GUWAHATI, March 19 - A brick-made secular structure of rectangular shape, has been found during a recent excavation carried out by the State�s Directorate of Archaeology at the Barpathar Alichinga Tengani Archaeological Site in Golaghat district. Taking into consideration the strategic location of the area surrounded by ditches and ramparts, the structure is assumed to be a part of an important settlement of early medieval period, datable to circa AD 8th to 9th century.
Disclosing this, State�s Director of Archaeology Dr D R Kauli, who led the team of excavators at the site, told this newspaper that the structure measures 15.41 metres in length, 10.80 metres in breadth and 1.47 metres in height. It runs in a north-south direction. On the western direction of the plinth, a veranda like brick structure was exposed and this structure was found open at both its ends. Moreover, a brick floor was also found at a depth of 1.47 metre.
Cultural materials found at the site are a few, however iron nails and potsherds are found in some trenches. After the depth of one metre, charcoal or burnt wood remains were found in some trenches, samples of which have been collected for scientific analysis, said Dr Kauli.
In reply to a question, Dr Kauli said there is no literary or epigraphic evidences on the continuation of Kachari Dynasty to assume that the Barpathar finds are related to Kachari kingdom that flourished in the same region centuries later. Sanskrit inscriptions found earlier at Duborani and Alichinga Tengani indicate the existence of a Brahmanical culture in the Dhansiri Valley. Further excavations in the nearby areas will bring to light the nature of the structure and as well as more evidences about the cultural sequence of the history of the region, Dr Kauli said.
Technical Officer of the Directorate Nabajit Deori, its Exploration Officers Chabina Hassan and Nayanika Das, and other officials of the Directorate carried out the excavation. They were assisted by a group of research scholars, said the Archaeology Director.
She also informed that further excavations would be carried out at the site in the next financial year to ascertain the nature of the structure found at the site.
Moreover, she said a metallic decorative bangle (probably alloy) was collected from one of the residents near this archaeological site. This bangle was earlier discovered in one of the ditches adjacent to the ongoing excavation site.
