Juafardih
| Location |
: |
Lat 25° 08’ N ; Long 85° 25’ E |
| District |
: |
Nalanda |
| State |
: |
Bihar |
| Excavation years |
: |
2006-07 |
| Director of Excavations |
: |
S.C.Saran |
| Assisted by |
: |
N.G.Nikoshey, S.Nayan, J.K.Tiwari, A.Arif & Neetesh Saxena. |
The ancient mound of th Juafardih having and area of about 105x100 mts. with the height of 10mts. is situated 3 km. west of the ruins of ancient Nalanda mahavihara. The excavations revealed that the site have been occupied first time in Chalcolithic period and inhabited till 1st–2nd Century A.D.
Period I
Chalcolithic Culture, devoid of any lithic tools and antiquities with Black and Red ware, Black slipped and Red slipped potsherds.
Period II
Phase I - Early Northern Black Polished ware Culture devoid of any antiquities
Phase II - Mature Northern Black Polished Culture with Black slipped, Gray ware and Red ware.
At the end of early mature phase of Period II a mud Stupa has been erected with the height of 4.50 mts. The main antiquities are terracotta hopscotches, beads, snake figurines, gamesman, dabbers, stone muller, querns, sling balls, Iron sickles, sword, chisel, hoe, axe, copper antimony rods, bone points, semiprecious stone beads etc.
Period III is of Sunga-Kushana period in which 6 mts. wide burnt brick encasing wall has been constructed around the mud Stupa adjoining with 7 mts. wide Pradakshinapath made of brunt bricks. Lastly the height of the mud Stupa has been further raised upto the height of 8.70 mts.
However, earlier excavation at Nalanda Mahavihara could not reveal dating before 4th century A.D. The excavation of Juafardih prove to be a land mark in the early history of Nalanda Mahavihara may be pushed back from 4th century A.D. to 12th century B.C. |
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