Mahabharata era: The Archaeological Survey of India said there is evidence that suggests that Delhi’s Purana Qila or Old Fort was once buzzing with activity during the Mahabharata period (1100-1200 BC).
The ASI Director Vasant Swarnkar said that they have found Painted Grey Ware (PGW) shards (pieces of pottery utensils) at a mound at the fort, which are linked with the Mahabharata period. Swarnkar is heading the ongoing excavation at the Old Fort.
Unique pottery style
He said different pottery styles denote different eras. Painted Grey Ware, a unique type of grey coloured well-fired pottery, has designs with black spots and strokes.
“Back in the 1970s, India’s noted Archaeologist BB Lal started digging at places mentioned in Mahabharata. He later concluded that the deepest cultural layer was of PGW,” Swarnkar said.
“Since the above layers were already identified with their pottery styles, such as that of Mauryan, Gupta, Rajput etc, he associated PGW culture with Mahabharata. And now, it is a well-established fact amongst contemporary historians,” he said.
Activity during Mahabharata era
He said the recent discovery of PGW shards below a Mauryan-era stepwell suggests that the excavation site must have witnessed some activity during the Mahabharata era. However, he said it was still premature to declare the site as the ancient capital of Indraprastha.
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, he said.
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.
India divided into 16 Mahajanapadas
During the pre-Mauryan era, India was divided into 16 Mahajanapadas. These Mahajanapadas included kingdoms like Kuru, Panchal, and Anga, which are believed to be linked with Pandavas, Draupadi and Karn, respectively.
A recent statement from 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.
The ASI began its excavation in January at Purana Qila to trace evidence of Mahabharata. The excavation is likely to continue until the monsoon arrives. After that, trenches will be sealed for next season for further digging.
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