone confused about the 7000 year old
city in Egypt.
All the articles about it agree, about 2500 years old.
Doug
Wanderer
Which makes it less "ancient" than other known settlements in India. You
will note that Jay has not acknowledged his failure to spot the anomaly.
Standard jyotishit practice.
lora...@cs.com
Jai Maharaj) wrote:
> Ancient city discovered in India
>
> By Sandeep Sahu
> BBC
> Monday, February 18, 2008
>
> [Caption] Eighteen stone pillars have been excavated
> (Pics: Sanjib Mukherjee)
>
> Bhuvaneshwar - Indian archaeologists say they have found
> remains which point to the existence of a city about 7,000
> years old in eastern India.
>
> The remains have been discovered at Sisupalgarh near
> Bhuvaneshwar, capital of the eastern state of Orissa.
>
> Researchers say the items found during the excavation point
> to a highly developed urban settlement.
Yeah yeah yeah..
But did the even find any evidence of a White Castle drive-thru?