1969-70 Excavations of the Purana Qila
Adwaith PB
1. Level I- NBPW level
v Northern Black Polished Ware of 4th or 3rd century BC was unearthed.
2. Level II- Sunga period (2nd Century BC to 1st Century BC)
v 2nd to 1st century BC
v Overlaps with Mauryan Period
v Mud bricks and kiln-made bricks
v Burnt wattle-and-daub structures and hearths
v Drains made of rectangular and wedge-shaped bricks
v Terracotta ring wells of 75 cm in diameter
v Terracotta figurines of humans and animals
v Sculpted ring stone fragment of Mother Goddess
v Terracotta model of a horse-rider
v Clay sealing, rings and agate dishes
v One of the NBPW unearthed had a stamped elephant figure at its base.
v Punch marked and cast copper coins
v Terracotta seal
3. Level III- Sakha-Kushana period (2nd Century BC to 2nd Century CE)
v Houses made of quartzite rubble set in mud mortar and later houses made of mud and burnt bricks
v Anthropomorphic pot
v Terracotta plaques depicting yaksha-yakshi, goddesses, couple, female flute player and elephant riders
v Human head with cap, beads and bone points
v Seals with people’s names in Bhrami script
v Stamped pottery, skin rubbles, votive tank, ivory handles
v Copper coins of Kushanas and Yaudheyas
v Quality terracotta (better in both quality and quantity than the earlier phase)
4. Level IV- Gupta Period (3rd Century CE to 6th Century CE)
v Remains of structures made of reused bricks of the earlier period
v Molded pottery
v A lid bearing the image of a half-man, half-horse (Kinnara)
v Damaged terracotta female figurine
v Terracotta seal
- Outline of a conch shell above
- Legend of “Gopasya” below
v A building that has undergone multiple stages of construction
v Sealing inscribed with Bhrami letters of the Gupta pd.
v Gold-plated coin of the archer type with legend, “Sri Vikrama”
v Human figurines
v Shell bangle
v Damaged sandstone (Mukhalinga/ Face portrait)
v Sealing below fire altars
v Sealing below a set of preserved footprint
5. Level V- Post Gupta pd. (600CE-750CE)
v Ovens resembling modern tandoors
v Red pottery
v Terracotta figurines
v Beads
v Damaged stone sculptures
v Reused bricks
6. Level VI- Rajput pd. (7th Century CE- 12th Century CE)
v Structures made of reused bricks
v A house made of alternate courses of baked bricks and mud bricks
v Mud floors with hearths
v Rubble fortification walls
v Bull-and-horseman type coin
v Terracotta figurines
v Beads
v Nagri inscriptions
v Ornate moulded bricks
v Blackware pottery with painted, stamped or incised designs
v 1970-71 excavations revealed floors with oven, structures made of bricks and rubble.
v Fortification wall whose Eastern part is badly damaged.
v Coral and crystal pieces
v Carnelian beads
v High-necked jars
v Shallow dishes
v Carved stone tablets
v Stone figure of Lord Vishnu
v Jug containing bells
v Anklet with bells
v Copper artefacts
7. Level VII- Sultanate Period (1206CE - 1256CE)
artefacts used by various Sultans and his contemporaries were unearthed.
8. Level VIII- Mughal Period (1256CE- 1748CE)
Another structural phase saw the use of lakhauri bricks.
Significant antiquities include coins of Adil Shah, Shah Alam and East India Company, glass wine bottles, gold ear ornaments were also found.
Conclusion
Despite the concerted efforts of archaeologists in the post-colonial period to find evidence for Indraprastha, there is no material proof to suggest that Purana Qila was once the ancient site of a Hindu city.
Yet the myth of Indraprastha endures and has been gradually calcified as archival truth through its mention in archaeological reports, museums and maps. (cartographical evidence)
It marks the translocation from the space of myth and popular legend to a space of history.