Rajghat artefacts: 1950s excavation sheds new light on Varanasi's ancient past, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• Banaras Hindu University (BHU) recently examined over 10,000 artefacts from Rajghat, Varanasi, stored for approximately 70 years.
• The collection includes painted Black pottery believed to be 3,000 years old and a human skeleton, opened for the first time.
• Rajghat is identified as the ancient capital of Kashi Janapada, a significant urban center near the confluence of the Ganga and Varana rivers.
• Excavations, primarily between 1957-1969, yielded pre-Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), dating the settlement's origins to around 800 BCE.
• Key finds include seals, some with Greek inscriptions, administrative names, ivory and iron objects, punch-marked coins, and terracotta figurines.

Detailed Insights:

• The recent documentation of these artefacts is part of the BHU department's centenary celebrations, aiming to preserve and publicize its archaeological work.
• Rajghat first came to archaeological attention in 1940 with trial excavations conducted by Krishna Deva on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Major excavations were subsequently carried out by BHU under A K Narain and his team from 1957 to 1969, uncovering extensive material evidence.
• Re-excavations in the early 2000s by Vidula Jaiswal and B R Mani scientifically confirmed the 800 BCE dating of the site's oldest cultural layers.
• The presence of pre-NBPW pottery signifies an early Iron Age settlement, preceding the peak period of the more refined NBPW culture.
• The discovery of seals, including those with Greek inscriptions, suggests administrative structures and potential cultural or trade interactions in ancient Kashi.
• Modern DNA analysis of the newly opened human skeleton is expected to provide valuable insights into the age, ancestry, and lifestyle of the ancient inhabitants.
• Kashi was recognized as one of the 16 Mahajanapadas by the 6th century BCE, underscoring Rajghat's historical importance as a major political and urban hub.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Janapadas: Early territorial kingdoms or political units that emerged in ancient India during the later Vedic period.
• Mahajanapadas: Larger, more powerful kingdoms that evolved from Janapadas by the 6th century BCE, such as Kashi.
• Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW): A distinctive, high-quality glossy pottery type of the Iron Age (c. 700-200 BCE), often associated with urbanisation and elite culture.