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Extensive excavation at Srijanga village planned

Staff Reporter

10 ancient port sites in Kantiachara river basin unearthed

The deity is known as Sarvamangala. She is offered masks and horses in terracotta, which resemble South East Asian rituals. She is worshipped along the Kantiachara river basin.

BHUBANESWAR: Excited over the prospects of discovering more artefacts pertaining to ancient ports dated back to the Gupta period, the Orissan Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS) will carry out extensive excavation at Srijanga village in Balasore district.

The decision was taken following “discovery of 10 ancient port sites” during archaeological exploration conducted in the river basin of Kantiachara and its tributary channels in the district recently.

The port sites were locally known as Kanthi or Rajagada and found in all most all villages located along the banks of the river Kantiachara, up to a stretch of 30 m from the mouth of the river, OIMSEAS researchers claim here.

The ancient site of Srijang could have been a settlement of traders and navigators.

The navigation activities continued for a long time, which was evident from the finding of a stone inscription inscribed in proto-Oriya datable to the 16th century AD, they say.

Researchers’ claim

“We will be digging deep in five trenches in Srijang during the last part of March or early April this year. Since the soil is wet and it would not give desired results, the excavation has been delayed,” says Nimai Ch Mohanty, project coordinator of OIMSEAS.

Researchers have also claimed that villages situated on the banks of the river were engaged in trade and transactions even up to the British period which was testified by ethnographic correlates and archaeological material like European wine bottles from the sites, especially at Srijang, possibly the most important centre in the Kantiachara river basin.

“A few specimen of red polished ware and black and red ware were noticed which suggested that the site was occupied even during the pre-Gupta periods. The wares are comparatively sparse. If excavated up to virgin level, the site would yield more evidence on the early historic period,” Balaram Tripathy, archaeologist with State culture department, says.

Mr. Tripathy says the sites, which could have maritime traditions, were identified as Boita, Nachinta, Tundra, Joyadev-Kasba, Rehang and Kulinga.

“The explored sites give ample evidence of trade and overseas connection during the early Christian period.

An onshore exploration of a high magnitude with scientific equipment would solve the problem and its identification and dating,” says the archaeologist.

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