The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday said that it had discovered evidence at Delhi’s Purana Qila that dates back to the Mahabharata period (1100-1200 BC).V asant Swarnkar, Director of the ASI, said that his team found painted grey ware (PGW) shards (pieces of pottery utensils) at a mound at the fort, linked with the Mahabharata period.
Swarnkar said different pottery styles denote different eras. PGW is a unique type of gray-colored well-fired pottery that has designs with black spots and strokes.He added that the recent discovery at the fort suggests that the excavation site saw some activities during the Mahabharata era.However, Swarnkar stated that it was still early to call the site the ancient capital of Indraprastha.
Swarnkar said that noted archaeologist BB Lal started digging at places mentioned in the Mahabharata in the 1970s and concluded that the deepest cultural layer was of PGW. A recent statement by the Culture Ministry said that the ongoing excavation, which began in January, is expected to locate the ancient Indraprastha, the kingdom of Pandavas, the five sons of King Pandu of Hastinapur.
However, he said that it is still premature to declare the site as the ancient capital of Indraprastha.
He said digging was underway vertically and it would take around two years to excavate the entire area horizontally. Only after that can any solid claim be made on the subject.
Swarnkar said that the archaeologists also found statues of Ganesha (Mughal Period), Gaj Laxmi (Gupta period) and Lord Vishnu (Rajput period) from the same site.
The Ministry of Culture said that the ongoing excavation efforts at the Old Fort is expected to locate the ancient Indraprastha, the kingdom of Pandavas.
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I t is good the ASI is revisiting our ancient monuments to establish vital dates of their origin and its connection with our greatest legends of Ramayana and Mahabharata. A lot will be learned of our rich history and the deeds of the marauders who saw it fit to desecrate some of them as in the great Somnath Temple.