Snippets of Information
Archaeology
* 2 Jan 2026
Images source: indiatoday.in
After decades of curiosity and surveys, the mounds in Baramulla's Zehanpora have revealed ancient Buddhist stupas and urban-type settlements, which link Kashmir to the Gandhara Buddhist network.
The discovery, made possible by old photographs at a French museum,
opened a 2,000-year-old chapter with Kashmir as a central hub of
Buddhist learning and monastic activity.
Zehanpora has yielded Buddhist stupas, an urban settlement complex(could
be chaityas and viharas), Kushan-era pottery shards, copper artefacts
and walls, with more finds expected in subsequent excavation phases. The
Zehanpora discovery places Kashmir within the 2,000-year-old Gandhara
Buddhist network.
Source: How blurry photos in France helped dig up Kashmir's 2000-year-old Buddhist past by Sushim Mukul, indiatoday.in, 29 Dec 2025
* 2 Jan 2026
The 2024-25 excavation season at Lothal, conducted by the
Archaeological Survey of India, marks the resumption of systematic
archaeological work at this major Harappan port with the help of modern
technology. The excavations revealed a rich ceramic assemblage and
numerous artefacts, including beads, terracotta figurines, seals, and
tools. One of the most promising and prominent field work in 2025, the
Lothal Excavations lays open unknowns and rekindles the known joys of a
Harappan site through the discoveries.
Source: Archaeological Survey of India, fb-IndianHeritage.GoI
* 4 Aug 2022
Lothal was a port city contemporary with Harappa and
Mohenjo-daro. The site was discovered in 1954 and excavated on most
scientific lines between 1955 and 1962. Lothal is situated at the head
of the Gulf of Cambay at a distance of 80 kilometres south-west of
Ahmedabad.
A fact of particular pride to chess lovers is that Dr S.R. Rao discovered some "chaturanga" pieces during excavations at Lothal. With carbon tests they are dated 2,500 B.C.
This proves that "chaturanga" was in vogue in India some 4,500 years ago.
Source: Views of V.D. Pandit (Bombay, India) from The Origins of Chess by Edward Winter, chesshistory.com
|
