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ABR-I :-
This mound is locally known as Simhabara. The excavation revealed two
cultural phases of bricks and stone respectively. The exact nature and
extent of these structures are in the process of being ascertained. The
succeeding
phase of a single course stone wall was found in a very disturbed
condition. The pottery recovered from the site includes red ware of medium
to coarse fabric, and few sherds of buff ware. The main shapes are bowls,
basins,
jars, cooking vessels, pitchers, haandies, lids, knobbed lids, hukkas,
etc. ABR-II:- . It commands a panaromic view of the surrounding area and is locally known as Intonwali Pahari. The height of the mound is approximately 200 ft. and is situated on the right bank of the Saraswati-Somb confluence. It was covered by thorny thickets and bushes. Excavation revealed a single cultural phase on this mound. A huge brick structure was exposed, which can be dated to about AD.1st C to AD. 300. Considerable amount of pottery was found from the area and is confined to red ware of medium to coarse fabric. The shapes include bowls, lids, miniature pots, jars, storage jars, globular pots, spouted and stamped wares etc. ABR-III :- It is located on the left bank of the Saraswati-Somb confluence. Excavations revealed 2 successive cultural phases. PHASE-I (AD. Ist century-AD. 300) Remains of a spoked stupa was revealed. It is executed in burnt bricks and brickbats have been used as packing/filling material. The central portion of the stupa has a rectangular chamber packed with earth and pebbles. The associate findings, antiquities and pottery all belongs to the Kushana period. PHASE-IIA Structures made of undressed stone and rubble masonary, with thick clay mortar. Sometimes bricks have also been used. PHASE-IIB comprises of structures made of dressed stones. Though mostly clay mortar has been used, the use of lime mortar has occassionaly been noticed. A huge complex was exposed with an enclosure stone wall (approx. 48m x 26m). Within this enclosure lies a number of cells on two sides, at right angles. In the centre is a courtyard paved with stones. In the eastern wall, there are carved niches at regular intervals. In one of the niches was found in-situ, the sculpture of a seated Buddha in the Dharmachakrapravartana mudra. Along one of the adjoining walls of the courtyard, remains of an anvil and what appears to be a round fire-altar with full of char coal were found. The remains all point to some sort of ritualistic association. Antiquities include a terracotta Bull figurine (Nandi), remnants of a plaque, iron nails, spearheads, copper rings and fish hooks, stone chaklas, beads, etc and carved architectural members in stone. SADHAURA (30°23'N 77°13'E) is about 40 km. north-west of Yamuna Nagar and 15kms. from Bilaspur on the Bilaspur-Naraingarh road. The mound is spread over an area of about 4 acres. Sadhaura is situated on the bank of river Nakati or Sadhaurawali. The antiquity of the site goes back to about 3000 years. The pottery by which the cultural chronology of the site has been ascertained are Painted Grey Ware, Black Slipped Ware, Northern Black Polished Ware, Kushana Stamped Pottery , Red Polished Ware of the Gupta period, Red Ware of the Rajput period and Glazed Ware of Sultanate and Mughal periods respectively. The structural finds from the site include two bastions made of lakhauri bricks. During the course of the excavation, a circular structure made of wedge shaped bricks of about 35 courses was seen which is still being exposed. The findings from the site include beads of shell, terra cotta, turquoise & fragements of glass bangles.
KAPAL MOCHAN, Tehsil Jagadhri (30°19.5'N & 77°19'E) is situated at a
distance about 2.5 km. north of Bilaspur, on the Bilaspur-Nahan road and is
located on the eastern bank of the Saraswati river. Kapal Mochan is a holy
tirtha of Haryana and hosts Rin-Mochan kund, Suraj Kund, Vyas Kund and
Siddheshwara temple with plenty of sculptural remains, antiquities and a widely
spread mound. The earlier findings from the site, made by Cunningham include two fragmentary Gupta inscriptions alongwith some Indo-Sassanian coins and coins of Menander. The sculptural finds from the site include an image of Uma-Maheswara of the late Gupta period which is preserved in the Radha-Krishna temple. A Vishnu head in relief and a Vaikuntha image on a slab, both again of the late Gupta period, preserved in the Department of Archaeology and Museums (Haryana), Chandigarh. Recent explorations at the site have brought to light several architectural members of the late Gupta period. These can be seen in the old Gurudwara. The pottery reported from the site include Red Ware and Grey Ware. SANDHAYA, Tehsil Jagadhri (30°20.5'N & 77°20'S) is located about 6 kms. north of Bilaspur on the Bilaspur-Nahan highway. There are two sites namely Jarasandh-ka-tila and Gyarsiyan Sati Mata Ashram. Jarasandh-ka-tila is located about 2kms. west of the village and has a huge mound of about 70mx70m oriented north-south with lot of pot sherds distributed over the surface. Towards the northern portion of the mound is seen a massive gateway facing north, with walls rising to an approximate height of 8m, made up of lakhauri bricks. Similarly at many places traces of walls can be seen on the surface. The potsherds belong to Kushana and Gupta period in the form of bowls and vases in Red Ware and Red Slipped Ware. Regular visits of the villagers have yielded plenty of coins, sculptures, beads, terracotta figurines and other antiquities from this mound. However all have met the hands of treasure-hunters. On the same road leading to Jarasandh-ka-tila is Gyarsiyan Sati Mata Ashram located about 1.5 kms from the village. There are a few stone sculptures and architectural members of a now non-existent temple, dated 16th-17th century AD. Proper identification could not be done as they have all been re-used, as a part of the newly constructed brick structure and coated with lime and ochre.
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
"Travels Around
a Lost Civilisation and Lost Cities" Hon'ble Union Minister for Tourism & Culture, Dr. Jagmohan Ji on April 8, 2003 chaired a high powered meeting to undertake excavations in different sites connected with it, beginning from Adi Badri in Haryana to Dholavira in Gujarat. A separate directorate has been set up in the Cuture ministry exclusively for this purpose and the project has been named, "Travels Around a Lost Civilisation and Lost Cities". Dr. R. S. Bisht, Joint Director General, ASI, credited with discovering Dholavira, has been made the project director. There are two factors behind Dr. Jagmohan Ji's Saraswati drive. One, he believes a civilisation of "fine Indian minds" existed on the banks of the mighty river. Though contentious, he accepts archaeologists' theory that this Harappan era 'Saraswati' is the same as the one mentioned in the Rig Veda. The project would be a symbol of the new conception that has been evloved to integrate elements of culture, tourism, environment and decentralised civic live. To begin with, excavation would be taken up in eight places namely Adi Badri, Kapal Mochan, Saraswati Park (Kurukshetra), Banawali, Rakhigarhi, Sirsa, Kalibangan ( Hanumangarh) and Dholavira. Integrated development of Adi Badri:- These include plans to construct a 'Saraswati-Sapta-Sarita-Abhisheka-Kund' at the Saraswati Udgam Sthal, just before the confluence of the Saraswati and the Somb, and a Saraswati Sarovar which is to be constructed with bricks and R.C.C. in an area covering 150 acres, east of the Saraswati Udgam Sthal. The natural gradient and low lying area is to be exploited for the purpose. A 10m high bund is to be constructed and the water source for this sarovar will firstly be, the natural stream flowing down the Saraswati Udgam Sthal and secondly, a point in the bed of the Saraswati will be drilled to bring to the surface the underground water. To organise an annual festival "Saraswati-Mahotsva" on the occassion of Basant Panchami, on the lines of the Mahabharat Utsav at Kurukshetra. The temples of Adi-Badri Narayana and Shri Kedarnath be connected by a hanging bridge. Providing a ropeway between Adi Badri Mandir and Mantra Devi Mandir. Development of a Saraswati Cultural Information Centre & Museum at Kathgarh. Establishment of a Vedanga Research Institute for classical ancient disciplines like Astrology, Ayurveda, Chhanda, Nirukta. Development of tourist infrastructures and other amenities. Development of amusement parks, car parking, coffeeshops, restaurants and handicrafts centres. Provision for security of the tourists and cultural property. Land use plan of the area around the sites. Integrated Development of Morhi (Tehsil Jagadhri):- Village Mohri is situated about 1km northwest of Kapal Mochan on Kapal Mochan-Sadhaura Road. A linear park can be developed in the Saraswati river-bed on the either sides of the road. The area around both the banks of Saraswati River, which is lying vacant, will also be developed as a part of the proposed park. An archaeological complex housing a small rest house, canteen, offices, store and display rooms will be constructed on land around the Saraswati bridge. |