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Archaeology
This branch deal with the preservation and protection of ancient and
historical monument sites, neolithical sites, fossil sites and monoliths,
etc. other than those declared by or under law made by Parliament to
be of National Importance. Preservation and protection of ancient monuments,
historical monuments and heritage sites have been taken up under the
Eleventh Finance Commission Award. The preservation and protection works
are in progress.This branch also does exploration works on potential
sites.
The Archaeological sites at Bhaitbari, West Garo Hills
District have been excavated and the potential sites and mounds have
been protected for posterity.Report on the Exploration/Survey
of some of the sites are:-
Report
Report on the Exploration/Survey
of some of the sites are:-
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On
the Exploration/Survey of the Neolithic Site in the Ganol and Rongram
River valley of the West Garo Hills District conducted during the
month of March, 2001.
The Ganol-Rongram River Valley in the West Garo
Hills District of the State of Meghalaya is situated at about Long.
90°.15' E and Lat. 25°.35' N. The area is triangular in
shape with the base towards the east and the apex towards the west.
The site covering an area of about 16 square km. The site is bound
in the south by the famous Ganol River and by the Selbagre-Rongram
River in the North. Both the rivers met at the confluent known as
Chibagre in the east.
The site is perhaps one of the biggest Stone Age
people habitation/pre-historic site. The stone implements generally
are being classified into two classifications i.e., the Paleolithic
and the Neolithic or the Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age. The
stone implements of the Ganol and Selbagre-Rongram River Valley
belong to the latter classification or the Neolithic stone implements.
This site of about 16 sq. km. In its spam comprising the areas of
the villages of Selbagre, Misimagre, Bibragre, Resangri, Rongram,
Ganolgre, Chibragri and pushing further towards the northwest up
to Thebrongre.
The Exploration carried out during the month of
March with effect from 12th-31st, 2001, along with the Anthropology
Department of the Guwahati University and the Department of Arts
& Culture, Government of Meghalaya under the advice of the ASI
Guwahati Circle was of a fruitful success. During the above minute
and detailed exploration covering the hill ranges, the streams and
the river valleys about 6 (six) important Neolithic sites had been
located and 293 stone  artifacts
of various sizes consisting of axes, scrapers, points, blades, borers,
handpick, chopper etc., were collected for the purpose of preserving
and exhibiting them in the museums of the state etc., in the interest
of the student, researchers, teachers and the general public and
the posterity. All the collected stone artifacts are now being kept
in the office at Mawlai. Sketch
of the site enclosed.
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On
the joint preliminary exploration on the Pre-Historic Archaeology
conducted with the Anthropology Department of the Guwahati University
from 8.3.2000 to 14.3.2000 in the Barapani area and Upper Shillong
area of the East Khasi Hills District.
The Exploration conducted in the Barapani area
could not be carried out in a successful manner as we are bound
to confine only to a very limited area and could not cover the larger
part of the terrain due to thick vegetation or grasses inspite of
the fact that some waste product were being discovered during the
exploration.
However, in the course of the exploration conducted
in the Upper Shillong area, a potential pre-historic site was discovered.
From the site about 46 pre-historic stone tools were collected consisting
of the following: -
1. Axes 7 Nos.
2. Points 4 Nos.
3. Blades 6 Nos.
4. Borers 6 Nos.
5. Nose scrapers 14 Nos.
6. Side scrapers 9 Nos.
However, the above identification is subjected
to further verification. All the above collected stone/tools implements
are being kept in the office of the Arts & Culture, Archaeology
Branch at Mawlai Complex of the Department. The site is under the
Government Reserve Forest at present.
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Bhaitbari
Archaeological Site
Geographically, the site is located in the point
of the Purana/Old Bhaitbari, a small village in the West Garo Hills
District on the southern bank of the River Jingjiram, in a distance
of about 3 miles from Phulbari (Garden of flowers) on the way to
Tura.
On the basis of various reports and informations,
a short exploration was being conducted in collaboration with the
ASI (Pre-historic branch) Government of India and the Department
of Arts & Culture, Government of Meghalaya during the months
of October-November 1991. Encouraged by the findings of this short
exploration, exploratory excavation was, accordingly, taken up starting
from 29.12.1992. The results achieved in the course of this excavation
are not only encouraging but revealing the potentiality of the people
deserving to be enlisted in the category of the Archaeological site
of National Importance.
During this excavation some very important and
valuable findings were exposed. These are as follows: -
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The mud-cum-nurt brick fortification running at least 5
km. in north-south direction in a house-shoe fashion with
both ends on the bank of the Jingjiram River. The forttification
is of about 15 sq. km. in area andhas been laid taking advantage
of the contours of natural hill-lock.All along the outer side
of the fortification the existence of deep moat is observed,
whereas on the inner side a rammed murrum pathway which is
about 3.30 m in width runs throughout the length of the f ortification
wall. To ascertain the width and stratigraphic position of
this mud-cum-brick wall, cuttings were made at two places
on the western section. From the discovery of these cuttings,
it is evident that in the first phase only a mud tampart having
the width of nearly 6 metres was raised. Later on, in order
to further strengthen its outer face, a 1.20 m wide of burnt
brick wall was raised. During the excavation about 52 courses
of these bricks have been exposed. A study of one of these
cuttings clearly shows that the burnt brick wall was repaired
at least twice and the wall was raised over the foundation
of boulders. A stepped entrace on the southern side and a
regular gateway on the southern side had also been located.The
entire fortified area is covered with thick jungle of bamboos
and other trees and the cultivating fields belonging to the
villages situating within the fortified area consisting of
Rajpur in the south, Wadagogre, Gandhipara and Balojhora in
the east, Naya Goan and Belbari in the north.
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The site of a beautifully planned burnt brick temple lying
under a mound covered with thick bushes was also unearthed
and exposed. In course of excavating the debri of this temple,
about 28 terracotts tiles depicting the figure of gods and
goddess like, Ganesh, Parvati, Kubera, Yaksha and dancing
figure were discovered from within and around the outer face
of the wall at the base. However, amongst the four figures
that of the four-armed, Ganesh is found to predominates. The
place of their discovery and the position in wich they were
found indicates that the outer face of the wall at the base
was decorated with these terracotta tiles. These tiles were
fixed on the wall with the help of one or two holds luted
on the back of the tiles.The temple is found to compose of
three components, the Garbagrihs, the Anterala and the Mandapa or
the Entrance, the prayer hall and the sanctum sanctorum. The
structure is of simple ministure and facing east. The maximum
length of the temple east-west including the retaining wall
behind the garbhagrihs is 11 metres long.This structure is
found to have been built on a Panch-Ratna plan with several
effects. The foundation consists of brick bats, whereas the
upper on the basis of analithical conclusion, is believed
to have consisted of wooden posts, split bamboo mat wallings
and thatch-roofing.Further, both the garbhagrihs and the mandapa
are square in plan. The garbhagrihs is 4.40 x 4.40 m, whereas
the mandapa is 2.50 x 2.50 m. The antarals is '90 m in width.
Except for the south-eastern corner of the temple which had
been badly damaged due to growth of a jackfruit tree, the
rest of the plan of the temple is almost in tack and at least
13 course of bricks are percievable.
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The third and impressive discovery during the excavation
was the discovery and exposure of the site of an Octagonal
Tem ple
with eight miniature octagons, each having a Shiva Lings.
The structure is of a more magnificient architecture, having
eight square sub-sidiary shrines radiating from the eight
arms of the main octagon. This perhaps one of the unique discoveries
during the excavation.The total plan of the temple is 13 m
in width and .90 m in height. Like in the case of the earlier
stated temple. This Octagonal structure of Shiva Temple also
seems to have been built on the same pattern through different
in designs and plans. That is, the base consists of the burnt
brick bats, whereas, the upper structure is percieved to have
been built with wooden posts, split bamboo mat wallings and
thatch-roofing and facing in the same direction as the earlier.
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The fourth, the most unexpected and thrilling discovery during
the said excavation was the discover of the site of a structure
associated with Buddhism and which is commonly known as "STUPA".On
further process of excavation, this STUPA is found to belong
to a category of stupa which is structurally termed as 'Mud-stuupa'.
This ancient Buddhist remain is situated near the bank of
the river Jingjiram very close to the Phulbari-Tura road before
reaching Rajpur.In course of the excavation, the outer face
of it is found to have been lined with courses of burnt bricks
laid on the semi-circular mud structure in the form of boxes,
the inside of which were filled up with brick bats. A footstep
from the base to the top is also discovered on the southern
face of this tupa.This stupa is 5.75 m high and has the diameter
of 30 m at the base. This stupa, so to say is the first ever
disclosed Stupa in Meghalaya.All the above structure are located
within the fortified area. Exploration of the fortified area
further shows to contain extensive ruins, such as brick structure,
a number of ancient tanks of various sizes, Shiva lingas,
broken potteries etc.However, nothing is definitely known
at present about the history of the site including the era
it flourished. But on the basis of the deities depicted onthe
terracotta tiles and thei stylistic taste and the existence
of the stupa, scholars somehow have arrived that the period
of the flourish of this ancient fortified city may be contemparaneous
to the reign of Harsha Vardhana, i.e., to the first half of
the 7th Centry A.D.Again from the existence of ancient tanks
of various sizes as stated above, this township suggests to
be an important temple townsip. However, all that s said is
only a question of guess-work. Therefore, the sites still
stand as a challenge for those historians and scholars who
have the will and courage to dig out its historic truth for
the knowledge of the present and the benefit of the future
- The Syndai Historical
and Archaeological Remains
Syndai is a little village situated on the southern
slopes of the Jaintia Hills District over- looking the vast plains
of Bangladesh at about 60 km or so from Jowai-Umlarem-Muktapur road.
Syndai is one of the most beautiful and important places of interest
in the State of Meghalaya. The village and its surroundings has
a uniqueness of its own. It is a place of varied interest ranging
from its folklores, stupendous waterfalls, natural caves, flora
and fauna, spots of scenic beauty as well as site of historical
and archaeological remains which can be still seen and observed
in and around the area of the Rupasor stream situated at about 1
km. south of the village. Some of these important historical and
archaeological remains of Syndai may be seen as below:
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The Rupasor bathing ghat (Ka Mahadei Swimming
Pool).
This is a beautiful rectangular swimming pool of about 10.00
m in length, 7.10 m breadth and 1.50 m in depth hewn out of
the rock, which forms part of the bed of the Rupasor stream.
The pool is forcing in the northwest direction. Tractition states
that the pool was created by Luh Laskor Lamare under the direction
of the Jaintia king for the purpose of royal bathing. Equidistant
from both the corners in the north-end of the pool there is
a replica of an elephant carved out of the same rock to serve
as a platform for the bathing royals to sit upon. The water
was drawn into the pool from the nearby crystal clear stream
and was so directed by means of a canal to look as if that elephant
is feeding the water into the pool from its trunk. In the south-end
of the pool there is a flight of steps hewn out of the same
mass of rock leading to the bottom of the pool. At the distance
of about 20.00 m to the west of the pool. There are two huge
rocks bearing the designs of the Sun with the size of about
3.00 mm and the Moon with the size of 1.30 mm in diameter respectively.
The finding of the figures of the Sun and the Moon together
in a place expresses the symbol of what is known as fertility
cult, as the Moon symbolises the male and the Sun stands for
the female.
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The ruin royal hill resort
Towards the west just at a distance of about 100.00 m. from
the Mahadei swimming Pool by the side of the Rupasor stream
in the east and just below the present P.W.D. bridge, there
is the site of the ruin structure which is stated to be the
site of the Ruin Royal Hill Resort. However, most of the ruins
and the debris of the said ruin structure were removed away
and used as construction materials during the construction of
the Syndai Muktapur road in the recent years.
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The Rupasor Megalithic bridge
Just at about a stone-throw distance from the site of the Ruin
Royal Hill Resort and below the present P.W.D. bridge an ancient
delapidating bridge make of stone slabs over the Rupasor stream
is being seen. The purpose for which the bridge was constructed
was for connecting the kingdom highway between Jaintiapur the
principal capital of the kingdom and Nartiang the Summer capital.
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An ancient Mahadei temple
Towards the north and at about 200.00 m. from the site of the
ruined royal hill resort by the side of the Muktapur Syndai
traditional footpath just before arriving the famous Syndai
cave there stands the dilapidated small Mahadei Temple of 6.20
X 7.40 m. made of burnt bricks. The Temple is non-living and
a big wild tree is growing on the roof. The purpose for which
the Temple was built is stated to be for the royal worship during
their stay at Syndai.
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Ganesh rock carving
Just about 10.0 m or so below the delapidating Mahadei Temple
on the left side of the Muktapur-Syndai traditional footpath
there is a beautiful and finely cut figure of the Hindu God
known as Ganesh measuring 1.70 m X 1.50 m in size. The figure
is so minutely and beautifully carved out on the surface of
a rock reflecting the craftmanship of its maker prevailing then.
Besides the above mentioned important historical and archaeological
remains, still many more remnants of the past are being found
scattered here and there in the area which in all indicates
that with the founding of Jaintiapur ( a village now in Bangladesh)
as the principle capital of the Jaintia kingdom and Nartiang
as the Summer capital sometimes during the 2nd or 3rd of the
16th century A.D. Syndai had replaced the importance of Borghat
and became a very important Hill Resort of the Jaintia Royals.
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