Radhanagar Satellite Photo

The Times of India

BHUBANESWAR, INDIA: Orissa Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS) has unearthed some 2,300 years-old artefacts in Jajpur district in the state which, it claimed, could change some historical narratives on the Ashokan period.

"The description of Chinese piligrim Hieun-Tsang about Ashoka that he had constructed 10 stupas in Odra country where Buddha had preached may come true. Earlier, historians refused to accept the narrative. We have already analysed five stupas and found three more similar structures," OIMSEAS Director Debaraj Pradhan said here.

He said a huge inscribed monolithic stupa along with other remnants of Buddhist establishments had been detected on top of Panturi hill in Jajpur district.

"The current exploration and excavations is unique since nowhere in India you will find old artefacts in such a small area," Pradhan said.

The stupas were found at Langudi, Tarapur, Deuli Kayama Hills, Neulipur, Bajragiri, Kantigadia and Panturi.

The organisation had extensively surveyed the Brahmani-Kelua river valley since 1996 to explore and excavate Buddhist sites. It had excavated Langudi Hill site and discovered the ancient Pushpagiri vihara, an Ashokan stupa, two rare statues believed to be that of Emperor Ashoka himself, besides 54 rock-cut votive stupas, five ¡°dhyani Buddha¡± statues and remains of two monasteries.

The excavation of the fort of Radhanagar indicated that it could be the ancient capital of Kalinga, Pradhan said.

"Either it could be Dantapura mentioned in Cylonese literature Datha-Ddhatu-Vamsa or Tosali mentioned in special Dhauli rock edict of Ashoka," he added.

The artefacts discovered from last year's excavation established that Radhanagar or Tosali was a fort city. But interesting findings of this year indicated that it could be a port city.

"The discovery of roman bullae (an earthen ornament) and roman rowlletted pottery, suggested that the place had connections with Rome. And it could not have happened had Tosali not been a port city," Pradhan said.

He, however, made it clear that only around five per cent of total excavation had been completed.

"Once we excavate the entire archaeologically rich area in Jajpur district, we could come to a concrete conclusion," he said.

Besides, discovery of Ashokan period artefacts, archeologists have also stumbled upon many antiques which implied that the whole area could have been a hub of religious activities.

The current excavation also threw up broken Buddhist images, votive stupas and collection of pottery remains from the surface near Vajragiri.

Pradhan said Vajragiri could have had close cultural contacts with Japan because the highest temple of Japan was the Vajragiri temple (Kongobu-ji) at Kuito, the ancient capital of that country.

Interestingly, at the foot of the present Vajragiri a big ancient village Kotpur was situated, he said adding more research was necessary to establish the connection.

The Vajragiri excavation had yielded one piece of stone trident, designed religious lamp, 12 pieces of heavy iron rods and two pieces of conch in good condition.

Pradhan said most of the inscriptional evidence and its photographs had been sent to Dr K V Ramesh, retired director of epigraphy at Mysore for deciphering.

"The present inscriptional evidence may prove the association of Buddha in Kayama Hill in Kalinga country in his life time," he said.

Meanwhile, Orissa Culture Minister Suryanarayan Patro has directed Jajpur district collector Aurobindo Padhi to visit all hills identified by the OIMSEAS and involve eminent historians in the research work.