ASI Completes Jhariamba Trial Excavation

ASI Completes Jhariamba Trial Excavation

The trial excavation at the archeological site at Jhariamba village in Talcher of Angul district by Archeological Survey of India, Bhubaneswar, which started in the month of November, has been completed.  During the trial excavation, four trial trenches were made. While excavating one trench made inside the compound of a house, the archaeologists found a monolithic decorated pedestal whose length was 220 cm, width 95 cm and thickness 22 cm. The excavations were carried out under the guidance of the superintendent archaeologist Dr Dibishada B Garnayak along with a 14-member team.Informing about the findings, superintendent archaeologist Dr Garnayak said, “These findings suggest that there used to be a stupa in the area. The pedestal is intact and we believe that there used to be an idol on top of it. Below the pedestal archeological remains of the stupa are also found.”The latest findings also clearly suggest that Buddhism existed in the coastal region. Archaeologists believe that the site could be of Sungha-Kushana period. The discovery of red ware, black ware, red and black polished ware also suggests about three different periods of human settlement in the region.“Pyramid style structural design are there on the pedestal along with flower symbols. It is the only site where the pillar is instituted at the exact location. After analysing the pedestal, we found that it was destroyed and the destruction could be man-made. It was destroyed twice, once during the Sungha-Kushana period and reused during later period,” informed Garnayak.The team had lots of expectation from the Talcher site but they could not find much during trial trench except finding a few broken sculptures and other pieces. “Though the site is rich in archaeological evidences, the problem is that the whole area has been encroached by people and concrete houses are being constructed. The archaeological remains are buried under their houses. The pedestal was found after excavating the compound of a house. The owner was kind enough to allow the excavation to an extent but we couldn’t have gone beyond that as then we would have had to destroy their homes,” said Garnayak.The site came to limelight in the month of July when the archeologists discovered a Buddhist pillar inside Praneswar temple which the villagers of Jhariamba worshipped as Shiva linga.During their excavation, the archaeologists also discovered brick walls which clearly suggests a large planned settlement existed in the region. The size of the bricks varies in length, breadth and width like 56x30x7 cm, 53x23x6 cm, 35x23x9 cm, 25x21x8 cm, 35x26x9 cm. “Total sites are divided into two mounds. One mound reveals the brick structure of secular nature and on the other mound, the Buddhist pillar was found,” he said.The archaeologists are now preparing for the excavation at Bharati Huda in Jalapur of Niali in Cuttack district. “The camp setting at the Prachi Valley is going on and we would start the excavation work from January. The excavation would continue for around five months,” informed Garnayak.