Latest news with #ArchaeologyDepartment
Hans India
6 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Iron Age graves discovered in Shidlaghatta
Chikkaballapura: In a remarkable archaeological find, more than ten massive Iron Age graves have been unearthed on a hilltop near Maddegarahalli in Bashettahalli hobli of Shidlaghatta taluk, revealing traces of ancient life that date back about 2,300 years. This is the first time such a significant Stone Age settlement has come to light in the taluk, offering fresh insights into the region's forgotten past. The graves, also known as kalgoris or kalmane, are megalithic burial structures made from rough rocks and slabs, each measuring between 1.5 and 2 meters in expert K. Dhanapal, who is carrying out a village-wise survey under the Archaeology Department, along with Karnataka Janapada Parishad president A.M. Thyagaraj, discovered these burial sites during their recent exploration. 'These graves belong to the Iron Age megalithic culture, which flourished around 300 BC,' said Dr. Shivatarak, a scholar who has studied similar sites. 'These structures give us clues about how the people of that time lived. When they died due to diseases or other reasons, they were buried together, often near water sources.' Karnataka is rich in such megalithic sites, with over 1,440 large rock burial locations identified across the state. The site at Hirebenkal in Koppal district holds the largest number of rock tombs and has even been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Similar large burial sites have been found in Arabi Kothanur and Koira villages in Kolar. The discovery in Shidlaghatta is expected to draw more research and may put the region on the map for archaeological studies of ancient human settlements in southern India.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Over Rs 30 million approved for conservation of Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor's houses in northwest Pakistan
Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has sanctioned funds for restoring the ancestral homes of Indian film legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. These buildings, declared national heritage sites, will be converted into museums. The initiative aims to preserve cultural heritage and boost tourism. The project will showcase the actors' journey from Peshawar to Mumbai. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government on Wednesday approved Rs 33.8 million for the restoration and conservation of historic buildings belonging to Indian film legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor allocation was approved in a meeting chaired by provincial Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Advisor for Tourism and Archaeology Zahid Khan meeting approved key projects for heritage preservation and tourism promotion in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province under the World Bank's KITE historic buildings of Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, which have already been declared national heritage by the Pakistan government, are in a dilapidated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Archaeology Department has planned to convert both structures into museums dedicated to the lives and careers of both the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had declared the houses a national heritage site on July 13, government intends to acquire the property and transform it into a museum that will showcase Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor's journey from Peshawar to Mumbai, including a dedicated gallery, said Archaeology Department Director Dr Abdus declaration aims to protect the historical building from demolition and ensure its preservation as a cultural heritage preservation and tourism promotion projects approved in the meeting included the upgradation of various museums and archaeological sites in the said the primary goal of these projects is to safeguard the province's historical and cultural heritage while promoting heritage tourism."This initiative will not only boost local tourism but also create new employment opportunities," he Minister Gandapur said, "The cultural heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa holds significance not only for Pakistan but for the entire world. Our government's top priority is to preserve this heritage and ensure economic growth through tourism."Work on these projects will commence shortly to provide better facilities for both domestic and international tourists.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Veteran epigraphist and archaeologist honoured with Tamil Wikki Suran Award
V. Vedachalam, well-known epigraphist and archaeologist, has been honoured with many awards during his long and eventful career, but bagging the Tamil Wikki Suran Award as he steps into his 51st year in the field, has filled him with immense pleasure. 'It is a recognition of my services, and I am grateful for this honour,' he said. At 75 years of age, his ardour to dig into the past has not diminished. His eyes light up as he reminisces about his first dig at Karur, the capital of the Chera Kingdom. There, he and his team were instrumental in unearthing a portion of the fort wall. 'I had just completed my MA in Tamil literature, and after finishing my PG diploma in archaeology and epigraphy, I was recruited into the Archaeology Department. It was while working in Karur that I realised this was going to be my life-long passion. Tamil literature unveiled the history of Sangam Age, and there at the site, I was seeing the historical sources in person,' he remarked. His background in Tamil literature also helped him to become a consummate epigraphist. He remembers climbing up a hillock on a hot summer's day in Vikramangalam to study various inscriptions found there. After a while, he stepped onto a deep ledge and lay down. And there on the ceiling was an inscription that had been hidden for over 2,000 years. 'At that moment, I was euphoric. The feeling that I have discovered something new filled me with happiness,' Mr. Vedhachalam said. He was the first one to talk about the potential of the Keeladi site. Even after retirement, many remember him visiting Keeladi in the morning and leaving the site only after sunset. This fervour has not diminished. An author of 25 books, Mr. Vedachalam has travelled to various historical sites, not just in India but also abroad. 'As an archaeologist, it is important that we travel and compare various sites. For only in comparison, can we understand the uniqueness and ancientness of the artefacts that are being unearthed in Tamil Nadu. For me, ancient history is much beyond caste and religion. This shared history binds us, and it is paramount that we preserve them for future generations,' he said. He visits colleges and meets students in order to disseminate what he has learnt on this journey. Since 2009, along with Dhan Foundation on every second Sunday of the month, Mr. Vedachalam and his team have visited almost 300 villages to create awareness among the villagers about the historicity of the places and the need to preserve various monuments nearby. For him, there are more things to be unearthed and even more that need to be preserved, for our ancient history now lives on in fragile fragments.
Hans India
05-07-2025
- Hans India
Historic Anegundi monuments under threat due to official apathy
Gangavati: Ancient forts, temples and heritage structures dating back to the pre-Vijayanagar and Vijayanagar eras in Anegundi are facing severe damage due to the negligence of the Archaeology Department, local residents have alleged. Anegundi, historically recorded as the original capital of the Vijayanagar Empire before the seat was shifted to Hampi, still houses many remnants of its glorious past. Numerous temples, gateways, mantapas and fort walls stand as silent witnesses to centuries of history — but today they are crumbling due to lack of conservation. One alarming incident has come to light at the Agasi fort gate of Chikkarampura, one of the four historic gateways of Anegundi. Local reports say that mantapas atop the fort have been demolished by encroachers who have illegally built houses inside this protected area. Ironically, this land falls under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department and no legal titles have been issued here, yet illegal construction continues unchecked. Similarly, private individuals are reportedly destroying parts of the ancient Anegundi fort ruins on the left side of the main road connecting Anegundi to Anjanadri and Talwara Ghat, to carry out unauthorized civil works. The Anegundi region and 18 surrounding villages come under the Hampi World Heritage Area Development Authority. As this area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, any construction activity here requires mandatory permission from the authority. However, locals say unauthorized work goes on blatantly while officials look the other way. 'It is unfortunate that the few remaining monuments are also being destroyed. The authorities must wake up and take urgent steps to protect what is left,' demanded local youth leader Devendra R.B. Reacting to the allegations, Shejeshwar, Assistant Director, State Archaeology Museum and Heritage Department, Kamalapur division, said: 'We were not aware of this issue. I will immediately send a team for inspection and personally visit the site within two days.'
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Traditional construction techniques to the rescue of Simhachalam Temple
The Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam's Simhachalam has been drawing devotees from across Andhra and beyond for centuries. Steeped in history and myths, the architectural wonder has stood the test of time and elements, a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the ancient architects who built it. Many of its construction techniques continue to puzzle modern engineers, and this lack of understanding became evident two decades ago when an attempt was made to arrest leaks on the temple roof using cement concrete. When the leaks reappeared, however, the temple management turned to IIT-Tirupati and the Archaeology Department for help. As per their suggestions, a plan was hammered out to repair the roof of the main temple, the old Kalyana Mandapam and the 'Nivedhanasala' using traditional techniques and materials at ₹4 crore. Funds for the work would come from Lord Venkateswara Charitable and Religious Trust of Pune under the donor scheme. On February 11, Executive Officer V. Trinadha Rao and trust representative Vishal Limkar exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake the repairs, and the work, which began in April, is currently under way. According to K. Muniratnam Reddy, Director-Epigraphy, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), scientific repairs can ensure longevity for ancient rock structures. 'We have suggested the use of traditional materials—lime, Arabic tree gum, hirda, jaggery, okra, jute and urad dal,' he added. Muniratnam Reddy was visiting Simhachalam temple to participate in the MoU exchange programme. On the preparation of the traditional mortar, he said that materials like Arabic tree gum, jaggery and jute would be boiled and kept in tanks for about a month and a half. After that, lime and surkhi would be mixed to form a concrete of sorts. Around 80% of the restoration work, being carried out by Uttaradevi Charitable Trust-Pune, has been completed, he added. The main temple has a common roof for both Sri Swamy Varu and Ammavaru. Leaks have developed on the temple beda mandapams on the four sides (north, south, east and west), the Asthana mandapam, Kalyana mandapam, pakasala-1 and pakasala-2 (the lord's kitchen). The common roof is spread over 24,000 according to the temple management. The roof is made of hard black stone slabs, which is not locally available. These slabs are overlaid with brick jelly (second layer), surki lime (third layer) and cement concrete and mortar (fourth layer). Age of the temple Though the exact age of the temple remains unknown, an inscription found at the temple has been dated to 1098-99 CE. It is believed to have been commissioned by Chola Emperor Kulottunga-I, who conquered the Kalinga territories. It could be deducted that the temple must have been a place of importance even at that period. Another inscription shows that a queen of the Velanandu chief Gonka III (1137-56 CE) gilded the idol in gold. The central shrine, the mukhamandapam, the natyamandapam and the enclosing veranda were built in the later half of 13th century using black stone. The temple also has inscriptions commissioned by Vijayanagara Emperor Krishna Devaraya, recounting his successes and narrating how he and his queen presented the lord with a necklace of 991 pearls and other costly gifts. The government epigraphist's lists for 1899 shows that the temple has at least 125 such inscriptions, making it a repository of the the district's history. 'Sthalapurana' Local legend has it that the temple was built by demon king Hiranyakasipu's son Prahlada. Hiranyakasipu and brother Hiranyaksha were mighty demons bent on disturbing world peace. When Lord Vishnu slayed Hiranyaksha by assuming his boar incarnation (Varaha Avatara), Hiranyakasipu swore revenge. He propitiated Lord Brahma and secured a boon that he could not be killed by either animal or a man, neither in the morning nor at night, by any weapons and neither in sky nor on the earth. Much to Hiranyakasipu's chagrin, however, his son Prahlada became a devotee of Lord Vishnu right from his birth. When his attempts to mend the ways of his son failed, Hiranyakasipu asked his servants to throw him into the sea. His servants chose to drop Prahlada at sea near Mount Simhadri, but he was saved by Lord Vishnu. Simhadri is thus the place where the Lord rescued Prahlada. According to the Stalapurana, Prahlada built a temple for the deity. At the end of that life-cycle (Krita yuga), however, the temple was neglected and fell into disrepair. At the beginning of another life-cycle, the temple was discovered by Emperor Pururava of the Lunar Dynasty. He worshipped the deity and rebuilt the temple. Architectural grandeur The temple has a square shrine surmounted by a high tower, a portico in the front with a smaller tower above it, a sixteen-pillar square mandapam (mukhamandapam) facing this and an enclosed veranda, all made of dark granite richly and delicately carved with ornamental floral designs and scenes from Vishnu Puranas. One of the pillars is called the kappa stambham or 'tribute pillar', which devotees believe has the ability to cure diseases. In the veranda is a stone car with stone wheels and prancing stone horses. Outside this inner enclosure, to the north of the temple, is a Natyamandapam, where the Lord's wedding is performed. This is supported by 96 pillars of black stone arranged in sixteen rows of six each. Each pillar is embellished with unique carvings but has the general capital of an inverted lotus. The idol remains covered in sandal paste, which is ritualistically removed once a year (on Akshaya Thritheeya day). Celebrated as Chandanayatra or Chandanotsavam, this occasion gives devotees a glimpse of the idol's true form; it is the most important festival in this temple. The temple is supervised by the family of the Vizianagaram Samsthanam and is being run under their trusteeship. According to their resolutions, necessary activities are taken up for the temple administration. The Commissioner of Endowments is the final authority for all the decisions and rulings on temple maintenance.
