tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39445057423508301632024-03-13T10:17:45.666-07:00Mahasthangarh And ArchaeologyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944505742350830163.post-88537228604376936912011-07-16T19:25:00.000-07:002011-08-14T18:39:14.618-07:00Mahasthangarh: Earliest History of Bengal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO3FaWZ3H7c-SIHek0LlNQDfuuj6ipOtSinDLJYy_P27VQ4wD_8qJ_ufB1H6MOF_E7vPamPdneWpCOJ8EEjRgPhOAs2cX_zmmfSIUpGA94w8UuujTy8p47yx7J7ruyDyr89Wx2UVClyGk/s1600/mahsthan+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO3FaWZ3H7c-SIHek0LlNQDfuuj6ipOtSinDLJYy_P27VQ4wD_8qJ_ufB1H6MOF_E7vPamPdneWpCOJ8EEjRgPhOAs2cX_zmmfSIUpGA94w8UuujTy8p47yx7J7ruyDyr89Wx2UVClyGk/s200/mahsthan+1.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>M</strong></span>ahasthangarh is the oldest archaeological site in</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Bangladesh</span></span></country-region></place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">. It dates back to 700 BCE and was the ancient capital of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Pundra</span></span></placename><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</placetype></span></span></place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The extensive city ruins of Mahasthan spreading along the western bank of the river karatoya. It is situated about 12 km north of the Borga town. It is consists of a massive fortified oblong enclosure measuring 5000 feet long and 4500 feet broad and rises to an average heights 15 feet from surrounding crop field. On its south west and part of north, it appears to have been originally encircled by a deep moat, while river karatoya guarded its eastern and part of northern flanks. Beyond the fortified citadel, other ancient ruins and mounds fan out within a radius of about 5 miles in a semicircle which testify to the existence of extensive suburbs. It was first describe by Buchanan Hamilton in 1808 and later by O, Donell, Beverage, A Cunningham.From literary source know that Sir A Cunningham visited this place in 1879.A famous Chinese Pilgrim Yuang Chwang who visited Pundra Vardana between 638 to 645 A.D.<span style="color: #333333;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYRiQZrHHOPvdJsSmwoW9LmdYf1VkHCkdTDCxO-Yc36HhblhJfQkMGqZjmGdQEn0Yx8sYl4H8LH2xU83hOjQEugbK1yVVM3FYCgOuDOUd0wZyUNQNeGJSQCl8Dvl25hDlH1B6B8r_Ajn_/s1600/Mahsthan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYRiQZrHHOPvdJsSmwoW9LmdYf1VkHCkdTDCxO-Yc36HhblhJfQkMGqZjmGdQEn0Yx8sYl4H8LH2xU83hOjQEugbK1yVVM3FYCgOuDOUd0wZyUNQNeGJSQCl8Dvl25hDlH1B6B8r_Ajn_/s1600/Mahsthan.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The Present name of Mahastan literary means simply great Place. It is also believe some people that its correct name is Mahasnan or great Bathing place. According to local muslim the place is called Mahasthangarh which merely echo the story of Shah Sultan Balkhi Mahesawar, the first muslim saint who occupied the place by subverting the last hindu king Parsuram and whose alleged tomb occupies a part of the south eastern corner of the citadel on a high mound. The name Mahasthan was first occurs in a sanad dated 1096.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Other Archaeological Remains of the Mahasthangarh:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">It is the perimeter of the citadel where isolated mounds intervened by comparatively low grounds. It is covering the entire eastern half of the area each bearing a local name such as; </span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Khodar Pathar mound</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Mankalir Kunda, </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://welloflifeandarchaeology.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Jiyat Kunda (The well of Life)</span></a></span></b></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Parasuram’s Place and Jiyat Kunda, </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Bairagai Bhita, </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Munir Ghon and </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Narasingher Dhap </span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Excavation and Artifacts:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The first excavation was conducted by the department of Archaeology under the guidance of Mr. K.N.Dikshit at Mahasthan in 1928-29. A large collection of various antiquities through this excavation as follows,</span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Huge collection of Potery<br />
Terracotta plaque</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EQ67FVvRi8t_2JmVkz0HB1gXMXFfn_4E65tKDyZjwArPCUypVKvreSNuPUCvfJNY92FOs-_ma66P0SEEkfqKAnPAtwP2wBkLjm-JfnIt89K9nOh9bhlGUENAMMS7bR79A5uim-O8WXqu/s1600/Mmus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EQ67FVvRi8t_2JmVkz0HB1gXMXFfn_4E65tKDyZjwArPCUypVKvreSNuPUCvfJNY92FOs-_ma66P0SEEkfqKAnPAtwP2wBkLjm-JfnIt89K9nOh9bhlGUENAMMS7bR79A5uim-O8WXqu/s200/Mmus2.jpg" width="200px" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Ornamental bricks</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Stone objects</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Beads and buttons of semi precious </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Iron, bronze and copper objects</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Ornaments</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">A large collection of sling ball</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Terracotta Missiles and Kauris</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Punch-marked and cast coins (circular and oblong). These coins bear’s symbols on either side such as swastika, wheel, cross, deer, elephant, bull and plant design with in a railing.</span></li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mV46drtdswGwYUnLyL_a0hsAMmgcyVT7SW1s6cOAsst0jcEnXe4zZfpgfkDeAJ4uc8USs85GkmUTH407lGTs-UoaQx08_ykXcbaB4Ez3P_IyD-IV71uHSWuDcrFTph1YD9xNVwqUkjYh/s1600/Mahasthan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mV46drtdswGwYUnLyL_a0hsAMmgcyVT7SW1s6cOAsst0jcEnXe4zZfpgfkDeAJ4uc8USs85GkmUTH407lGTs-UoaQx08_ykXcbaB4Ez3P_IyD-IV71uHSWuDcrFTph1YD9xNVwqUkjYh/s320/Mahasthan.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><li class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">A limestone tablet from Mahsthan in 1931 bearing six lines emperor Asokan Brahmi inscription about famine of Ancient Pundra Nagar.</span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">F</span></strong>inally we may conclude <span style="color: black;">the earlier history and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://prehistorybangladesh.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Pre history</span></a></span></b> of Mahasthangarh reveals that people of that place received royal patronage from some important ruling dynasties like Emperor Asokan, great the Maurya, Pala rulers, and the Sena Kings. </span>The researchers, scholars and archeologist deeply studied in Mahasthangarh artifacts, they seem that it was significant civilization where dawn in wide ranges. <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333;">Archaeologists of a French excavation team started excavation at Mahsthangarh during a Bangladesh-France joint excavation at Mahasthangarh.</span></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0