New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has conducted five excavations in between the years 2018-19 and 2022-23 in Odisha, Union Culture and Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday.
While replying to a question asked by BJD MPs Sulata Deo and Niranjan Bishi, the Culture Minister said the ASI has conducted excavations at Asurgarh in Kalahandi district during 2018-19, Langudi hill in Jajpur (2019-20 and 2020-21), Adjacent area of Sari Deul, Bhubaneswar (2021-22), Naara Huda, Tirimal in Khordha (2021-22 and 2022-23) and Parabhadi hillock in Jajpur (2022-23).
During the excavation of Asurgarh, the ASI found 417 antiquities include beads, circular discs, fragmented terracotta animal figurines, sling balls, bangle fragments terracotta hukka, disc, wheel, crucible, gamesman, ear-stud, finger ring, toe ring, pendants, arrowhead, knife, chisel, cog wheel, nails and clamps etc. Remains of brick and mud structures, a road made up of stone pebbles, a terracotta ring well are also noticed, he said.
Remains of a stupa, group of rock-cut stupas, rock-cut images of Buddhist pantheon and a partially exposed monastery, terracotta objects including votive stupas, images of buddha, bodhisattvas, tara, railings and parasol, ear studs, beads and bangles bone have been retrieved from the archaeological excavation at Langudi Hill.
A total of 50 antiquities including terracotta sling ball, pendant, pottery hopscotch, dabber, chisel, image of Ganesha, stone medallion, etc. also found from the site.
Similarly, during the excavation at the adjacent area of Sari Deul, bases and lower portions of 6 earlier temples, one dilapidated Mahishamardini temple, sculptures of deities and animals, daily use objects like mullers and potsherds have been recovered.
A total number of 105 antiquities, comprises mostly sling balls, hopscotch, terracotta animal figurines, bone points, Celts (stone), copper points and aniron celt, beads of terracotta and other semiprecious stones etc. recovered from the excavation at Naara Huda, Tirimal, Khurda. Besides, circular mud platforms and evidence of temporary hearths have been retrieved from the excavation, Shri Reddy informed.
The Union Minister further said that the excavation work at Parabhadi site revealed a stone built ashlar masonry stupa. A total of 14 antiquities made out of stone and terracotta have been retrieved from the excavation i.e disc, sculpture, pestle, fragment of chhatravali of stone, slingball and terracotta plaque.