The team of archaeologists working on the  Chandrawati Archaeological Research Project at Abu-road have discovered two massive complex structures close to each other presumably to be factions of the palaces of the erstwhile ruling class or household related to the royalties.

One of the palace had two large halls and four rear rooms while the other had multi chambers attached to one another. The team on Saturday winded up with the first phase of excavation part which had commenced on 1st January. While the researchers will start compilation and drafting of the excavation report for the next five months, the second excavation phase has been slated for December when they will resume digging.

The department of archaeology and museums and Janardhan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur, had signed an MOU for the excavation and exploration at the historical site of Chandravati, a village spread over 150 bighas in Sirohi district.

It was the well-known capital of the Arbud branch of the Parmaras. Vice Chancellor of Vidyapeeth S.S. Sarangdevot, Prof BS Garg, the university chancellor, and  other top officials were present on the last day.

‘We had set off for the digging after intensive ground survey work and with the wind up of excavation for this session, I must say we have got encouraging details and relics to  reveal a lot about the ancient town which had been lost in the pages of history’ Dr. Jeevan Kharakwal, Director Chandravati Archaeological Research Project said.

Ruins indicating forty five enclosures related to the ancient township had been found at the site. The architecture style, shape and quality of the construction material relates the civilization as old as that of Harrapan times.

With large number of people and groups coming in to see the ruins, the excavation site is expected to transform into a hot tourist destination since it has been let open for the visitors who will allowed to be enter the protected area only through a gate. A high fencing will soon be raised for further security, Kharakwal informed.

Idols of gods and goddesses, broken pieces of earthen pots and pitchers, bricks, dilapidated structures, toys, coin, charred grain pieces  had been found during various sessions of excavation work here for past one and a half month. The grain pieces have been taken away by the experts from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany at Lucknow to investigate further.

by Geetha Sunil Pillai