Recent Archeological FindsConfirming Vedic History

Additional evidence of the truths of Vedic culture is continually beinguncovered. So this is a new project in which we will list some of the mostnoteworthy archeological finds that tend to confirm the Vedic descriptions ofworld history. There are also other papers that are included in which newdevelopments or research are discussed. We will continue to update thisinformation as new discoveries are developed, or as additional news is sent in tous. So if you learn of anything newsworthy in this regard, feel free to send it in tous so we might include it on this page.

Some of the Archeological Discoveries of 2002 This lists: 1. A City DatingBack to 7500 BC, 2. Recent Archeological Find Could Rewrite History, 3. AncientEgyptian Flight Technology, 4. Treasures Discovered at the Ancient Angkor Wat,5. Sixty-five Million Year Old Crocodile Fossils, 6. Ancient City Found Off theCoast of Mamallapuram, 7. Links Between Ancient India and Mayans, 8. AncientStone Maps Over 120 Million Years Old, 9. Taxila 600 Years Older than EarlierBelieved, 10. Buried Shiva Temples Found, 11. Evidence of Ancient Sea TradeBetween Rome and India, 12. Shiva Lingams Found in Vietnam, 13. India wasthe First Source of Diamonds, 14. Ancient Hindu Temple Discovered inIndonesia, 15. A 7000 Year Old Temple in Mallesvaram, 16. Satellite Photos ofthe Ancient Bridge Between Ramesvaram and Sri Lanka, 17. A 40,000 Year OldCave Painting South of New Delhi, 18 Stealth Bomber From Shastra, 19.Koreans Search for Roots in Ayodhya.

Some of the Archeological Discoveries of 2003 lists some of what hasbeen discovered so far, such as: 1. Ancient Cities in Tamil Nadu May Be Over7,000 Years Old, 2. The Ancient Gene Pool of Tamil Nadu, 3. New TheoriesPlace Ancient Humans in India, 4. Ancient Seals Found at Hatab Site, 5. MoreVedic Temples Discovered in Cambodia, 6. Oldest Habited Anthropological Findin India, 7. Ancient Fossil on Ancient Sarasvati River.

Some of the Archeological Finds of 2004 & 2005 includes: 1. 5000 YearOld Harappan Township Found in Haryana, 2. Archaeologists Uncover AncientMaritime Spice Route Between India, Egypt, 3. India has the Earliest Art, 4.Aryan burial found in Russian city of Omsk, 5, Ancient Krishna Balarama Coins,6. Pre-Harappan Evidence Found in Gulf of Cambay, 7. Ancient Nuclear Blastsand Levitating Stones of Shivapur, 8. Tsunami Uncovered Ancient Port City InSouthern India, 9 Newly-discovered Mamallapuram temple fascinatesarchaeologists.

More Archeological Finds From 2006 and After: 1, Astrological Finds inBrazil Rainforests, 2. First Harappan Burial site Found in Sinauli, Uttar Pradesh,3. Undersea Temple Found Off India's East Coast..

The Sarasvati River provides articles on the ongoing discovery and work torecover the route of the ancient Sarasvati River that is described in the Rig-veda,and a satellite photo of the Sarasvati River basin. This includes such articles as:1. India's Miracle River, 2. The Recent Research into the Sarasvati River, 3.Efforts to Trace Saraswati's Origin, 4. Project to Revive Sarasvati River, 5. IndianSatellites Find Water Under Desert, 6. Riddle of the River Sarasvati, 7. BringingBack the Sarasvati, 8. Unearthing Lost Sarasvati Cities.

Ayodhya and the Research on the Temple of Lord Rama offers some ofthe latest developments regarding the archeological research on the ancienttemple of Lord Rama at His birthplace at Ayodhya. This has: 1. The article by N.S. Rajarama, "What We Need to Know About Ayodhya"; 2. ArchaeologicalExcavations at Sri Rama Janma Bhumi; 3. Archeological Society of India SaysTemple Existed at Ramjanmabhoomi Site; 4. The ASI Report on Ayodhya.

Some of the Archeological Finds of 2002

These are not only interesting, but also tend to verify the basic Vedic form ofhistory. These are numbered in the chronological order in which they werediscovered throughout the year.

1. A City Dating Back to 7500 BC

As was announced on January 16, 2002 from New Delhi, Indian scientists havemade an archaeological discovery that dates back to 7500 bce. This suggests,as a top government official said, that the world's oldest cities came up about4,000 years earlier than is currently believed. The scientists found pieces ofwood, remains of pots, fossil bones and what appeared like construction materialjust off the coast of Surat, Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshitold a news conference. He said, "Some of these artifacts recovered by theNational Institute of Ocean Technology from the site, such as the log of wooddate back to 7500 bce, which is indicative of a very ancient culture in the presentGulf of Cambay, that got submerged subsequently." Current belief is that the firstcities appeared around 3500 bce in the valley of Sumer, where Iraq now stands,a statement issued by the government said. "We can safely say from theantiquities and the acoustic images of the geometric structures that there washuman activity in the region more than 9,500 years ago (7500 BC)," said S.N.Rajguru, an independent archaeologist.

More details were released at--http://www.timesofindia.com/Articleshow.asp?art_id=2140338028

2. Recent Indian Archeological Find Could Rewrite HistoryBy Lori ErbsWARANGAL, INDIA, Feb 12, 2002 - Mysterious Sunken City Found Near SuratMichael Cremo recently attended a meeting of ranking Indian governmentalofficials at which Murli Monohar Joshi, Minister for Science and Technology,confirmed the archeological find by an Indian oceanographic survey team. Couldthe recent discovery of a sunken city off the Northwest Coast of India near Suratrevolutionize our concept of history? Michael A. Cremo, historian of archeology and author of "ForbiddenArcheology", claims that all the history textbooks would have to be rewritten if thisancient find proves to be of Vedic origin. Radiocarbon testing of a piece of woodfrom the underwater site yielded an age of 9,500 years, making it four thousandyears older than earliest cities now recognized. According to Cremo, "Theancient Sanskrit writings of India speak of cities existing on the Indiansubcontinent in very primeval times. Although historians tend to dismiss suchaccounts as mythological, these new discoveries promise to confirm the oldliterary accounts." A leading authority on anomalous archeological evidence,Michael Cremo is currently touring Indian universities and cultural institutions topromote the release of "The Hidden History of the Human Race", the abridgedIndian edition of "Forbidden Archeology" (Torchlight Publishing 1993). Asserting the recent find may be just the first step, he says, "It is likely thateven older discoveries will follow." The cultural identity of the people whoinhabited the underwater city is as yet unknown. Most historians believe thatSanskrit-speaking people entered the Indian subcontinent about 3,500 yearsago, from Central Asia. Other historians accept India itself as the original home ofSanskrit-speaking people, whose lifestyle is termed Vedic culture because theirlives were regulated by a body of literature called the Vedas. The case of the mysterious sunken city near Surat may offer furtherdefinitive proof to support the ancient origins of man described in Cremo'scontroversial bestseller "Forbidden Archeology". With over 200,000 copies inprint in a dozen languages, "Forbidden Archeology" documents scientificevidence suggesting that modern man has existed for millions of years.Contact: Lori Erbshttp://www.mcremo.commail@mcremo.com

3. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN FLIGHT TECHNOLOGYBY VRIN PARKER Evidence has been found that the Ancient Egyptians had a functioningunderstanding of Flight Technology. In 1898, in an ancient tomb, in Saqqara,Egypt, a scale model of a very advanced type of cargo-carrying pusher plane orpowered glider was discovered. It has been dated to be around 2200 yrs old. Ipersonally believe it to be older. Because it was discovered before the era ofmodern flight, it went unrecognized and was stored in a box labeled "wooden birdmodels." It sat in the basement of the Museum of Cairo for decades, until it wasrediscovered by Dr. Khalil Messiha. Dr. Messiha has made a life study of theseancient models. The discovery was deemed so important that the EgyptianMinistry of Culture assigned a special committee to study it. The results of thefindings were so impressive that a special exhibit was set up in the central hall ofthe museum with the artifact as the centerpiece. It was labelled "An AncientModel Airplane." The following is a direct quote from the source, written in 1972. "First of all, this thing has the exact proportions of a very advanced form ofwhat is called a pusher-glider that is still having the "bugs ironed out of it." Thisdevice is actually a glider that will almost stay in the air of itself so that even atiny engine would keep it going at speeds as low as 45 to 65 m.p.h. while it couldcarry an enormous pay-load. The whole business depends upon the strangeshape and proportions of the wings. These, as you will see from the drawing,curve down at the tips. This is called a "reversedihedral wing." Now we have thestartling shape of the Concorde, the design of every part of which was planned togive this juggernaut the maximum lift without detracting from it's speed. And sowhat do we see? The ancient Egyptian airplane model has the same wing formand proportions as the Modern Concorde jet. It seems rather incredible to us thatanybody, for any reason, should have devised just such a model over 2000 yrsago. Is this another "left over" from some greatly advanced civilization....It lookslike it is." End quote For those who have the Vedic Scriptures as their manual tounderstanding history, this info is not really a surprise. Most modern researcherswould rather blindly search for facts with little or no reference, and thus they areconstantly forced to revise their positions. However, researchers who accept theVedic Scriptures as accurate manuals to the realities of the Universe, arerewarded again and again with positive and accurate findings.

4. Treasures Discovered at the Ancient Angkor ComplexSIEM REAP, CAMBODIA, (Kapuchea) February 27, 2002: After the KhmerRouge laid down their arms in Cambodia, the ancient Angkor Wat complex that

was built between the 9th and 14th century by the Khmer Kings becameavailable for exploration by tourists and religious seekers. This article, written bynews correspondent David Richie, delves into the wonders of some 30 templesthat have been cleared in the jungle and can be visited. Of special interest toHindus is a temple dedicated to Lord Siva. Built in the 10th century and located20 km from Bayon, the impressive structure built of red sandstone has been wellpreserved and houses intricate carvings of deities. Hindus would also marvel at"The River of a Thousand Lingas" at Kobal Spien. After an hour-long hike, thesite reveals lots of small linga-shaped stones right in the river surrounded bydeities of Vishnu, Rama, Lakshmi, and Hanuman. At Preah Khan, the Temple ofthe Sacred Sword built in 1191, 500 Hindu deities were once worshiped during20 major festivals. Now the site houses birds, cicadas, and lizards. To bring thevastness of the complex into perspective, the size was compared to the areacovered by inner Washington D.C.More info was at-- http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.p15?fv20020226a1.htm

5. Sixty-five Million Years Old Crocodile Fossils Discovered

Updated on 2002-04-04QUETTA, April 04 (PNS): In a major discovery, a team of Geological Survey ofPakistan (GSP) has discovered 65 million years old fossils of Crocodile in Vitakriarea, some 310 km off here, GSP officials confided to PNS here on Wednesday.The specimen collected to date includes a well-preserved rostrum of a newgenus and species named as "Pabwehshi Pakistanensis". The fossils are ananterior portion of left and right mandibular rostrum preserving the upper andlower teeth in place, said Asif Rana, Curator, Museum of Historical Geology ofGSP to this correspondent.Disclosing the new discovery of crocodile fossils, Asif Rana said the fossilhorizon occurs in the upper part of the Pab formation and provides the firstdiagnostic remains of Cretaceous Crocodyliform from the Indian subcontinent. He said the fossils were believed to be 65 to 70 million years old andprovide important information for assessing bio-geographic history of the region.He disclosed that the Pabwehshi Pakistanensis was closely related to a grouppreviously known only from Argentina.This species "Baurusuchidae" has not yet been discovered on other Gondawanaland mass. He elaborated the plate tectonics theory that Indo-Pak was initiallyinterlocked with the Gondawana land mass of Africa, Antarctica, Australia andMadagascar early in the Mesozoic era, some 200 million years ago. It driftednorthward during the Cretaceous period to collide with Laurasian land massduring the Cenozoic era. This collision resulted in the emergence of Himalaya-Karakorum-Hindu Kush mountain ranges. The new fossil discovery is relevant in

the reconstruction of the paleo-geographic history of the Indo-Pak subcontinent,he said. He said this discovery strengthens the hypothesis that a land connectionmight have existed between Indo-Pakistan sub-continental and South Americanplates. About the discoveries of GSP, Asif Rana said that Pakistani geologistshad recently unearthed 2,700 fossilised bones of a new slender limbedTitanosaurus dinosaur from the same locality in the same formation ofsedimentary rocks. The GSP researchers have also discovered a 47 million years old walkingwhale from Balochistan. The fossils of the largest land mammal "Baluchitherium"discovered by GSP's palaeontologists in 1985 from Dera Bugti are also ondisplay in the GSP's Museum of Historical Geology at Quetta, he said. He saidthat these discoveries of dinosaurs, walking whale and super crocodile hadprovided a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the past.

6. Ancient City Found Off the Coast of MamallapuramMamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), India, April 11, 2002: An ancient underwatercity has been discovered off the coast of southeastern India. Divers from Indiaand England made the discovery based on the statements of local fishermen andthe old Indian legend of the Seven Pagodas. The ruins, which are off the coast ofMahabalipuram, cover many square miles and seem to prove that a major cityonce stood there. A further expedition to the region is now being arranged whichwill take place at the beginning of 2003. The discovery was made on April 1 by ajoint team of divers from the Indian National Institute of Oceanography and theScientific Exploration Society based in Dorset. Expedition leader Monty Hallssaid: "Our divers were presented with a series of structures that clearly showedman-made attributes. The scale of the site appears to be extremely extensive,with 50 dives conducted over a three-day period covering only a small area of theoverall ruin field. This is plainly a discovery of international significance thatdemands further exploration and detailed investigation."More information at--http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1923000/1923794.stm

7. Links Between Ancient India and MayansFrom the Deccan Chronicle

HYDERABAD, INDIA, April 29, 2002: Recent studies suggests a link between

Indus Valley and Mayans of Central America. The studies focused on thecalendars of the two advanced civilizations. The Indus Valley inhabitants followeda calender based on the movements of Jupiter, and the Mayans followed onebased on the Venus. In the Puranas, a secondary Hindu scripture, Jupiter,Brihaspati, was acknowledged to be the leader of the gods, while Venus, Shukra,was the leader of the asuras. The texts further state that the devas and asuraslived on opposite sides of the Earth. Mexico and India are at opposite sides inlongitude. The correspondences were pointed out by B. G. Siddarth, director ofthe B. M. Birla Science Centre in Hyderabad. He also said the Hindu story of thechurning of the ocean has been found in carvings in Mexico, as well Mayanrepresentations of a tortoise carrying twelve pillars similar to Indian illustrations.Dr. Ganapati Sthapati of Chennai, a foremost expert on Vastu Shatra, the ancientHindu architecture, has visited the Mayan structures in Central America andfound many similarities between the design and construction methods of theMayans and that of the ancient Hindus.

8. Ancient Stone Maps Over 120 Million Years Old in RussiaFROM PRAVDARUSSIA, May 4, 2002 A find of Bashkir scientists contraries to traditional notionsof human history: stone stabs which are 120 million years covered with the reliefmap of Ural Region. This seems to be impossible. Scientists of Bashkir StateUniversity have found indisputable proofs of an ancient highly developedcivilization's existence. The question is about a great plate found in 1999, withpicture of the region done according to an unknown technology. This is a realrelief map. Today's military has almost similar maps. The map contains civilengineering works: a system of channels with a length of about 12,000 km, weirs,powerful dams. Not far from the channels, diamond-shaped grounds are shown,whose destination is unknown. The map also contains some inscriptions. Evennumerous inscriptions. At first, the scientists thought that was Old Chineselanguage. Though, it turned out that the subscriptions were done in ahieroglyphic-syllabic language of unknown origin. The scientists never managedto read it. The more I learn the more I understand that I know nothing, - the doctor ofphysical and mathematical science, professor of Bashkir State University,Alexandr Chuvyrov admits. Namely Chuvyrov made that sensational find.Already in 1995, the professor and his post-graduate student from China HuanHun decided to study the hypothesis of possible migration of Old Chinesepopulation to the territory of Siberia and Ural. In an expedition to Bashkiria, theyfound several rock carvings done in Old Chinese language. These findsconfirmed the hypothesis of Chinese migrants. The subscriptions were read.

They mostly contained information about trade bargains, marriage and deathregistration. Though, during the searches, notes dated to the 18th century were found inarchives of Ufa governor-general. They reported about 200 unusual stone stabswhich were situated not far from the Chandar village, Nurimanov Region.Chuvyrov and his colleague at once decided that stabs could be connected withChinese migrants. Archive notes also reported that in 17th-18th centuries,expeditions of Russian scientists who investigated Ural Region had studied 200white stabs with signs and patterns, while in early 20th century, archaeologist A.Schmidt also had seen some white stabs in Bashkiria. This made the scientiststart the search. In 1998, after having formed a team of his students, Chuvyrovlaunched the work. He hired a helicopter, and the first expedition carried a flyingaround of the places where the stabs were supposed to be. Though, despite allefforts, the ancient stabs were not found. Chuvyrov was very upset and eventhought the stabs were just a beautiful legend. The luck was unexpected. During one of Chuvyrov's trips to the village, ex-chairman of the local agricultural council, Vladimir Krainov, came to him(apropos, in the house of Krainov's father, archaelogist Schmidt once staid) andsaid: Are you searching for some stone stabs? I have a strange stab in my yard.At first, I did not take that report seriously, - Chuvyrov told. - Though, I decided togo to that yard to see it. I remember this day exactly: July 21, 1999. Under theporch of the house, the stab with some dents lied. The stab was so heavy thatwe together could not take it out. So I went to the city of Ufa, to ask for help. In a week, work was launched in Chandar. After having dug out the stab,the searches were struck with its size: it was 148 cm high, 106 cm wide and 16cm thick. While it weighed at least one ton. The master of the house madespecial wooden rollers, so the stab was rolled out from the hole. The find wascalled Dashka's stone (in honour of Alexandr Chuvyrov's granddaughter born theday before it) and transported to the university for investigation. After the stab was cleaned of earth, the scientists could not trust theireyes... At first sight, - Chuvyrov says, - I understood that was not a simple stonepiece, but a real map, and not a simple map, but a three-dimensional. You cansee it yourself. How did we manage to identify the place? At first, we could notimagine the map was so ancient. Happily, relief of today's Bashkiria has notchanged so much within millions of years. We could identify Ufa Height, whileUfa Canyon is the main point of our proofs, because we carried out geologicalstudies and found its track where it must be according to the ancient map. Displacement of the canyon happened because of tectonic stabs whichmoved from East. The group of Russian and Chinese specialists in the field ofcartography, physics, mathematics, geology, chemistry, and Old Chineselanguage managed to precisely find out that the stab contains the map of Uralregion, with rivers Belya, Ufimka, Sutolka, - Alexandr Chuvyrov said whileshowing the lines on the stone to the journalists. - You can see Ufa Canyon - thebreak of the earth's crust, stretched out from the city of Ufa to the city ofSterlitimak. At the moment, Urshak River runs over the former canyon. The mapis done on a scale 1 : 1.1 km.

Alexandr Chuvyrov, being physicist, has got into the habit of entrusting onlyto results of investigation. While today there are such facts. Geological structureof the stab was determined: it consists of three levels. The base is 14 cm chick,made of the firmest dolomite. The second level is probably the most interesting,made of diopside glass. The technology of its treatment is not known to modernscience. Actually, the picture is marked on this level. While the third level is 2 mmthick and made of calcium porcelain protecting the map from external impact. It should be noticed, the professor said, that the relief has not beenmanually made by an ancient stonecutter. It is simply impossible. It is obviousthat the stone was machined. X-ray photographs confirmed that the stab was ofartificial origin and has been made with some precision tools. At first, the scientists supposed that the ancient map could have been madeby the ancient Chinese, because of vertical inscriptions on the map. As wellknown, vertical literature was used in Old Chinese language before 3rd century.To check his supposition, professor Chuvyrov visited Chinese empire library.Within 40 minutes he could spend in the library according to the permission helooked through several rare books, though not one of them contained literaturesimilar to that one on the stab. After the meeting with his colleagues from HunanUniversity, he completely gave up the version about Chinese track. The scientistconcluded that porcelain covering the stab had never been used in China.Although all the efforts to decipher the inscriptions were fruitless, it was found outthat the literature had hieroglyphic-syllabic character. Chuvyrov, however, states he has deciphered one sign on the map: itsignifies latitude of today's city of Ufa. The longer the stab was studied, the moremysteries appeared. On the map, a giant irrigation system could be seen: inaddition to the rivers, there are two 500-metre-wide channel systems, 12 dams,300-500 metres wide, approximately 10 km long and 3 km deep each. The damsmost likely helped in turning water in either side, while to create them over 1quadrillion cubic metres of earth was shifted. In comparison with that irrigationsystem, Volga-Don Channel looks like a scratch on the today's relief. As aphysicist, Alexandr Chuvyrov supposes that now mankind can build only a smallpart of what is pictured on the map. According to the map, initially, Belaya Riverhad an artificial river-bed. It was difficult to determine even an approximate age of the stab. At first,radiocarbonic analysis was carried out, afterwards levels of stab were scannedwith uranium chronometer, though the investigations showed different results andthe age of the stab remained unclear. While examining the stone, two shells werefound on its surface. The age of one of them - Navicopsina munitus ofGyrodeidae family - is about 500 million years, while of the second one -Ecculiomphalus princeps of Ecculiomphalinae subfamily - is about 120 millionyears. Namely that age was accepted as a working version. The map wasprobably created at the time when the Earth's magnetic pole situated in thetoday's area of Franz Josef Land, while this was exactly 120 million years ago, -professor Chuvyrov says. - The map we have is beyond of traditional perceptionof mankind and we need a long time to get used to it. We have got used to ourmiracle. At first we thought that the stone was about 3,000 years. Though, that

age was gradually growing, till we identified the shells ingrained in the stone tosign some objects. Though, who could guarantee that the shell was alive whilebeing ingrained in the map? The map's creator probably used a petrified find.

9. Taxila 600 Years Older Than Earlier BelievedBy Mahmood ZamanJune 2, 2002DAWN, Karachi, LahoreLAHORE, March 23: Recent excavations at Taxila have pushed back the historyof the ancient settlement by another six centuries to the neolithic age. Earlier,artifacts collected by Sir John Marshall had dated Taxila back to 518 BC. Thenew study also indicates the existence of cities in the valley between 1200 BCand 1100 BC. Potshreds and other terracotta, found at the lowest occupationallevel, 15 feet in depth, is the main evidence of the latest discovery whichestablishes that Taxila and the Indus Valley Civilization settlements ofMohenjodaro and Harappa existed almost simultaneously. Sir John, whoexcavated several Taxila sites between 1913 and 1934, had found fouroccupational levels. The latest study has unearthed six occupational levels whichhave been listed afresh as pre-Achaemenian, Achaemenian, Macedonian,Mauriyan, Bactarian Greek and Scythian. Archaeology Department and theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, have also foundfor the first time an integrated drainage system comprising open as well ascovered drains. The discovery of several wells also establishes that fresh water was usedfor cooking and bathing. Yet another discovery is that of a hall and adjacentchambers which archaeologists understand were part of a palace of the thenruler, King Ambhi, who received Alexander the Great at this palace in 326 BC.The evidence of the hall is based on pillars and walls which have been found atthe Bhir Mound's fourth occupational level. The excavation started in September1998 and is still going on. The preliminary report repudiates some of the theoriespropounded in 1934 by Sir John Marshall regarding the age of the three cities ofTaxila - the Bhir Mound, Srikap and Sirsukh - and the Buddhist monasteriesaround. One such theory proposed by Sir John, who became the first chief of theArchaeology Department in 1913 and immediately started excavating Taxila, wasthat the Bhir Mound city was abandoned between the first century BC and thefirst century AD by Bactarian Greeks who were the last inhabitants of the city.The latest excavations have established that the city was not completelyabandoned and that it was later occupied by Scythians.

It has been found that the Taxila people used to pull fresh water fromcommunity wells, of which three have been discovered so far. Raised wallsprotected the wells from refuse. A Mauriyan era drainage network has also beenfound. It comprises a number of small drains which are connected with the maindrains which are also covered. This is the second ancient site (Mohenjodarobeing the first) where such drains have been found. Metal and terracotta utensilshave been found in the rooms, bathrooms and kitchens. The palace where KingAmbhi is believed to have received Alexander the Great in 326 BC, has abundantevidence of royal living. A kitchen and a bar have been unearthed on the palacesite. More than 600 ancient objects have also been found from the site. Theyinclude terracotta pottery and clay figurines. Objects made from shells, iron andcopper have also been discovered along with terracotta and semi-precious stonebeads.

11. Buried Siva Temples FoundFrom "The Hindu" paperSIDDAVATAM, CUDDAPAH DISTRICT, June 2, 2002: The surfacing of fiveancient Siva temples partly in sand dunes along the Pennar river in Jyothi villagein Siddhavatam mandal has led to the discovery that as many as 108 Sivatemples have been buried under sand at the place. Besides the rare presence of108 Siva temples dating back to 1213 ce, a silver chariot and a diamond crownsaid to have been presented to the Jyothi Siddhavateswara Swamy temple byKakatiya Rudrama Devi were present in Jyothi village, according to inscriptionsdiscovered. The 108 Siva temples were said to have been constructed by KingRakkasi Gangarayadeva and his aide, Jantimanayakudu, in the 12th century andwere buried under sand during the Muslim Kings' rule, says Pothuraju VenkataSubbanna, a retired headmaster and chairman of several temples inSiddhavatam mandal. The main temple is called Jyothi Siddheswara Swamytemple. A life-size inscription in the temple has a swastika symbol on the left andthe Sun, Moon and a sturdy bull on the right.

11. Evidence of Ancient Sea Trade Between Rome and IndiaFrom the San Francisco Chronicle andNew Proof Of Ancient India's Flourishing Trade With RomeBy Anand Parthasarathy, KOCHI,BERENIKE, EGYPT, June 12, 2002:Excavation of an ancient seaport on Egypt's Red Sea found spices, gems andother exotic cargo showing, archaeologists, that say sea trade linking the RomanEmpire and India 2,000 years ago rivaled the legendary Silk Road at times. Theproject funded by Dutch and American agencies, at Berenike, on the Sudan-

Egypt border along the shores of the Red Sea, has revealed that the locationwas the southern-most, military sea port of the Roman Empire in the first centuryA.D. and the key transfer point for a flourishing trade with India, whosemagnitude was hitherto not known. A gruelling nine-year-long internationalarchaeological expedition in Egypt, has unearthed the most extensive evidenceso far, of vigorous trade between India and the "Roman Empire" 2000 years ago.Co-directors of the dig, Willeke Wendrich, of the University of California, LosAngeles and Steven Sidebotham, of the University of Delaware, report theirfindings in the July issue of the journal Sahara. In major findings to be publishedin the July issue of the monthly scientific journal Sahara and announced today atthe archaeological database website of the expedition, researchers report havingunearthed the largest single cache of black pepper " about 8 kg " ever excavatedfrom a Roman dig. They were able to establish that this variety was only grown inantiquity in South India. They also uncovered numerous beams hewn of teak, awood indigenous to India, and Indian sailcloth. Because of the drier weather ofEgypt, the Berenike site preserved organic substances from India that havenever been found in the more humid subcontinent, like sail cloth, matting andbaskets dating to AD 30-AD 70, all traces of which were destroyed in the morehumid climate of the subcontinent. In one of the surprise findings, thearchaeologists also report stumbling on a Roman "trash dump'' containing well-preserved evidence of Indian `batik' work and ancient printed textiles as well asceramics. Indian pottery found in the 30-acre site suggests Indian traders lived inthe town amid a hodgepodge of other cultures. Archaeologists found evidencethat a dozen different scripts, including Tamil-Brahmi, Greek, Latin and Hebrew,were used in Berenike. Elizabeth Lyding Will, an emeritus professor of classics atthe University of Massachusetts at Amherst, said the finds help add "a whole newdimension to Roman archaeology." "It looks to me that India was some sort ofengine driving Roman trade during the early empire. It could have been the chieffocus of their trade." All this leads archaeologists, Willeke Wendrich of the University ofCalifornia, and Steven Sidebotham of the Delaware University to conclude innext month's paper that a "Spice Route'' from India to Rome, existed long beforethe better known "Silk Route'' to China. They suggest that the goods travelledfrom the west coast Indian ports to Berenike by ships in the monsoon months,and were then transported by camel and Nile river boats, to the Mediterraneanport of Alexandria, from where ships conveyed the cargo to Rome by sea. Thisroute was preferred for almost 50 years because the alternative land routethrough what is today Pakistan and Iran, passed through countries hostile to theRoman Empire. "We talk about globalism as if it were the latest thing'', Wendrichis quoted by the Associated Press as saying, but trade was going on in antiquityon a scale that is truly impressive''. The Berenike route was finally abandoned in AD 500 probably after aplague epidemic. The new findings are said to establish what was longsuspected - the central role that India played in the maritime trade 2000 yearsago. Copyright 2002 The Hindu.

12. The Shiva Lingams Found in VietnamVIETNAM, June 23, 2001, A Siva Lingam monument, a relic from the lostChampa Kingdom, stands proudly at the My Son site in Vietnam. Imagesdepicting the Yoni and Lingam can be found in Hindu-influenced cultures acrossthe entire Asian region. But the Cham religion in Vietnam has taken theseimages and fashioned them into a distinctive and different form. The Lingam andYoni in the Cham religion differ from their Indian progenitors and their presencein Vietnam is evidence of the profound influence of Indian culture and religion inthe country. It is also proof of the strong sense of identity of the Cham people,who borrowed from Hinduism and created statues and temples with a style all oftheir own. Cham Linga sculptures generally have a flat top, with only a fewfeaturing spherical shapes. They are generally found in three different styles:square; another in two parts, one cylindrical and one square; and another has acylindrical upper, the middle is octagonal and the bottom is square. The Lingaand Yoni are usually constructed as one structure. Traditionally only one Linga isattached to the Yoni, but in some Cham sculptures many Linga can be found ona single Yoni platform. The differences between Cham sculptures and thosefound elsewhere in the Hindu world demonstrate subtle changes from theirorigins.More info at: http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2001-06/23/Stories/29.htm

13. India was the First Source of DiamondsUSA, July 16, 2002: "Diamond" comes from the Greek "adamao" meaning, "Itame" or "I subdue," according to this story which appeared on the CBS program,"60 Minutes II." The adjective "adamas" was used to describe the hardestsubstance known, and eventually became synonymous with diamond.Knowledge of diamond starts in India, where it was first mined. The word mostgenerally used for diamond in Sanskrit is "vajra," "thunderbolt," and "Indrayudha,""Indra's weapon." Because Indra is the warrior God from Vedic scriptures, thefoundation of Hinduism, the thunderbolt symbol indicates much about the Indianconception of diamond. Early descriptions of diamond date to the 4th centuryBCE. By then diamond was a valued material. The earliest known reference todiamond is a Sanskrit manuscript by a minister in a northern Indian dynasty. Thework is dated from 320-296 BCE. Today diamonds are mined in about 25countries, on every continent but Europe and Antarctica. For 1,000 years,starting in roughly the 4th century BCE, India was the only source of diamonds.Diamond production has increased enormously in the 20th century. India'smaximum production, perhaps 50,000 to 100,000 carats annually in the 16thcentury, is very small compared to the current production of around 100 million

carats. Major production is now dominated by Australia, Botswana, Russia, andCongo Republic (Zaire), but South Africa is still a major producer, in both volumeand value.

More Information at:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/08/60II/main508408.shtml

14. Ancient Hindu Temple Discovered in IndonesiaDeutsche Press - AgenturWEST JAVA, INDONESIA, September 3, 2002: A Cangkuang villager hunting fortermites under a tree discovered a sharp hand-carved stone. Furtherinvestigation revealed that the location was the site of an ancient Hindu temple.The site is especially significant as the archeologists are hoping to obtain moreinformation about the Sundanese kingdoms in West Java. Tony Djubiantono,head of West Java's Bandung Archeology Agency says, "Based on a preliminaryfinding of various remains there are indications that this is a Hindu temple built inthe seventh or eighth century." The article says, "Buddhism and Hinduism wereIndonesia's first world religions, popular among the first kingdoms of Java untilthe 14th and 15th centuries when Islam started to gain a greater foothold in thearchipelago." Djubiantono further describes the finding of such a temple, "asspectacular and very significant for recovering the missing history of the so-calledTatar Sunda, or Sunda territory."

15. A 7,000-year-old temple in MalleswaramAuthor: Meghana Mathur, Times News NetworkPublication: The Times of India - Internet EditionDate: October 16, 2001URL: http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=129602326

Malleswaram boasts of many temples, but none is so shrouded in controversyand mystery as this one is. The ancient Nandeeshwara temple at Malleswaram17th cross was discovered only three years ago, but it has stood for 7,000 yearson that spot. Being buried over the years hasn't diminished its aura at all. It stilldraws huge crowds all day. According to residents living nearby, the temple was completely buried andthe land above it was a flat stretch. "Three years ago, a politician tried to sell thisplot. But people objected on the grounds that the land should first be dug throughto see if they could find something," says the priest, Ravi Shankar Bhatt. And so

when they started digging up the land, they found buried underneath, this temple.It was in perfect condition, preserved by the thick layers of soil. This underground temple was enclosed within a stone cut courtyardsupported by ancient stone pillars. At the far end of the courtyard, a Nandi wascarved out of a black stone with eyes painted in gold. From its mouth a clearstream of water flowed directly on to a Shivalinga made out of the same blackstone at a lower level. There were steps that led to a small pool in the centre ofthe courtyard where the water flowed and collected. The pool's centre had a 15feet deep whirlpool. Everything remains the same today. Nobody knows where the water comesfrom and how it passes from the mouth of the Nandi idol on to the Shivalinga.Nobody knows how the whirlpool came into being. The source of water, thesculptor, even the time when it was built remains a mystery. "There has been noscientific explanation for the source of water till date," says residentShivalingaiah. "Some say it was built by Shivaji Maharaj. Some say it's older. Butof one thing we were sure, the temple has remained untouched over the years.We found it exactly as it might have been before it was covered by soil," he adds.On Shivaratri day, overwhelming crowds gather at this temple. Some perform the`milk puja'. Others just come to marvel at a temple no one has any explanationfor. The water source has been estimated by some to be the Sankey tank. This,because it happens to be directly in the line of, and at a higher level from theNandeeshwara temple. But this hypothesis hasn't been proved yet. This Malleswaram temple falls under the constituency of MLA Sitaram.Speaking of the controversy surrounding this temple, he says, "There was a courtcase initially. But since it was an ancient temple of great heritage and religiousvalue, it was preserved and taken over by the state government." Today, Sitaram says improvements have been made to the structure. "Sinceit was so ancient, the walls had some kind of leakage and started rotting after awhile. The leaks were filled up and the walls were whitewashed. But no one hasreally tampered with the original structure," he adds. A Malleswaram committeehas been specifically created to look after the temple. Committee president CChandrashekhar functions along with a 11-member committee. "We are slowlyintroducing improvements in the temple to keep it in good shape. A lot of peoplecome even from other parts of Bangalore," he says. The committee's next step isto build a gopuram in the temple premises. "But funds are a problem," addsSitaram. "Every year the cost of maintaining the temple increases. I just wish thegovernment would do something about this."

16. Satellite Photos of the Bridge Between Ramesvaram and Sri Lanka

When I had visited Ramesvaram several years ago, and more recently in 2002, Iwas told that you could see the line of rocks that lead to Ramaesvaram to SriLanka that had been the bridge that Lord Rama had built for him and his army to

go to Lanka in search for Sita. These rocks were said to be just under the surfaceof the water. Then when these photos were published, I was not surprised, butnonetheless fascinated by the relevancy of what they revealed. The captions ofthe photos, as found on Indolink.com: Space images taken by NASA (from the NASA Digital Image Collection)reveal the mysterious ancient bridge in the Palk Strait between India and SriLanka. The recently discovered bridge, currently named as Adam´s Bridge, ismade of chain of shoals, c.18 mi (30 km) long. The unique curvature of the bridge and composition by age reveals that it isman made. The legends as well as Archeological studies reveal that the firstsigns of human inhabitants in Sri Lanka date back to a primitive age, about17,50,000 years ago and the bridge's age is also almost equivalent. This information is a crucial aspect for an insight into the mysterious legendcalled Ramayana, which was supposed to have taken place in Treta Yuga (morethan 17,00,000 years ago). In this epic, there is a mentioning about a bridge, which was built betweenRameshwaram (India) and the Sri Lankan coast under the supervision of adynamic and invincible figure called Rama who is supposed to be the incarnationof the Supreme Being. This information may not be of much importance to the archeologists whoare interested in exploring the origins of man, but it is sure to open the spiritualgates of the people of the world to have come to know an ancient history linkedto the Indian mythology.

17. A 40,000 Year Old Cave PaintingThis is said to be a 40,000-year-old cave painting seen on a white silicasandstone rock shelter depicting existence of human civilization is seen in Bandadistrict 800 kilometers(500 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India, Sunday, Oct. 27,2002. The painting shows hunting by cave men in Paleolithic age. These caveswere discovered recently. (AP Photo/Shekhar Srivastava) Notice the horse withrider. World Photos - APhttp://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/021030/168/2k3kj.html

18. Stealth Bomber from Shastra

From the Deccan Herald, Dated Nov. 2, 2002 By Rajesh Parishwad, DH NewsService BANGALORE, Nov 1:

A glass-like material based on technology found in an ancient Sanskrit textthat could ultimately be used in a stealth bomber (the material cannot bedetected by radar) has been developed by a research scholar of Benaras HinduUniversity. Prof M A Lakshmithathachar, Director of the Academy of Sanskrit Researchin Melkote, near Mandya, told Deccan Herald that tests conducted with thematerial showed radars could not detect it. "The unique material cannot be tracedby radar and so a plane coated with it cannot be detected using radar," he said. The academy had been commissioned by the Aeronautical ResearchDevelopment Board, New Delhi, to take up a one-year study, 'Non-conventionalapproach to Aeronautics,' on the basis of an old text, Vaimanika Shastra,authored by Bharadwaj. Though the period to which Bharadwaj belonged to is not very clear, ProfLakshmithathachar noted, the manuscripts might be more than 1,000 years old.The project aims at deciphering the Bharadwaj's concepts in aviation. However,Prof Lakshmithathachar was quick to add that a collaborative effort from scholars

of Sanskrit, physics, mathematics and aeronautics is needed to understandBharadwaj's shastra. The country's interest in aviation can be traced back over 2,000 years to themythological era and the epic Ramayana tells of a supersonic-type plane, thePushpak Vimana, which could fly at the speed of thought. "The shastra hasinteresting information on vimanas (airplanes), different types of metals andalloys, a spectrometer and even flying gear," the professor said. The shastra alsooutlines the metallurgical method to prepare an alloy very light and strong whichcould withstand high pressure. He said Prof Dongre of BHU had brought out a research paperAmshubondhini after studying Vaimanika Shastra and developed the material."There have been sporadic efforts to develop aeronautics in the country's history.There has never been a holistic approach to it. Vaimanika Shastra throws upmany interesting details that can benefit Indian aviation programme," the directoradded. Prof Lakshmithathachar rubbished the tendency among certain scholars todiscount such ancient Sanskrit texts and said, "Why would our scholars want tocheat future generations? Unless it was important, nothing was written in the olddays. The fact that there exists manuscripts indicates the significance." Theacademy has also embarked on other projects including 'Indian concept ofCosmology' with Indian Space Research Organisation, 'Iron & Steel in AncientIndia - A Historical Perspective' with the Steel Authority of India Limited, and'Tools & Technology of Ancient India.'

19. Koreans Search for Roots in AyodhyaFrom: Vinay Krishna Rastogi, Lucknow AYODHYA : A high-power delegation from South Korea visited Ayodhya torevive two millennia-old ties with the temple town. The South Koreans discoveredthat a Princess of Ayodhya was married to Korean King Suro in the first centuryCE. Suro was the King of Kimhay kingdom or the present Korea. The Princesswas married to the Korean King at the age of 16. The Koreans believe that thePrincess was the mother of the descendants who unified various Koreankingdoms in the 7th century CE. Since the first century CE her descendantsprospered and became the largest clan in Korea, known as the Karak, whosemembers had been highly distinguished people. The present President of SouthKorea, Kim Dae-Jung, believes that he is also a descendant of the GreatPrincess of Ayodhya. She is regarded as the most blessed queen of Korea in thelast 2,000 years, and Koreans believe that this could be due to the religioussignificance of the great temple city of Ayodhya where Lord Rama was born. TheCounsel General of Korea said "I hope historians will be able to learn more about

this great ancient Hindu city." He urged the ex-Raja of Ayodhya BPN Misra tostrengthen the cultural ties between Ayodhya and South Korea.

Some of the Archeological Discoveries of 2003

1. Ancient Cities in Tamil Nadu May Be Over 7,000 Years Old. CHENNAI, INDIA, January 5, 2003: A British marine archaeologist andauthor Graham Hancock has been examining a submerged city on the EastCoast of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Hancock says a civilization thriving there may predatethe Sumerian civilization of Mesopotamia in present-day Iraq and definitelyexisted before the Harappan civilization in India and Pakistan. He has beenexcavating the site off the coast of Poompuhar, near Nagapattinam, 400 kmsouth of Chennai. At a meeting of the Mythic Society in Bangalore in earlyDecember, Mr. Hancock said underwater explorations in 2001 provided evidencethat corroborated Tamil mythological stories of ancient floods. He said tidalwaves of 400 feet or more could have swallowed this flourishing port city anytime between 17,000 and 7,000 years ago, the date of the last Ice Age. The Gulfof Cambay was also submerged, taking with it evidence of early man's migration.The populations Mr. Wells and Mr. Pitchappan (see previous article) mappedsettled on India's East Coast 50,000 to 35,000 years ago and developed intomodern man. According to Hancock, "the Poompuhar underwater site could wellprovide evidence that it was the cradle of modern civilization." Hancock's theoryis strengthened by findings of India's National Institute of Oceanography (NIO),which has explored the site since the 1980s. Man-made structures like well rims,horseshoe-shaped building sites are some of the lost city's secrets. At low tide,some brick structures from the Sangam era are still visible in places like Vanagiri.The region, archaeologists say, has been built over and over again through theages and some of its past is now being revealed. Mr. Glenn Milne, a Britishgeologist from Durham University, has confirmed Hancock's theory. Moreinformation is found at:http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_132193,000900020001.htm

2. The Ancient Gene Pool of Tamil Nadu. CHENNAI, INDIA, January 5, 2003: India's East Coast, especially alongTamil Nadu, is increasingly drawing the attention of archaeologists andanthropologists from across the world for its evolutionary and historical secrets.The focus has sharpened after genetic scientist Spencer Wells found strains ofgenes in some communities of Tamil Nadu that were present in the early man ofAfrica. In the "Journey of Man" aired by the National Geographic channel, Wellssays the first wave of migration of early man from Africa took place 60,000 years

ago along the continent's east coast to India. Genetic mapping of localpopulations provided the evidence. R.M. Pitchappan, a professor of MaduraiKamaraj University in Tamil Nadu, helped Wells collect the gene evidence fromTamil Nadu's Piramalai Kallar people, inhabiting the Madurai and Usilampattiareas 500 km south of Chennai. The community was once quite strong andindependent. Their genes have the amino acid bands found in the gene map ofthe original man from Africa, and similar to bands in the Australian aborigines.Says Pitchappan, "The ancestors of the Kallar community may have come intoIndia from the Middle East." Wells believes there were three waves of migrationthat early man undertook. According to Mr. Wells and his Indian collaborator,early man went from Africa to the Middle East, on to Kutch on India's west coast,all around to the peninsula's east coast and then on to Australia. "These genepools are unique and very accurately map the path a population has taken,leaving behind original communities to grow into independent groups but with acommon ancestor," explains Pitchappan. More information is found at:http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_132193,000900020001.htm

3. New Theories Place Ancient Humans in India

January, 2003, HYDERABAD: In a new twist to the theory of evolution of modernman, researchers have found two tribes in India who could be the descendants ofthe biological Adam and Eve who are estimated to have lived in Africa over100,000 years ago. Researchers at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) heresay they have with them the genetic `black boxes' which indicate that a tribe inKerala and another in Gujarat could be the descendants of the first people everto set foot in Asia. The new finding negates the widely-held belief in the scientific communitythat the first people to land in Asia belonged to a branch of the migratorypopulation that exploded out of Africa over 60,000 years ago. The CCMB studyshows that the two tribal groups may have settled much before the Asian branchreached the subcontinent, just before the last Ice Age.The researchers say the two tribes are the oldest so far discovered geneticallyand may have landed from Africa in Gujarat, migrated to Kerala and then to theAndamans where they got trapped by the sea and warped in time. The new theory also establishes that the enigmatic tribes of the Andamansare the descendants of a tribal population of Asia and not Africa. Western studieshave tried to link the Andamanese tribals to the African pygmies, but DNAanalysis shows that this may not be true.The Andamanese tribals are short in stature, have ebony-black skin, peppercornhair and large buttocks, making them a mirror image of the African pygmies. Butthe new study published in Current Biology dumps the western pygmy model to

assert that the tribals are actually genetically closer to Asian than to Africanpopulations. The two tribal populations in India were discovered when CCMB DirectorProf Lalji Singh and his team did the first genetic analysis of the Jarawa andOnge tribals of the Andamans. He then tried to compare the DNA signatures witha few of the 532 tribal populations in the mainland and found a match in acommunity in Kerala and Gujarat. But to his surprise, he found that these tribalsin the mainland were much older than the Onges and Jarawas.Singh, however, refused to reveal the names of the two tribal groups in India forfear of their population being `hunted' for their genes. Of the dozen tribes, who populated the islands since ages, only foursurvive--the Sentinelese, Jarawas, Great Andamanese and Onge. While therehas been no contact with the Sentinelese so far, the Jarawas still live in the forestand the Onges have started joining the mainstream. ̀̀ Our results show that the native Andamanese belong to a unique groupnot previously identified anywhere else in the world,'' Singh told reporters. The CCMB finding was the result of the analysis of mitochondria DNA, agenetic element passed down only through women. This showed that the Ongesand Jarawas belong to a lineage known as M that is common throughout Asia.This establishes them as Asians, not Africans, among whom a differentmitochondria lineage, called I, is dominant. The researchers then looked at the Y chromosome, which is passed downonly through men and often gives a more detailed picture of genetic history thanthe mitochondria DNA. The Onge and Jarawa men turned out to carry a specialchange or mutation in the DNA of their Y chromosome that is thought to beindicative of the Palaeolithic population of Asia, the hunters and gatherers whopreceded the first human settlements. The discovery of Marker 174 among the Andamanese suggests that theytoo are part of the relic Palaeolithic population, descended from the first modernhumans to leave Africa.No archaeological record of these epic journeys has been found, perhapsbecause the world's oceans were 120 meters lower during the last Ice Age andthe evidence of early human passage is under water, says Singh. The study was done by Singh and his colleagues at CCMB with their co-workers in the US, New Zealand and Norway. Other Indian scientists involved inthe study are K. Thankaraj and Alla Reddy of CCMB, V Raghavendra Rao of theAnthropological Survey, and Subhash Sehgal of Port Blair.

4. Ancient seals found at Hatab excavation siteTIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, MARCH 08, 2003 01:03:13 AM ] VADODARA: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Vadodara circle, hasunearthed 160 ancient seals, with the Brahmi script inscribed on them, from the

Hatab excavation site, located some 20 km south of Bhavnagar. The seals aresaid to be 2000 years old and were probably used to stamp goods that were tobe exported. "For the past one year, we have worked at the site and have dug up severalartefacts. All of them suggest that Hatab might well be the ancient trading centre,referred to as `Ashtakapra' in the ancient Greek work `Periplus' and which alsofinds a mention in historical records of ancient geographer and eminentastronomer Ptolemy," says ASI superintending archaeologist and director ofexcavations, Shubhra Pramanik. "The city has been recorded in history as a flourishing port in the 2nd, 5thand 6th Century AD. The seals come from a pocket of the mud fortified ancienttown, which is surrounded by a moat. The moat has an inlet that leads to the Gulfof Cambay thus suggesting sea trade," says Pramanik. During ancient times, it is said that this part of Gujarat had extensive tradelinks with Greece and other parts of the world. Proving this fact are finds of theASI like the Roman amphora (double-handled wine jug peculiar to Rome),copper coins and terracotta artefacts. Even in Kautilya's Arthashatra, it ismentioned about the practice of collecting taxes from ships sailing in the sea andrivers. "The job of the `Antapala' (officer stationed at the border coast) was tocollect taxes and also control the quality of goods that were to be exported. Theseals are a rare find and they must have been used to mark the goods that wereexported," adds Pramanik. The seals are well etched and are round and oblongin shape, almost similar to rubber stamps that are used today. Pramanik says that other significant findings at the site include two bronzeartefacts, one of a humped bull and another one of a human bust having Greekaffinities. "There is also a terracotta face of a woman. From the head gear itappears to be the daughter of Celucas and the grandmother of Ashoka," saysPramanik. According to her, the ruins in Hatab not only reveal Shaivite artefactsof the Maitreka period but also indicate the influence of Buddhism. "The site alsohas grain shells and a step-well, which indicates presence of a shell factoryhere," she adds. The excavated Roman amphora, copper and silver coins, terracotta itemsand Indo-Greek artifacts, all seem to support the claim that Hatab might well be`Ashtakapra', the trade centre in `Siristhrin' (Saurashtra), located opposite to`Barigaza' (Bharuch) opposite to the mouth of `Namades' (Narmada). From:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=39605371

5. More Vedic Temples Discovered in Cambodia. CAMBODIA, March 6, 2003: Nearly 40 kilometers from the Thai-Cambodiaborder the Chen Sran temple has been discovered in the jungle of the northern

Preah Vihear province. It was built in the ninth or tenth century, and is dedicatedto the Hindu tradition, cultural officials said. The monument was known toauthorities only after local villagers reported it to a provincial cultural officer, saidUong Von, chief of the heritage department at Cambodia's Ministry of Cultureand Fine Arts. The temple stands 15 meters tall, and is 150 meters in length by100 meters wide. Nearly 50 percent of the structure is damaged and most of itsartifacts have been plundered, even though there is no decent road to thetemple. "The temple remains were only a body -- there were no artifacts," saidVon. Almost a dozen previously unknown temples have turned up in the lastdecade, said the expert. He also believes there are more temples lyingundiscovered in the same area along the Thai-Cambodia border. From:http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/05/1046826443356.html

6. Major Anthropology Find Reported in India

September 09, 2003 CALCUTTA, India, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Scientists report they have foundevidence of the oldest human habitation in India, dating to 2 million years, on thebanks of the Subarnarekha River. The 30-mile stretch between Ghatshila in theprovince of Jharkhand and Mayurbhanj in Orissa has reportedly yielded tools thatsuggest the site could be unique in the world, with evidence of human habitationwithout a break from 2 million years ago to 5,000 B.C. Anthropologist S. Chakraborty told the Calcutta Telegraph: "There are nosigns of terra incognito (a break in the continuum) in the Subarnarekha valley,unlike any other site in India. Some of the heavier tools resemble those found inthe East African stone-age shelters, used by the Australopithecus." Chakraborty said the uninterrupted habitation could make the site moreimportant than even the Aldovai Gorge in East Africa, the Somme Valley ofFrance, Stonehenge in England, the Narmada basin in Madhya Pradesh and theVelamadurai-Pallavaram rectangle in Tamil Nadu.http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20030908-025602-5658r.htm

7. Ancient Fossil on Ancient Sarasvati RiverBy Soni Sinha, May 1, 2003 An elephant fossil found in Rajasthan desert has drawn the attention ofhistorians who say it could provide vital clues to the existence of the mythologicalriver Saraswati. The discovery was made on the Nagaur-Bikaner road, 350 kmfrom Jaipur."Carbon dating in the fossil would be the most important evidence in

this connection," said B S Paliwal, the man behind the discovery. "The findingswill soon be submitted to scientific journals." The fossil in Rajasthan, the land of the Thar desert, indicates that the regionwas once rich in biodiversity. Paliwal claims this is the first time an elephant fossilhas been found there. Ram Singh Solanki, president of Itihaas Sankalan Samiti,or the Organisation of Historical Evidence, said the discovery was yet anotherproof that the Vedic river Saraswati once flowed in what is today the Thar region. "Evidence suggests that the Saraswati-Sindhu civilisation flourished in anarea of nearly 1.3 million sq km. "Investigations on the fossil are important as itcould throw light on the development of the human civilisation, besides having abearing on Indian history," said Solanki. Numerous signatures of paleo-channelsin the form of curvilinear and meandering courses were revealed. IANS

Some Archeological Finds of 2004 &2005

5000 Year Old Harappan Township Found in Haryana

Clinching evidence of a township of the 5,000-year-old Indus ValleyCivilisation (Harappan Era) has been found during excavations near Bhirdanavillage in Fatehabad district of Haryana . The excavations are being carried outby the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The excavations began on December 14 and are likely to continue till May.These may resume after the monsoon, if required. The ASI had earlierdiscovered the presence of same townships of the Indus Valley Civilisation at twoother places, Kunal and Banawali, in the district. The evidences found atBhirdana include many structures made of mud bricks, peculiar of the Harappanera; a well, a fortification wall, pottery and other antiquities. Mr L.S. Rao, Superintending Archaeologist of the ASI, who is leading theteam of excavators here, informed that the team, comprising a DeputySuperintending Archaeologist, three Assistant Archaeologists and other officialslike photographers, draftsmen, artists, and surveyors, was working on theexcavation site spread across 62,500 square metres and situated on a mound. Fifteen students of Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi, have also beenassisting the team. The excavations, being carried out under the `SaraswatiHeritage Project' of the Union Government, were part of a series of suchexcavations being made to unearth the old civilisations on the bank of the ancientSaraswati river. The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government ofHaryana, had protected the area of the present excavations, Mr Rao said.

He said the area where the excavations were being carried out was thebank of the Saraswati. The whole riverbed had been converted in to agriculturallands with the passage of time, he added. He said the ASI based its findings onthe antiquities collected during the excavations on the surface of the mound.Pottery, among the antiquities, is the main criteria for ascertaining the civilization. The team has collected truckloads of pottery during the excavations.Besides, these some semi-precious stones have also been found. Structuresmade of Sun-dried bricks, a peculiar feature of the Indus Valley Civilisation, havebeen found. The excavators have also discovered a 2.4-metre-wide wall considered tobe the fortification wall of the township on the excavation site. Ms Ankum, fromNagaland, a student of the Institute of Archaeology, who was manning thefortification area, said a clinching evidence of the township was that the earthoutside the wall comprised of virgin soil while the one inside the fortification wallhad all the evidence of structures. Mr Prabhash Sahu, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, told that it wasa horizontal excavation and the whole mound had been divided into four parts forconvenience. Mr Rao said the residents of the area were cooperative and wereshowing keen interest in the excavations.

Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Maritime Spice Route BetweenIndia, EgyptPublished in Popular Science, April 1, 2004

Archaeologists from UCLA and the University of Delaware have unearthedthe most extensive remains to date from sea trade between India and Egyptduring the Roman Empire, adding to mounting evidence that spices and otherexotic cargo traveled into Europe over sea as well as land. "These findings go a long way toward improving our understanding of theway in which a whole range of exotic cargo moved into Europe during antiquity,"said Willeke Wendrich, an assistant professor of Near Eastern Languages andCultures at UCLA and co-director of the project. "When cost and political conflictprevented overland transport, ancient mariners took to the Red Sea, and theroute between India and Egypt appears to have been even more productive thanwe ever thought." "The Silk Road gets a lot of attention as a trade route, but we've found awealth of evidence indicating that sea trade between Egypt and India was alsoimportant for transporting exotic cargo, and it may have even served as a linkwith the Far East," added fellow co-director Steven E. Sidebotham, a historyprofessor at the University of Delaware. Wendrich and Sidebotham report their findings in the July issue of thescholarly journal Sahara. For the past eight years, the researchers have led an

international team of archaeologists who have excavated Berenike, a long-abandoned Egyptian port on the Red Sea near the border with Sudan. Among the buried ruins of buildings that date back to Roman rule, the teamdiscovered vast quantities of teak, a wood indigenous to India and today'sMyanmar, but not capable of growing in Egypt, Africa or Europe. Researchersbelieve the teak, which dates to the first century, came to the desert port as hullsof shipping vessels. When the ships became worn out or damaged beyondrepair, Berenike residents recycled the wood for building materials, theresearchers said. The team also found materials consistent with ship-patchingactivities, including copper nails and metal sheeting. "You'd expect to find woods native to Egypt like mangrove and acacia,"Sidebotham said. "But the largest amount of wood we found at Berenike wasteak." In addition to this evidence of seafaring activities between India and Egypt,the archaeologists uncovered the largest array of ancient Indian goods everfound along the Red Sea, including the largest single cache of black pepper fromantiquity - 16 pounds - ever excavated in the former Roman Empire. The teamdates these peppercorns, which were grown only in South India during antiquity,to the first century. Peppercorns of the same vintage have been excavated as faraway as Germany. "Spices used in Europe during antiquity may have passed through this port,"Wendrich said. In some cases, Egypt's dry climate even preserved organicmaterial from India that has never been found in the more humid subcontinent,including sailcloth dated to between A.D. 30 and 70, as well as basketry andmatting from the first and second centuries. In a dump that dates back to Roman times, the team also found Indiancoconuts and batik cloth from the first century, as well as an array of exoticgems, including sapphires and glass beads that appear to come from Sri Lanka,and carnelian beads that appear to come from India. Three beads found on the surface of excavation sites in Berenike suggestedeven more exotic origins. One may have come from eastern Java, while the othertwo appear to have come either from Vietnam or Thailand, but the team hasbeen unable to date any of them. While the researchers say it is unlikely that Berenike traded directly witheastern Java, Vietnam or Thailand, they say their discoveries raise the possibilitythat cargo was finding its way to the Egyptian port from the Far East, probably viaIndia. The team also found the remains of cereal and animals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, pointing to the possibility of a three-point trade route that tookgoods from southern Africa to India and then back across the Indian Ocean toEgypt. "We talk today about globalism as if it were the latest thing, but trade wasgoing on in antiquity at a scale and scope that is truly impressive," saidWendrich, who made most of her contributions as a post-doctoral fellow atLeiden University in the Netherlands. "These people were taking incredible riskswith their lives and fortune to make money."

Along with the rest of Egypt, Berenike was controlled by the Roman Empireduring the first and second centuries. During the same period, the overland routeto Europe from India through Pakistan, Iran and Mesopotamia (today's Iraq) wascontrolled by adversaries of the Roman Empire, making overland roads difficultfor Roman merchants. Meanwhile, Roman texts that address the relative costs ofdifferent shipping methods describe overland transport as at least 20 times moreexpensive than sea trade. "Overland transport was incredibly expensive, so whenever possible peoplein antiquity preferred shipping, which was vastly cheaper," Sidebotham said. With such obstacles to overland transport, the town at the southernmost tipof the Roman Empire flourished as a "transfer port," accepting cargo from Indiathat was later moved overland and up the Nile to Alexandria, the researcherscontend. Poised on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria has a well-documented history of trade with Europe going back to antiquity. Over the course of the grueling project, the researchers retraced a routethat they believe would have moved cargo from Berenike into Europe. Wendrichand Sidebotham contend cargo was shipped across the Indian Ocean and norththrough the Red Sea to Berenike, which is located about 160 miles east oftoday's Aswan Dam. They believe the goods were then carried by camels ordonkeys some 240 miles northeast to the Nile River, where smaller boats waitedto transport the cargo north to Alexandria. Cargo is known to have moved duringantiquity from Alexandria across the Mediterranean to a dozen major Romanports and hundreds of minor ones. The team believes that Berenike was the biggest and most active of sixports in the Red Sea until some point after A.D. 500, when shipping activitiesmysteriously stopped. Shipping activities at Berenike were mentioned in ancient texts that wererediscovered in the Middle Ages, but the port's precise location eluded explorersuntil the early 19th century. The former port's proximity to an Egyptian militarybase kept archaeologists at bay until 1994, when Wendrich and Sidebothammade the first successful appeal for a large-scale excavation. At the time,Egyptian officials, eager to develop the Red Sea as a tourist destination, hadstarted to relax prohibitions against foreign access to the region. But the area'sisolation remains a challenge for the team, which has to truck in food and water,and to power computers and microscopes with solar panels. "The logistics are really tough there," said Wendrich, who is affiliated withthe Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. The Berenike project received major funding from the NetherlandsFoundation for Scientific Research. The National Geographic Foundation,National Endowment for the Humanities, Utopa Foundation, Gratama Foundationand the Kress Foundation also provided support, as did private donors.http://popular-science.net/history/india_egypt_trade_route.html

Geology Discovers India Has the Earliest Artby R.K. Ganjoo

Material evidences confirming the existence of early man in India were firstreported by Robert Bruce Foote in 1863, when he discovered palaeolithic toolsfrom Pallavaram (near Madras).

Thousands of palaeolithic sites yielding millions of stone artifacts have beenrecovered since then. The large number of artifacts and palaeolithic sites hashelped in critically evaluating the behavior and interaction of Early Man with theprevailing environment. Various disciplines of science, particularly geology, haveplayed a vital role, for the past three decades, in deciphering the climate,chronology and environment of the palaeolithic sites. The scientific logics thus,provide a sound bedrock to the archaeological arguments.

Among several environmental situations, the Early Man lived in natural cavesand rock shelters for several thousands of years. Natural processes formed thecaves and rock shelters in the Vindhyan mountains of Madhya Pradesh. Duringthis period, the artifacts made and techniques employed have undergone aconsiderable though gradual and continuous change.

The discarded or utilised artifacts lay buried under the sediments in thecaves/rock shelters and were preserved for a very long time, as the deposits incave or rock shelters were left undisturbed by flowing water or wind. Thus, thematerial remains of Early Man from rock shelters and caves hold moresignificance as one can build up a continuous history of Early Man's culture in anundisturbed context.

It was these rock shelters and caves which helped to preserve paintings (rockart) made by the Early Man.

These paintings reflect the earliest artistic expressions of man and providesufficient knowledge on his way of life. Rock paintings exposed at Bhimbetka(near Bhopal) are a museum of rock art in India and are recognized as a WorldHeritage site by UNESCO.

One of the earliest forms of rock art is the petroglyph. Petroglyphs are figuresthat are made by removing the upper layers of the rock. A preliminary study ofpetroglyphs in India was carried out in parts of Rajasthan (Kanyadeh) andMadhya Pradesh (Raisen). However, petroglyph study from these sites lackeddating and scientific study.

In the Rock Art Seminar held in 1990 at Agra, the Rock Art Society of Indiaidentified the study of petroglyphs as one of the fields on priority basis. Keepingin view the lack of information on Indian petroglyphs, the Early Indian Petroglyph

(EIP) Project commenced in 2001 with the objective to rewrite the pleistocenehistory of Early Man in the subcontinent. The EIP project is a joint venture of theRock Society of India, Agra (RASI) and the Australian Rock Art ResearchAssociation (AURA) with support from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)and the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). In addition, geo-archaeologists and chronologists from various institutes in India and Australia arealso involved in the project.

To begin with, the EIP commission took up Daraki-Chattan region as a case forthe study of early petroglyphs in India. Daraki-Chattanâ “a rock shelter within theVindhyan mountains overviewing River Rewaâ” is situated near Bhanpura indistrict Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. Daraki-Chattan reveals the hoary past of theextensive rock art in this cave beyond doubt. Excavation at Daraki-Chattan wascarried out by Dr Giriraj Kumar (Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra) withtechnical support from the Archaeological Survey of India (Bhopal Circle). Theobjective of excavation at Daraki-Chattan was to establish cultural stratigraphy atthe site, collect evidences related to the production of cupules, obtain scientificdates (such as OSL, AMS C14) for different levels concerning art objects andhuman artifacts, and establish geo-archaeological history of the region.

The excavation at Daraki-Chattan revealed immense information on the culturaloccupation of the site. The collection of stone artifact assemblage from theexcavation undoubtedly reveals that the shelter was occupied by the Acheulianman. Interestingly enough, Bhanpura town, close to the Daraki-Chattan site, andits adjoining area have been continuously under occupation by man of differentcultural periods since the Acheulian times. Daraki-Chattan is a local name of ahill near village Bhanpura in the Vindhyans that has a series of rock shelters. Ingeological past, the Vindhyans were formed as a single rock block but weresubsequently subjected to erosion by wind and water which ultimately weatheredthem. The joints between the rocks widened over a period of time and thenblocks or rocks became unstable and collapsed to give rise to rock shelters.These shelters not only provided suitable landform for the Early Man to protecthimself from the vagaries of weather but also the shelters on hills which servedas an overview to the dense forest below.

The study of the surroundings of Daraki-Chattan was carried out to investigatethe climatic history of the area during the times when the Acheulian manoccupied the site. Shri S.B. Ota (Superintending Archaeologist, ArcheologicalSurvey of India, Bhopal Circle), and I, myself, undertook the study of geologicalsediments that were deposited when the Acheulian man was exploring the valleyadjoining the shelter. It was clear from the size (width and depth) and the largecollection of artifacts from the excavation that the shelter was used by the EarlyMan as a temporary settlement for making tools and fulfilling other necessaryactivities. Dense forest existing around the shelter and along the valley of RiverRewa must have supported a rich wealth of fauna and flora. Excavations in thesediments deposited by River Rewa revealed a succession of prehistoric cultural

material remains beginning from the Early Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic era,supporting the view that the valley and the surroundings were under regularoccupation by the Early Man. Pressure of stone artifacts in the shelters in theriver valley also corroborate the fact that the activity of Early Man was notconfined to the particular shelter only. Rich faunal and floral wealth must haveencouraged the Early Man to venture into the river valleys and forests. Thus thesediments brought down by the rivers must have covered and sealed thediscarded or used stone artifacts of Early Man. A lot of information has beengathered on climate that existed during the period when the sediments wereformed and deposited.

The indepth study of the sediments deposited by River Rewa unraveled thepalaeoclimatic history of the region. The associated assemblage of stoneartifacts suggests the relative age range of 1.8 million years before present to400,000 years before present for the sediments. The generation of large slopedeposits or fans substantiates the fact that the area must have faced sub-humidto semi-arid climatic conditions. (The author is Reader in Geology, Department ofGeology, University of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir. The author has been activelyengaged in research on quaternary palaeo-climate and geo-archaeology for pastone-and-a-half decade.)

Aryan burial found in Russian city of Omsk06/28/2004

Burial of an Aryan was found in the Russian city of Omsk, reportedarchaeologist Albert Pelevedov to "Interfax". Analyses indicated that the Aryanhad lived 3 500 years ago. One of the residents of the Beregovoy village (located on the outskirts ofOmsk) discovered the burial. While fixing a water-pipe, the man stumbled upon askull and immediately called the police. However, policemen denied criminalnature of the case and invited archaeologists to conduct some tests. According to Polevodov, the burial belongs to the Andron culture (middle ofthe second millennium BC). The archaeologist tells that the Aryan has been buried on his left side,facing south; his upper and lower limbs all drawn in. Archaeologists were able todetermine the time of the burial after examining ceramic pieces found next to theskeleton. Some of the ceramic pieces depicted swastika turned the oppositedirection. Polevedov states, "Andron people, European-like tribes, who spokelanguages of Indo-Iranian language group, were in fact the exact same Aryansthat used to be praised by fascists."

The find is of tremendous significance due to the fact that settlements ofAndron tribes are quite rare for that particular region. Back in the days, they wereforced out of there, stated the archaeologist. According to specialists, the burial was not solitary in the area. It is alsopossible that a larger settlement of Andron people can be found by the riverIrtysh. Read the original in Russian: (Translated by: Anna Ossipova)

Ancient Krishna Balaram Coins 200 BCKrsna, Agathocles coin,Ai Khanoum, Afghanistan, 2nd century B.C.http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/sastra-vedas/agathocles-krishna.jpg A lot of numismatic evidence also corroborates the antiquity of Krishna.For instance, excavations at Ai-Khanum, along the border of Afghanistan and theSoviet Union, conducted by P. Bernard and a French archeological expedition,unearthed six rectangular bronze coins issued by the Indo-Greek rulerAgathocles (180?-?165 BC). The coins had script written in both Greek andBrahmi and, most interestingly, show an image of Vishnu, or Vasudeva, carryinga Chakra and a pear-shaped vase, or conchshell, which are two of the four mainsacred symbols of God in Vaisnavism. Many other finds of ancient coins alsoprove the antiquity of Krishna worship in India.

Balarama, Agathocles coin,Ai Khanoum, Afghanistan, 2nd century B.C.http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/sastra-vedas/agathocles-balarama.jpgTo summarize, today the weight of empirical evidence proves that Krishna andVaisnavisam predate Christianity. Numerous literary, archeological, andnumismatic sources build an unassailable case. Nevertheless, Vaisnavism andChristianity still show amazing similarities. In the chauvinistic and sectarianatmosphere of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, these similarities ledmost Western scholars to adopt the now discredited "borrowing theory." Butthese attitudes did more that distort the truth. In the twentieth century theydirectly led to two world wars of unprecedented ferocity and destruction.Therefore, sensitive and caring people perceive these attitudes as beingobsolete, and, instead of clinging to them, more intelligent people now seek thepath of unity. Even in religion, one of the key contemporary attitudes is theecumenical spirit, the desire to emphasize more our similarities with otherpeoples, nations, and religions rather than our differences.

Pre-Harappan Evidence Found in Gulf of Cambay

VADODARA, INDIA, July 19, 2004: In an underwater exploration in the Gulf ofCambay, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) scientists discoveredalmost 9,500-year-old bricks made of clay and straw. Archaeological experts ofthe MS University who, too, are involved in a part of the exploration near Suratand the coast of Gulf of Cambay, however, feel that a further insight into the sizeof the bricks can confirm its age and its period. The bricks, believed to be pre-Harappan, have been identified to be of the Holocene age. In the NIOT surveysin the 17 sq km area, stone artefacts like blade scraper, perforated stones andbeads were found. The bricks, according to NIOT scientists, were used forconstruction. It indicates that the people of that age led an advanced form of life.The artefacts found on the seabed, 20 to 40 ft below the present sea level,consisted of housing material. "It is important to confirm the brick size as peopleof the pre-Harappan age made bricks in the ratio of 1:2:3. A confirmation on thebrick size can add more credence to the discovery," says head of the archeologyand ancient history department V. H. Sonawane.

Ancient Nuclear Blasts and Levitating Stones of Shivapur08/27/2004 10:56http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/377/13920_stones.html The great ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, contains numerouslegends about the powerful force of a mysterious weapon The archaeological expedition, which carried out excavations near theIndian settlement of Mohenjo-Daro in the beginning of the 1900s, uncovered theruins of a big ancient town. The town belonged to oneof the most developed civilizations in the world. The ancient civilization existedfor two or three thousand years. However, scientists were a lot more interested inthe death of the town, rather than in its prosperity. Researchers tried to explain the reason of the town's destruction withvarious theories. However, scientists did not find any indications of a monstrousflood, skeletons were not numerous, there were no fragments of weapons, oranything else that could testify either to a natural disaster or a war.Archaeologists were perplexed: according to their analysis the catastrophe in thetown had occurred very unexpectedly and it did hot last long. Scientists Davneport and Vincenti put forward an amazing theory. Theystated the ancient town had been ruined with a nuclear blast. They found bigstratums of clay and green glass. Apparently, archaeologists supposed, hightemperature melted clay and sand and they hardened immediately afterwards.Similar stratums of green glass can also found in Nevada deserts after everynuclear explosion. A hundred years have passed since the excavations in Mohenjo-Daro. The

modern analysis showed, the fragments of the ancient town had been meltedwith extremely high temperature - not less than 1,500 degrees centigrade.Researchers also found the strictly outlined epicenter, where all houses wereleveled. Destructions lessened towards the outskirts. Dozens of skeletons werefound in the area of Mohenjo-Daro - their radioactivity exceeded the norm almost50 times. The great ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, contains numerouslegends about the powerful force of a mysterious weapon. One of the chapterstells of a shell, which sparkled like fire, but had no smoke. "When the shell hit theground, the darkness covered the sky, twisters and storms leveled the towns. Ahorrible blast burnt thousands of animals and people to ashes. Peasants,townspeople and warriors dived in the river to wash away the poisonous dust." Astounding mysteries of India's ancient times can be found in the town ofShivapur. There are two enigmatic stones resting opposite the local shrine. Oneof them weighs 55 kilograms, the other one is 41 kilograms. If eleven men touchthe bigger stone, and nine men touch the smaller stone, if they all chant themagic phrase, which is carved on one of the walls of the shrine, the two stoneswill raise two meters up in the air and will hang there for two seconds, as if thereis no gravitation at all. A lot of European and Asianscientists and researchers have studied the phenomenon of levitating stones ofShivapur. Modern people divide the day into 24 hours, the hour - into 60 minutes, theminute - into 60 seconds. Ancient Hindus divided the day in 60 periods, lasting24 minutes each, and so on and so forth. The shortest time period of ancientHindus made up one-three-hundred-millionth of a second. Alexander Pechersky (Translated by: Dmitry Sudakov)

Tsunami Uncovered Ancient Port City In Southern India

DELHI, INDIA, February 11, 2005: Archaeologists say they have discoveredsome stone remains from the coast close to India's famous beach frontMahabalipuram temple in Tamil Nadu state following the December 26 tsunami.They believe that the "structures" could be the remains of an ancient and once-flourishing port city in the area housing the famous 1,200-year-old rock-hewntemple. Three pieces of remains, which include a granite lion, were found buriedin the sand after the coastline receded in the area after the tsunami struck. "Theycould be part of the small seaport city which existed here before water engulfedthem. They could be part of a temple or a building. We are investigating," says T.Sathiamoorthy of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Archaeologists say thatthe stone remains date back to 7th Century ce and are nearly 6ft tall. They haveelaborate engravings of the kind that are found in the Mahabalipuram temple.The temple, which is a World Heritage site, represents some of the earliest-known examples of Dravidian architecture dating back to 7th Century ce. Themonument also has gigantic open air reliefs hewn out from granite. The tsunami

waves have also helped the archaeologists in desilting one such relief which hadbeen covered with sand for ages. A half-completed rock relief of an elephant got"naturally desilted" by the ferocious waves and is now drawing large crowds atthis popular tourist destination. For the past three years, archaeologists workingwith divers from India and England have found the remnants of the ancient port.Archaeologists say they had done underwater surveys 1 km into the sea from thetemple and found some undersea remains.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4257181.stm

Newly-discovered Mamallapuram temple fascinates archaeologistsBy T.S. Subramanian

Parts of the ancient temple discovered to the south of the Shore Temple atMamallapuram during the excavation done from February to April 2005.

CHENNAI, APRIL 9 . The temple discovered by the Archaeological Surveyof India (ASI), a few hundred metres to the south of the Shore Temple atMamallapuram, near Chennai, must have been as big or even bigger than theShore Temple, said archaeologists conducting the excavation there. The ASI haddiscovered massive remains of a temple on the shore, close to the Shore Templeduring the excavations it had conducted in February and March. While continuing the excavation, it discovered a subsidiary shrine adjacentto the remains of a square garbha graham (sanctum sanctorum) of the newly-discovered temple. The garbha graha measures 2.6 metres by 2.6 metres. The sanctumsanctorum is surrounded by an open courtyard, which is encircled by a massiveprakara (outer wall). A beautiful ring-well, made of terracotta; a sculptedcapstone, a shikara stone; parts of a stupa; granite architectural members withsockets; and beautiful potsherdshave been found within this temple complex. The newly discovered temple "is a separate complex by itself. Its magnitudeand area is akin to that of the Shore Temple," said T. Satyamurthy,Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Chennai Circle. Alok Tripathi, DeputySuperintending Archaeologist, Underwater Archaeology Wing, ASI, who isheading the current excavation at Mamallapuram, said, "This temple must havebeen as big or bigger than the Shore Temple." What has fascinated archaeologists is that mason's marks (engravings)have been found on the granite architectural members of the square garbhagraha. These mason's marks depict a bird, a lamp, a bow and arrow, and twointerconnected triangles. The bird occurs like a leitmotif on several stones. "We have found a lot of mason's marks, who built this temple. We have tocompare these mason's marks [with those found elsewhere] and find out whether

the same group built the temples at Kancheepuram. In the temples in north India,the mason's marks have been studied quite well," Dr. Tripathi said. Mamallapuram is known for its unparalleled works of architecture includingopen-air bas relief, rock cut temples and structural temples built by the Pallavakings Mahendravarman, Narasimhavarman I, Paramesvara andNarasimhavarman II, during the 7th and 8th century A.D. The majestic Shore Temple, which stands on the edge of the sea, was builtby Narsimhavarman II (circa 690- 715 A.D.). He also built the huge Kailasanathatemple and the Iravatanesvara temple at Kancheepuram. Nandivarman II (circa736-769 A.D.) built the Vaikunta Perumal temple. Obviously, the newly discovered temple close to the Shore Temple, wasbuilt by the Pallava kings. The question that arises is: why did the Shore Templesurvive while this one did not? Dr. Satyamurthy said, "The Shore Temple was built on bed rock. So itsurvived all these years. But this temple was constructed on sand and itcollapsed. There was some setback, it developed cracks and collapsed." Theremust have been several reasons behind the survival of the Shore Temple andthe collapse of the newly discovered temple, he said. The ASI so far has not been able to find the deities of the square garbhagraha and the subsidiary shrine adjacent to it. "There must have been deitiesinside because it was a structural temple. The deities must have been at a highlevel. We are now excavating at a lower level," said Dr. Tripathi. He pointed outthat the garbha graha had a definite pattern. It was divided into four parts. Stoneshad been arranged in a specific manner. The ring-well made of terracotta, found in the open courtyard, is an arrestingsight. "Four rings have been exposed. There may be more. We have to see howdeep it is," he added. The ASI has also discovered the remains of a second temple, built on a low-slung rock, to the south of the Shore Temple. To the north of the Shore Temple,it has found onland a wall under water (because the water table is very high). Sixblocks of stones of this wall ran to a length of 20 metres, said Dr. Tripathi. Moretrenches would be dug on land to see how far this wall ran. This wall extendedinto the sea (that is west to east) and its remains have been found in the sea.The ASI officials are keen on finding out the extent to which this wall runs into thesea and where it turns. For, they want to know whether the Shore Temple wassurrounded by a prakara on all its sides. A wall existed north to the south, theysaid. http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/10/stories/2005041004161800.htm

More Archeological Finds From 2006

1. Astronomy in the Rainforest of Brazil

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, June 27, 2006: Anthropologists are sitting up and takingnotice of a recent find in Brazil. Called the "Tropical Stonehenge," anastronomical observatory estimated at 2,000 years old has been discovered onan Amazon hilltop. The news report explains, "A grouping of granite blocks alonga grassy Amazon hilltop may be the vestiges of a centuries-old astronomicalobservatory -- a find archaeologists say indicates early rainforest inhabitantswere more sophisticated than previously believed. The 127 blocks, some as highas 9 feet tall, are spaced at regular intervals around the hill, like a crown 100 feetin diameter. On the shortest day of the year -- Dec. 21 -- the shadow of one ofthe blocks, which is set at an angle, disappears." Mariana Petry Cabral, anarchaeologist at the Amapa State Scientific and Technical Research Institute,says, "It is this block's alignment with the winter solstice that leads us to believethe site was once an astronomical observatory. We may be also looking at theremnants of a sophisticated culture. Transforming this kind of knowledge into amonument; the transformation of something ephemeral into something concrete,could indicate the existence of a larger population and of a more complex socialorganization." Richard Callaghan, a professor of geography, anthropology andarchaeology at the University of Calgary, adds, "Given that astronomical objects,stars, constellations etc., have a major importance in much of Amazonianmythology and cosmology, it does not in any way surprise me that such anobservatory exists." Carbon dating of the site near the village of Calcoene, northof the equator in northern Brazil by Brazilian archaeologists in August after therainy season, will establish a more accurate timeline.

www.nytimes.com

2. First Harappan Burial site Found in Sinauli, Uttar Pradesh

SINAULI, June 28, 2006: Imagine for a moment that you're a farmer,leveling your field, when suddenly your plough hits something hard. You wipeaway the dust and discover it's a bone, hardened over time. You dig some moreand discover the remnants of pottery next to an ancient human skeleton. This is what happened to Sattar Ali while working in the sugarcane fields inSinauli village near Baghpat in western UP, some 75 km from Delhi. Although hedidn't know it at that time, Ali had chanced upon an ancient burial ground of thelate Harappan period, believed to be more than 4,000 years old. This was over a year-and-a-half back. Matters would have rested there hadnot a local youth, Tahir Hussain, informed the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) about it. Since August last year, ASI's excavations have been going on infull swing. Dharamvir Sharma, superintending archaeologist, ASI, says, "Thefindings here are very important and have the potential to change the way welook at the history of Asia." Sinauli's find is unique because this is the first Harappan burial site to be

found in UP. More importantly, it's the first Harappan site where two antennaswords were found buried next to the skeletons. These were of the copper hoardculture, which has been a cause of debate among historians. These findingsmight just prove that the copper hoard was associated with the late Harappans,says Sharma. The excavations have already yielded a rich haul. Almost 126 skeletonshave been recovered, which indicates that the mound was a fairly largehabitation. While some are broken, others are remarkably well-preserved. One ofthe first skeletons to be discovered was found wearing copper bracelets on bothhands. Some distance away, another was found buried along with an animal,presumably intended to be a sacrificial offering. Other finds include bead necklaces, copper spearheads, gold ornamentsand a few anthropomorphic figures which were typical of Harappan settlements.While these are all relative evidence of the late Harappan period, believed to bearound 2000 BC, carbon dating of the skeletons would put a firm date on it. Sinauli's findings might also prove that the Harappans were a part of theVedic culture and followed prescribed Vedic practices. Sharma says, "All theskeletons have been found lying in the North-South direction, as prescribed bythe Rig Veda. Near their heads have been found pots, which probably containedgrains, ghee, curd and somarasa as an offering to Yama, the God of Death. Thiswas in accordance with ancient Vedic burial practices, mentioned in the ShatpathBrahman." However, not all historians agree with this view. They feel it's too early tojump to conclusions without carbon dating being done. Nevertheless, theexcavations have attracted a lot of attention for the nondescript village. Thevillagers are thrilled at their newfound status. Any child will happily escort you to ASI tents set up in the middle ofsugarcane fields, near the village. According to Hari Om Saran, assistantarchaeologist, ASI, "At least 100-150 people visit the site every day. The numberwas higher during winter. The recent discovery of gold bracelets drew even morevisitors." Now, the UP Tourism department is in talks with ASI to link Sinauli with theMahabharat circuit that it's proposing to launch. Kawkab Hameed, state tourismminister, says, "The findings at Sinauli indicate it was an ancient site. Thereforewe propose to include it in our new tourist circuit, which would cover placesassociated with the Mahabharat era. These would include Panipat, Sonepat,Hastinapur as well as Baghpat, which has three tunnels associated with theMahabharat era." Most historians concur that Sinauli may provide clues to other mysteries ofthe ancient Indus Valley civilization and probably turn more theories about theHarappans on their head. However, that's still some way off. For one, only aportion of the burial mound has been excavated. Sharma believes the entiremound would have been spread over nine acres and there are more burialswaiting to be found nearby. Moreover, considering that this was such a huge burial ground, thesettlement should also have been a large one. However, that is still to be located.

Also, before ASI moved in, the villagers plundered quite a few objects from thesite. Vital clues to the settlement could have been lost. ASI is proposing toacquire the site land and plans to set up a museum here. Meanwhile, asexcavations continue, this will be an attractive destination not only for the seriousstudent of history, but also for tourists, who can relive history through theskeletons of Sinauli.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1696409.cms

3. Undersea Temple Found Off India's East Coast

VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH INDIA, July 3, 2006: Archaeologists inVisakhapatnam claim that a centuries-old temple exists two kilometers fromVisakhapatnam coast, on the sea bed. While the eastern coastal city ofVisakhapatnam is steeped in history, few know that there was a temple called"Visakeswara Temple" off the coast of the city. Many centuries ago this templewent under the sea due to geological adjustments. According to ProfessorGangadharam, who is working on facts regarding this temple, the temple existedcenturies ago, but got submerged in the sea. "From the research I did, I foundout that the Buchca Rama Lingeshwara temple which right now exists on thecoastline is in the same alignment with that of Visakeswara temple under thesea. I have spoken to many old people and fishermen who told me that theirforefathers used to confirm that there is this temple under the sea. " According tothe priest of Buchcha Rama Lingeshwara temple, the Visakeswara templeexisted before Kalyug. "Yes, in Shastras and Puranas there's a mention of thistemple. It is believed that before the Kalyug began this temple was submergedinto the sea." Professor Gangadharam's further research, which involves undersea exploration, is on hold as he is looking for financial support in his quest tofind the temple.www.zeenews.com

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Recent Research on the Sarasvati River There is a book available that goes further into the details of the Saravatiriver research, 'New Discoveries About Vedic Sarasvati' written by Dr RaviPrakash Arya. He is the Chief Editor of Vedic Science journal.

Kolkata (on Ma_gha Shukla Panchami day: Sarasvati janma tithi celebrationheld in a big way on Feb. 17, 2002), Delhi, Kalibangan, Mohangarh (JaisalmerDist.) where the river is flowing again: 40 ft. wide, 12 ft. deep channel; the hugeinaugural plaque there reads: Sarasvati mahanadi ru_pa_ nahar.

India's 'miracle river'

Scientists say new evidence could unearth the Saraswati. The legend of themighty Saraswati river has lived on in India since time immemorial. Ancient Hinduscriptures called the Vedas, recorded thousands of years ago, are full oftantalizing hymns about it being the life-stream of the people. In a new radio programme, Madhur Jaffrey recounts the legend of theSaraswati river - and explores startling new evidence that it may not have been amyth after all. Vast and awesome, the Saraswati's holy waters are supposed tohave flowed from the Himalayas into the sea, nourishing the land along the way.But as the centuries passed and no one could find it, myth, belief and religioncame together and the Saraswati passed into the realm of folklore. Now most people in India think of it as a mythical river. Some even believethat it is an invisible river or that it still flows underground. Another commonlyheld perception is that the Saraswati once flowed through the north Indian city ofAllahabad, meeting there with two other rivers, the Ganges and the Jamuna. Theconfluence of these three rivers - one of which is not visible to the eye - isconsidered one of India's holiest spots.

Below is a satellite view of the Sarasvati River basin running from the HimalayanMountains to the west coast of India.

Saraswati, Hindu goddess of Learning

For most of the country, the name Saraswati is better known for its divinenamesake - the goddess Saraswati, Hindu goddess of Learning. Worshipedparticularly by students and school children, her festival falls in February, and thecity of Calcutta is famous for celebrating her in style. Makeshift shrines areerected in every street and after the festival is over, thousands of the images aretaken to the banks of the river Hooghly and pitched into the water where they areforever carried away by the river. The goddess' connection to water is part of the enigma that surrounds theriver. But that mystery could be set to be dispelled forever, as startling scientificevidence has come to light. Through satellite photography, scientists havemapped the course of an enormous river that once flowed through the northwestern region of India. The images show that it was 8 km wide in places andthat it dried up 4,000 years ago. Dr JR Sharma who heads the Remote Sensing Services Centre in Jodhpurwhich is mapping the images, believes a major earthquake may have played a

part in the demise of the Saraswati. There was, he says, a big tectonic activitythat stopped the water supply to the river. Sharma and his team believe theyhave found the Saraswati and are excited about what this discovery could meanfor India. The idea is to tap its potential as a water source. They are working withIndia's leading water experts who are using the satellite images as clues.

Scientists hope to find water under the desert

Deep in the western Rajasthan desert, not far from the security- consciousborder with Pakistan, an extraordinary programme is underway. Giant drilling rigsprobe deep into the dry, arid earth pulling out undisturbed layers of soil andsediment for scientists to study and test. Water engineers are exploring theregion's ancient riverbeds for what they call groundwater - undergroundreservoirs that contain perfectly drinkable water. If they are successful, theirdiscovery could transform the lives of thousands of locals who currentlyexperience harsh water shortages. Mr KS Sriwastawa of the Rajasthan State Groundwater Board believes oneof these ancient buried channels may be the Saraswati. He knows the storiesrefer to the ancient river flowing through this area and says excitedly that carbondating has revealed that the water they are finding is 4000 years old. That woulddate it to the time of the Saraswati. The modern search for the Saraswati wasfirst sparked by an English engineer called CF Oldham in 1893 when he wasriding his horse along the dry bed of a seasonal Rajasthani river called theGhaggar. As he rode on, he was struck by a sudden thought. The Ghaggar when itflowed, was a small, puny river and there was no reason for its bed to be up to3km wide in places unless it occupied the former course of a much larger river -the Saraswati. The discovery of a vast prehistoric civilisation that lived along thebanks of a major river, has added impetus to the growing modern belief that theSaraswati has been found. Over 1000 archaeological sites have been found onthe course of this river and they date from 3000 BC. One of these sites is theprehistoric town of Kalibangan in northern Rajasthan. The town has proved a treasure trove of information about the Bronze Agepeople who actually lived on the banks of the Saraswati. Archaeologists havediscovered that there were priests, farmers, merchants and very advanced artistsand craftsmen living there. Highly sophisticated seals on which there is evidenceof writing have also been found, indicating that these people were literate, butunfortunately the seals have never been deciphered. They may well hold the clueto the mystery of what happened to the Saraswati and whether it has really beenfound again. The Miracle River is [was] broadcast at 3.30pm on Saturday 29 June, 2002on BBC Radio 4http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_2073000/2073159.stm

The Recent Research into the Sarasvati River

The URL which details the efforts to trace River Sarasvati is at:http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/prakalp/sarasvati01.htm

What a privilege it is to be part of this endeavor, unparalleled in the history ofhuman civilization, as a 1600 km. long river which got desiccated about 4000years ago comes alive to enable the present and future generations to recollectmemories of Vedic cultural heritage, which is world heritage.

Jagmohan sets about bringing Saraswati aliveAKSHAYA MUKUL

Times News Network [ SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2002 1:05:27 AM ]

NEW DELHI: A day after Culture Minister Jagmohan announced excavationto trace the ancient course of the Saraswati, the 'lost' river of Harappancivilisation, he has already set up a team of four "experts" who will undertake thisonerous task. Though Jagmohan denies the project is linked to the Sangh Parivar'sagenda of equating Harappan civilisation with Hindus, he does talk of mythsassociated with several areas in Haryana where the Saraswati presumably onceflowed. "Marxist historians have fed us on a certain kind of history. One shouldnot close options," he says, adding, "If there is any evidence of Saraswati, we willsee it, otherwise we will not push forward any view." The four experts û Baldeo Sahai of ISRO, Ahmedabad, archaeologist SKalyan Raman, glaciaologist YK Puri, and water consultant Madhav Chitle -- willcarry out the first phase of excavation from Adi Badri to Bhagwanpura in Haryanafollowed in second phase from Bhagwanpura to Kalibangan on Rajasthan border. Along with tracing the river's course, the experts have been tasked withdeepening Kapalmochan and Ranmochan û "two wells fed by Saraswati wherePandavas had come and taken bath," says Jagmohan. If the effort does not yieldSaraswati water in the wells, the experts have been told tap tubewells. "Peopleconsider it sacred. Right now water is muddy. Tubewellwater will be clean and faithfuls can take bath," says Jagmohan. Another place where Saraswati will be traced is Thanesar, capital ofHarshvardhan, a few kilometres from Kurukshetra. "Saraswati flowed here alsoand we have marked six points to trace its route," says Jagmohan. Plan also is toexcavate seven mounds in Rakhigarhi, where minister claims five are ofHarappan lineage and two of pre-Harappan times. With all this work, Jagmohanis "confident that Saraswati will come alive." But Jagmohan's confidence is not shared by noted historians Suraj Bhanand Irfan Habib. Says Suraj Bhan, "In the 1960s, I worked in this area to tracethe Saraswati's route. In Adi-badri no course of the Saraswati can be seen." Healso denies having found any evidence related to Pandava period in this area.

"The legend goes that there were 1400 pilgrim centres on the Saraswati.RSS for decades has been working on the Saraswati project. In 1980s, its ItihasSankalan Samiti and Apte Memorial Committee did take it up in a big way. Theidea is to revive brahminism and sanctity of Vedas. Now it is showing dividends,"he observes. "All of us know there is water underground which will come outthrough excavation anywhere," he says. "How can it be called Saraswati's water.Important thing is to trace the dry course of Ghaggar which has already beendone." Habib, who has written extensively on Saraswati, feels the exercise is a"waste of money". The Hindutva historians, he notes, claimed Saraswati flowedfrom the Himalayas and now they are tracing it in the foothills of the Shivaliks."This is an attempt by the RSS to make Harappan civilisation synonymous withSaraswati culture," he says.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=12987455

Efforts to trace Saraswati's course

The Tribune, Chandigarh, June 13, 2002 Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, June 12. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Jagmohan has said research work onthe Saraswati river would be undertaken on a priority basis. While addressing aseminar on Saraswati river research held here today, he said the Saraswati,originating from har Ki Doon glacier in the interior Himalayas, after crossing theShivalik range, enters into the plains, near Adi Badri in the district. He said he had been to Adi Badri today along with Union Minister of Statefor Home I.D. Swami. He said since the last century, several scholars andorganizations had been making efforts to trace the course of Saraswati river. Helauded the contribution of the National Remote Sensing Agency, the BhabhaAtomic Research Centre, the Indian Space Research Organization, theGeological Survey of India and the Central Water Commission in this regard.He announced that the work regarding tracing the course of Saraswati riverwould be started shortly in two phases, first from Adi Badri to Bhagwanpura andin Kurukshetra district and second from Bhagawanpur to Sirsa. He alsoannounced that watershed management and water-harvesting dams would beconstructed shortly by the Union Government. Mr. Jagmohan announced that an international seminar on Saraswati riverwill be conducted at Kurukshetra in December. Haryana Chief Minister OmPrakash Chautala assured the Union Government that the state governmentwould provide all assistance in the development of Adi Badri and Kapal Mochanas pilgrim spots. He said Saraswati was revered not merely for its sanctity but

also for being the mother of the ancient civilization and cradle of vedic literaturethat was conceived on its banks.

Project to Revive Sarasvati River

Times News Network [ SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2002 1:29:54 AM ] SHIMLA: Sarasvati Nadi Shodh Prakalp, Bangalore, director Dr SKalyanaraman said on Friday that the search for the "mythical" Sarasvati river,which began about 16 years ago, had reached a stage where it could be saidthat the river was neither a myth nor a legend, but hard fact. Delivering a lecture organized by the Institute of Integrated HimalayanStudies at the Himachal University here, he said that after years of intensiveresearch through scientific techniques, he could trace the origin of the river andthe civilization which prospered along its banks. ̀ `The revival of Sarasvati river begins in Haryana, with the water harvestingproject from Adh Badri through Bilaspur and Kapala Mochan up to Pehoa, adistance of about 150 km, check-dams, clearing of the water-ways, restorationand renewal of the ghats of river and elimination of pollutants,'' he said. "It is a proud moment that our engineers and scientists have established thefeasibility of reviving this great Vedic river, with a conjunctive use of surface andsub-surface drainage systems. The feasibility study of the National WaterDevelopment Agency has been going on for the last 19 years and is continuing,"he added. Kalyanaraman said that the Rajasthan Canal, also called SarasvatiMahanadirupanahar, was now flowing till Danan in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthanand would be extended to Gedra Road in Barmer district of the state. "The waters of Sutlej river, which was the anchorage river of Sarasvati,flowing from Harike can be taken to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, through theMahanadirupanahar," he added. He said that of the nearly 2600 archeologicalsites of varying sizes, over 1500 settlements were found on the Sarasvati riverbasin, which included settlements larger than those of Harappa andMohenjodaro. Director of Himalayan Studies Yoginder Verma said that the researchproject being undertaken by the Sarasvati Nadi Shodh Prakalp aimed at makingthe river flow again in north-west India from Mansarovar to Gujarat and tointerlink Himalayan and peninsular rivers to create a 40,000-km long nationalwaterway in the country. This, along with the long coastline, would improve theinfrastructure facilities in the country and complement the railways and nationalhighways, he added.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=13006120&sType=1

Indian Satellites Find Water Under Desert

Hyderabad July 28, 2002. India's remote sensing satellites have traced theburied course of Saraswati, the mythical Himalayan river, kindling hopes offinding drinking water under the hot sands of the Thar desert in Rajasthan. Mentioned in the Rig Veda, the Hindu scripture, and other ancient literature,the river is believed to have once flowed, parallel to the Indus, through what isnow desert before falling into the Arabian Sea. According to published literature, the river disappeared between 5000 BCand 3000 BC due to tectonic events in the Himalayas, that cut off the watersupply, and climatic changes that converted what was once a lush greenRajasthan into an arid zone. Past attempts to accurately trace the lost river andreconstruct its drainage system did not succeed. "Recent advancements in space-based sensors and in data processingtechnologies made it possible", says J. R. Sharma of the Jodhpur-based RemoteSensing Service Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Heand his colleagues, A. K. Gupta and G. Sreenivasan have mapped the "palaeochannels" relics of the river and its tributaries using data from three differentsensors on board Indian satellites. Mr. Sharma said over telephone that 13 borewells drilled along thepredicted river course have yielded water at a depth of 35 to 40 metres. The sizeof the palaeo channels, as estimated from satellite data, was huge, about 15 to40 metres thick, implying that there was plenty of water out there. "TheGovernment of Rajasthan is planning to increase the number of borewells to 50in two months and has earmarked Rs. 40 million for the project," he said, adding,"chemical analysis indicates these palaeo channels could form a source for goodquality ground water." The ISRO scientists do not subscribe to the theory that Saraswati is flowingas a subterranean river. "Radioactive tracer studies show that the maximum flowof water is 15 cms per year, too slow to indicate that connection with theHimalayan source is still there," Mr. Sharma said.

PTIhttp://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2002072901060800.htm

Riddle of the River Sarasvati

Union Minister Jagmohan's efforts to establish a role for the Sarasvati river in theIndus Valley civilization take the shape of a project of excavations, which willbegin in Haryana.

T.K. RAJALAKSHMIin New Delhi UNION Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs Jagmohan has anunenviable task in hand - that of putting in place a cultural policy for "nationalreconstruction", which is explained as a cultural renaissance that will enableIndians to be aware of their heritage. One step in this regard is the revival ofinterest in the Sarasvati river, references to which are found in the Rig Veda. Efforts are on to identify the river's course and to ascribe to it a civilisationalvirtue under the camouflage of promoting domestic and religious tourism. Theseare based on the assumption that the seasonal Ghaggar river in Haryana is theancient Sarasvati. The cultural revival as envisaged by Jagmohan will be madepossible by excavating the course of the river in parts of Haryana and thendeveloping certain areas there as religious and tourist sites. At a seminar organised at Yamunanagar, Haryana, on June 12 by theSarasvati River Research Centre (Sarasvati Nadi Shodh Sansthan), Jagmohanannounced that the Central government, along with the State governmentsconcerned, including the Haryana government, would undertake the excavationof the entire course of the extinct river. A four-member committee will be incharge of this. The committee comprises Baldev Sahai, former Deputy Director,Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad; V.M.K. Puri, a glaciologist who wasformerly with the Geological Survey of India, Lucknow; S. Kalyanaraman, aformer senior executive of the Asian Development Bank, who is also trained inarchaeology; and Madhav Chitle, former Secretary, Ground Water Management,and coordinator for Global Water Partnership. The first phase will involve thedigging up of the stretch from Adi Badri in Yamunanagar district to Bhagwanpurain Kurukshetra district to Sirsa (all in Haryana). In the second phase, theexcavation and related work will be taken up from Bhagwanpura to Kalibangan inRajasthan. The Central government is yet to sanction the funds, as the estimatesare still in the process of being prepared by the State governments concerned. Darshan Jain, president of the Sarasvati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, feels itwould be convenient if the first phase is launched before the annual fair in AdiBadri in November to mark the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, thefounder of Sikhism. As for the river whose origins are sought to be found at AdiBadri, Darshan Jain conceded that all that remained was a trickle from one of therock formations. However, if fresh water could be filled in the several tanks thatdate back to the Mahabharata period, which are muddy now, people could taketheir holy dips in them, he averred. The present effort is definitely novel. Jagmohan told Frontline that it was notimportant whether the Sarasvati was found or not. But in the course of theresearch on the "mighty river" which has been referred to 50 times in the RigVeda, a certain consciousness will find its way into the minds of the people, hehopes. The river, the Minister explained, was mentioned along with other rivers,

and if these rivers had existed, it was not correct to assume that the Sarasvatihad not existed. He said that there was cultural, geological, hydrological andgeographical evidence to show that the river was not a mythological desert river."There is a school of thought - I would not say there is irrefutable evidence - thatbelieves that a sophisticated civilisation flourished on the banks of the Sarasvati,"said Jagmohan. It is here that the real purpose of the programme comes into the open. Theproject is evidently a conscious effort to address the "plaguing problem" of theorigin of the Aryans, an ideological riddle that was first raised by the Baba SahebApte Smarak Samiti (named after the founder of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad) andthe Bharatiya Itihasa Sankalan Samiti (which is devoted to the rewriting ofhistory) in the early 1980s. A survey of the lost Sarasvati was planned in 1983 bythe former institution. Attempts to make the Indus civilisation and the Rig Veda chronologicallycompatible have been afoot for quite some time now. One major proponent of theSarasvati's civilisational link is B.B. Lal, former Director-General of theArchaeological Survey of India (ASI). In his latest book The Sarasvati Flows on:The Continuity of Indian Culture (Aryan Books International, New Delhi, 2002),Lal argues that the Rig Vedic Sarasvati and the present-day Sarasvati-Ghaggarcombine, which flows through Haryana and Punjab and dries up near Sirsa, arethe same. His other theory refutes the Aryan invasion theory. R.S. Bisht, Directorfor Excavation at the ASI, also subscribes to a similar theory though he is againstthe digging of the entire course of the river. Bisht, who accompanied Jagmohan to Yamunanagar, asked how it was thatso many sites were found located on the banks of the Sarasvati - such asGaveriwala, Rakhigarhi and Dholavira - if it had not been a perennial river. Bishtcontends that the territory of the Rig Vedic Aryans was coterminous with that ofthe Harappans. Between 2000 B.C. and 1800 B.C., a dry spell heralded thedecline of the Indus Valley civilisation, he says. Bisht argues that the Sarasvatidied a clinical death and rejuvenating it is impossible; but in the same breath heunderscores the Vedic importance of the river. The Nadi Sukta or the river hymn,although a late composition compared to the Rig Veda, enumerated a largenumber of rivers that ran from the east to the west. Bisht said that it was thoughtthat the Yamuna and the Sutlej flowed into the Sarasvati, an idea that was dearto S.P. Gupta, the historian who proposed the idea that the Indus Valleycivilisation be renamed the Indus-Sarasvati civilisation. The Sarasvati ismentioned in the Rig Veda several times. Over the years, man-made interventions obstructed the course of thesurface water channels. To redeem the lost glory of the river, its easternmostsource, in Haryana, was taken as the most sacred one. All the depressions alongthe course of the river would be symbolically cleaned, Bisht said. On the other side is Suraj Bhan, renowned archaeologist and historian. Heargues that the Rig Vedic references to the Sarasvati do not always pertain to aparticular river. In the early parts, it perhaps means the Harakhvati of Afghanistanand the Sindhu (Indus), he says. There is no evidence even to suggest thateither the Sutlej or the Yamuna contributed to the Sarasvati, he contends. R.C.

Thakran, Reader in the Department of History, University of Delhi, who is atrained archaeologist and hails from rural Haryana, does not buy the argumentthat the Sarasvati was a mighty perennial river. Like the Yamuna, most perennialrivers have two important features on their surfaces and sub-surfaces - sanddeposition and water reservoirs, the latter on account of the constant flow ofwater on their floodplains. Despite continuous exploitation of water in the sub-soilof the Yamuna, water reservoirs remain. And this could happen only if the riverwas a "mighty" one, he said. But in the case of the Sarasvati, sand deposits andwater reservoirs were missing, he pointed out. The impact of a river with a bedranging from 10 to 30 kilometres should be felt along its course and depositionswould be naturally available. But nowhere in the State were sand deposits visibleeither on the sub-soil or the surface soil, he said. The depth of the sand depositswould indicate the impact of the river, said Thakran. Even if they did find sanddeposits, it by no means would establish that the river was a perennial one. Sub-soil reservoirs were missing in most parts of Haryana. The water was not fresh.Only in some districts, such as Karnal, Kurukshetra and Ambala, water was ofgood quality and was freely available (but not to the extent in the Yamuna belt).He said that most tubewells were shallow, and that the majority of borewells werelocated in areas where canal water had reached. On the theory of the dry period,Thakran said that the region received erratic rainfall from ancient times. Even so,people never made habitations along the banks of rivers, especially mightyrivers, for the simple reason that they posed a hazard, he argued. Thakran said rivers per se were not essential for human settlements; whatwas essential was the supply of water in one form or the other. Ethnographicarchaeology or the study of modern lifestyles in the State could explain howpeople coped with the semi-arid conditions. The prevalence of village pondswidely indicates a certain degree of rainwater harvesting. Wells were alsoconstructed alongside the ponds. The muddy water in the wells would be desiltedand stored for later use. Thakran recalls that in his childhood days clearing ofponds was a community activity, which gradually diminished as alternativesources of water, such as canals, appeared. According to him, villages located themselves near ponds, not rivers.Thakran said that in the mid-1980s an ASI-French archaeological mission foundthat there was no river action in this belt in the Harappan times and evenafterwards. Water action observed at local levels revealed surface water run-offor rainwater run-off. On the question of settlements, Thakran said that only anominal number of them were observed though there was a mild increase in theirnumbers between the early and mature Harappan phases. After agriculture,pastoralism is the other known source of subsistence for people in the State.Cattle outnumber other domestic animals as they are hardy and require lesswater and food than others. The practice, which started in the proto-historicaltimes, continues even today. Pastoralists would not have known how to controlsuch a mighty river as the mythological Sarasvati, said Thakran. As for remote-sensing and satellite imagery of paleo-channels or pastchannels of water, Thakran said the images appeared as impressions of flowingwater. They begin in the north, move towards Rajasthan and get lost beyond

that. There is hardly any evidence to show that these images are that of theSarasvati. However, he said, remote-sensing did not reveal the antiquity of theimages and was not capable of dating or soil morphology. In such a situation, itwas difficult to say which period an image belonged to. He said another limitationof remote-sensing was that it was effective only on dry soil. Moisture in the sub-soil tends to absorb the signals and therefore a message cannot be sent to thesatellite. Thakran is certain that the Ghaggar river made no contribution to theevolution and development of the early and mature Harappan settlements. Norwas the number of settlements found to be substantial. On the contrary, a greaternumber of early and mature Harappan sites were found in the upland dry areaswhich had saline water, away from the rivers. A far greater concentration ofHarappan settlements was found in the Ghaggar basin and in the basins of otherrivers, but these were not in the formative phase but in the terminal phase of thecivilisation. Hence the river neither was helpful in promoting human activities nor couldbecome a centre of human settlements by the end of the mature Harappanphase. But, according to Jagmohan, there is a preponderance of evidence toshow that the Sarasvati was an important river. There were 1,500 settlementsalong the course of the Sarasvati, though in the late Harappan period, he said.He added that the Central Water Commission, with assistance from itscounterparts in the State, had been told to dig two wells in the Adi Badri area; ifthere was water in them "it would come out", he said. The Rig Veda makes references to several rivers, including the Indus. Tomagnify the importance of one particular river in this context and promote tourismaround it only betrays the enthusiasm of the BJP-led government in the case ofanything Vedic. But many feel that both the Centre and the Haryana governmentshould concentrate more on getting water for the parched State from Punjabinstead of promoting an extinct Sarasvati.http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1916/fl191600.htmhttp://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/riddle1.htm

Bringing Back the Sarasvati

AHMEDABAD, INDIA, August18, 2002: The government of India, with theassistance of hydrologists, geologists, archaeologists and space scientists, istrying to bring back the Saraswati River, which dried up in Vedic times. The drybed of the "mythological" river was spotted in satellite photos, five miles wide,coursing from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea. Some water still flows along thiscourse, but underground. The government's attempt is to tap this water in wellsand reservoirs, so that Hindus may once again be blessed by the Saraswati'ssacred waters. From: http://www.the-week.com/22aug18/cover.htm

Unearthing Lost Saravati Cities

PTI [TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2003 05:34:22 PM] KURUKSHETRA: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Jagmohan onTuesday announced that the Centre has launched a scheme of unearthing lostcities, which once existed along the embankments of Saraswati River, and left anumber of signposts of the Saraswati-Indus civilization from Adi Badri nearKurukshetra to Dhola Vira in Gujarat. Addressing the students of Kurukshetra University at the 25th convocationhere he said that "all these signposts are intended to be converted into newcentres, all over the country, in which elements of culture, tourism and clean civiclife are being synthesised. Kurukshetra is being given a top position in the list ofsuch centres, Jagmohan added. He said, "Believe me, a revolution is in the making. Kurukshetra wouldbecome not only a world class tourism destination but also a pace-setter for thisrevolution". Adding that a new life was being injected in Kurukshetra which wouldmake it a symbol of a resurgent and reawakened India. Chancellor of the University, Babu Parmanand, conferred the honorarydegree of Doctorate of Philosophy (honoris causa) upon Jagmohan in recognitionof the exceptionally meritorious services rendered by him to the nation. Babu Parmanand also conferred Ph.D upon 121 students and M.Phil on 47students in different subjects. Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala awardedmedals to the outstanding students of the university.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/comp/articleshow?artid=36474030

NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 26, 2003: It has been reported that to uncoverancient Hindu cultural sites, the Indian government, in collaboration with theDepartment of Tourism, has started excavating along the legendary SaraswatiRiver from Haryana to Gujarat. The task is an arduous one in a land where thelocal people are often not aware of the value of their heritage and artifacts fromcultural sites are often smuggled out of the country. Tourism Minister Jagmohansays, "We are shortly coming up with an amendment to the existing legislation onprotection of antiques and arts which will make illegal trafficking a cognisableoffense and give police the powers of seizure." As they forge ahead with theexcavation, it is expected that treasures, such as abandoned towns andhabitations from the Harappan civilization dating well before 3000 bce, will berevealed. The Tourism Department has grand plans to house the artefactsuncovered in museums to attract tourists. Communities along the dried up riverhave been encouraged to keep the environment around the heritage sites clean.After Jagmohan addressed an interactive meeting organized by UNESCO about

the heritage sites, Indian-born Australian Amareswar Galla commented, "As longas you have poverty, you will have problem with dealing illicit trafficking in culturalproperty, be it India or elsewhere." Source:http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEH20030725112452&Page=H&Title=Top+Stories&rLink=0

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Ayodhya and the Research on the Temple of LordRamaThis page offers some of the latest developments regarding the archeologicalresearch on the ancient temple of Lord Rama at His birthplace at Ayodhya.

1. WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AYODHYABy N.S. Rajaram

There already exists a good deal of literary and archaeological evidence relatingto the existence of temples at the disputed site.

The Allahabad Bench of the Uttar Pradesh High Court has directed theArchaeological Survey of India to excavate in the disputed site at Ayodhya todetermine whether the Babri Masjid was built after demolishing a temple that wasalready. This is a welcome development, for we will soon have a scientificinvestigation of the claims and counterclaims in full public view and under officialdirection. It is important to note however that there have been previousinvestigations, both literary and archaeological, that pretty much establish thepre-existence and destruction of temples at the site where the Babri Masjid wasbuilt by Mir Baki on Babar's orders. This was drowned in all the noise generatedin the emotionally charged climate following the destruction of the disputedstructure on December 6, 1992. I will present some of this material from sources

that are well known to experts, but not the public.

Literary EvidenceThere are basically two kinds of literary sources--written records and inscriptions.Both these are available at Ram Janmabhumi at Ayodhya. One major inscriptionis that of Mir Baki himself, apparently placed on the Masjid wall when it was builtin the 16th century. Another was discovered following the demolition onDecember 6, 1992. I'll look at it later. There are numerous literary records byHindu, Muslim and British authors. When we survey even a small part of this vastliterature, we find that until recently, until some politicians created the so-called'controversy', no author--Hindu, Muslim, European or British official--questionedthat a temple existed on the spot, which had been destroyed to erect themosque. We may begin with a couple of references from European writers frompublished sources that are widely available.

A. Fuhrer in his The Monumental Antiquities and Inscriptions in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Archaeological Survey of India Report, 1891, pp296-297 records: "Mir Khan built a masjid in A.H. 930 during the reign of Babar,which still bears his name. This old temple must have been a fine one, for manyof its columns have been utilized by the Musalmans in the construction of Babar'sMasjid." H.R. Neville in the Barabanki District Gazetteer, Lucknow, 1905, pp 168-169, writes that the Janmasthan temple "was destroyed by Babar and replacedby a mosque." Neville, in his Fyzabad District Gazetteer, Lucknow, 1905, pp 172-177 further tells us; "The Janmasthan was in Ramkot and marked the birthplaceof Rama. In 1528 A.D. Babar came to Ayodhya and halted here for a week. Hedestroyed the ancient temple and on its site built a mosque, still known asBabar's mosque. The materials of the old structure [i.e., the temple] were largelyemployed, and many of the columns were in good preservation."

One could cite many more in similar vein, but these examples should suffice forrecent European records. When we reach back in time, what we find particularlyinteresting are the accounts attributed to Guru Nanak. He was a contemporary ofBabar, and an eyewitness to his vandalism. Nanak condemned him in thestrongest terms. The historian Harsh Narain in his book The Ayodhya TempleMosque Dispute: Focus on Muslim Sources, writes: "Guru Nanak, according toBhai Man Singh's Pothi Janam Sakhi, said to have been composed in 1787 AnnoVikrami/1730 A.D., visited Ayodhya and said to his Muslim disciple Mardana:'Mardania! eh Ajudhia nagari Sri Ramachandraji ki hai. So, chal, iska darsankari'e. Translation: 'Mardana! this Ayodhya city belongs to Sri Ramachandra Ji.So let us have its darsana.'"

This indicates that Nanak visited Ayodhya shortly before the destruction of theRama temple by Babar. Another work by Baba Sukhbasi Ram gives a similaraccount, again suggesting that Nanak visited Ayodyha before the temple wasdestroyed by his contemporary, the Mughal invader Babar. Muslim sources also

give a similar account. In 1855, Amir Ali Amethawi led a Jihad for the recaptureof Hanuman Garhi, situated a few hundred yards from the Babri Masjid, which atthat time was in the possession of Hindus. This Jihad took place during the reignof Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Oudh. It ended in failure. A Muslim writer, one MirzaJan, was a participant in that Jihad. His book Hadiqah-i-Shuhada was publishedin 1856, i.e. the year following the failed Jihad. Miza Jan tells us:

"'wherever they found magnificent temples of the Hindus ever since theestablishment of Sayyid Salar Mas'ud Ghazi's rule, the Muslim rulers in India builtmosques, monasteries, and inns, appointed mu'azzins, teachers and store-stewards, spread Islam vigorously, and vanquished the Kafirs. Likewise theycleared up Faizabad and Avadh, too from the filth of reprobation (infidelity),because it was a great centre of worship and capital of Rama's father. Wherethere stood a great temple (of Ramajanmasthan), there they built a big mosque,... Hence what a lofty mosque was built there by king Babar in 923 A.H. (1528A.D.), under the patronage of Musa Ashiqqan!" Even more impressive is aPersian text known as Sahifah-i-Chihal Nasa'ih Bahadurshahi written in 1707 bya granddaughter of the Moghul emperor Aurangazeb, and noted by Mirza Jan inhis Urdu work Hadiqah-i Shuhada just cited. Mirza Jan quotes several lines fromher work which tell us:

"...keeping the triumph of Islam in view, devout Muslim rulers should keep allidolaters in subjection to Islam, brook no laxity in realization of Jizyah, grant noexceptions to Hindu Rajahs from dancing attendance on 'Id days and waiting onfoot outside mosques till end of prayer ... and 'keep in constant use for Fridayand congregational prayer the mosques built up after demolishing the temples ofthe idolatrous Hindus situated at Mathura, Banaras and Avadhà."

Other Muslim authors than Mirza Jan also cite the work, which appears to havebeen widely available in the 18th and 19th centuries. Then there is the evidenceof the three inscriptions at the site of the mosque itself, at least two of whichmention its construction by Mir Baqi (or Mir Khan) on the orders of Babar.Babar's Memoir mentions Mir Baqi as his governor of Ayodhya. Some parts ofthe inscription were damaged during a riot in 1934, but later pieced together withminor loss. In any event, it was well known long before that, recorded forinstance in Mrs. Beveridge's translation of Babur-Nama published in 1926.

Discoveries at the site I: The Temple City of AyodhyaWhile this evidence is strong, the archaeological evidence is still stronger. This iswhat Dr. S.P. Gupta (former director of the Allahabad Museum), has to say aboutrecent excavations at Ayodhya: "At Ayodhya, Professor Lal [B.B. Lal. FormerDirector General of ASI] took as many as 14 trenches at different places toascertain the antiquity of the site. It was then found that the history of thetownship was at least three thousand years old, if not more... When seen in the

light of 20 black stone pillars, 16 of which were found re-used and standing inposition as corner stones of piers for the disputed domed structure of the'mosque', Prof. Lal felt that the pillar bases may have belonged to a Hindu templebuilt on archaeological levels formed prior to 13th century AD..."On further archaeological and other evidence, Lal concluded that the pillar basesmust have belonged to a Hindu temple that stood between 12th and the 16thcenturies. What this means is that Lal had found evidence for possibly twotemples, one that existed before the 13th century, and another between the 13thand the 16th centuries. This corresponds very well indeed with history andtradition. We know that this area was ravaged by Muslim invaders followingMuhammad of Ghor's defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan in the second battle of Tarainin 1192 AD. This was apparently rebuilt and remained in use until destroyedagain in the 16th century by Babar.

The Hari-Vishnu InscriptionThe demolition on December 6, 1992 changed the picture dramatically, providinginscriptional support to the traditional accounts--both Hindu and Muslim. Themost important of these is the Hari-Vishnu inscription. It is written in 12th centuryAD Devanagari script and belongs therefore to the period before the onslaught ofthe Ghorids (1192 AD and later). It was later examined by Ajay Mitra Shastri,Chairman of the Epigraphical Society of India who gave the following summary.

"The inscription is composed in high-flown Sanskrit verse, except for a very smallportion in prose, and is engraved in chaste and classical Nagari script of theeleventh-twelfth century AD. It was evidently put up on the wall of the temple, theconstruction of which is recorded in the text inscribed on it... Line 15 of thisinscription, for example, clearly tells us that a beautiful temple of Vishnu-Hari,built with heaps of stones ... , and beautified with a golden spire ... unparalleledby any other temple built by earlier kings ... This wonderful temple ... was built inthe temple-city of Ayodhya situated in Saketamandala. ... Line 19 describes godVishnu as destroying king Bali ... and the ten headed personage (Dashanana,i.e., Ravana)." The inscription confirms what archaeologists Lal and Gupta hadearlier found about the existence of a temple complex. I have given a copy of theHari-Vishnu inscription. New archaeological finds ordered by the court are likelyto yield more such riches but unlikely to change the historical picture.

Note added after publicationThe reaction of 'secularist' scholars aired from their favorite platform of SAHMATis intriguing to say the least. First they say that no excavation should be carriedout because that would open a can of worms leading to disputes at other sitesalso. This is not very different from the objection raised by Pope Innocent againstGalileo's discoveries. Not so long ago, the same worthies were telling us that notemple was destroyed by Babar when the mosque was built. If they were tellingthe truth, why should they fear excavation?_________

Dr. N.S. Rajaram is a mathematician, linguist and historian. He has writtenseveral bookson India including Profiles in Deception: Ayodhya and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

MORE NEWS

2. Archaeological Excavations at Sri Rama Janma Bhumi

New Delhi, June 16, 2003. A few days ago a news item allegedly supplied by theArchaeological Survey of India was planted in the newspapers that no evidenceof a pre-existing structure under the disputed Rama Janma Bhumi-Babri Masjidwas found. The said news item was definitely deceptive, groundless,misrepresented and calculated to dupe the country. The misrepresented itemwas based on an unfinished progress report of the ASI. Three-fourths of thereport have been concealed. The item was cooked up on the basis of theexcavation report of a spot that was about 50 feet away from the western wall ofthe Rama Janma Bhumi structure. As such the inferences of the news itembased on the report of this pit is reckless. In spite of this, even these pits gaveaway two-thousand year old molded bricks and ornate stone pieces of differentshapes and sizes. The news item dishonored these facts.

The excavations so far give ample traces that there was a mammoth pre-existingstructure beneath the three-domed Babri structure. Ancient perimeters from Eastto West and North to South have been found beneath the Babri fabrication. Thebricks used in these perimeters predate the time of Babur. Beautiful stone piecesbearing carved Hindu ornamentations like lotus, Kaustubh jewel, alligator facade,etc., have been used in these walls. These decorated architectural pieces havebeen anchored with precision at varied places in the walls. A tiny portion of astone slab is sticking out at a place below 20 feet in one of the pits. The rest ofthe slab lies covered in the wall. The projecting portion bears a five-letter DevNagari inscription that turns out to be a Hindu name. The items found below 20feet should be at least 1,500 years old. According to archaeologists about a footof loam layer gathers on topsoil every hundred years. Primary clay was not foundeven up to a depth of 30 feet. It provides the clue to the existence of somestructure or the other at that place during the last 2,500 years.

More than 30 pillar bases have been found at equal spans. The pillar-bases arein two rows and the rows are parallel. The pillar-base rows are in North-Southdirection. A wall is superimposed upon another wall. At least three layers of thefloor are visible. An octagonal holy fireplace (Yagna Kund) has been found.These facts prove the enormity of the pre-existing structure. Surkhii has been

used as a construction material in our country since over 2000 years and in theconstructions at the Janma Bhumi Surkhii has been extensively used. Moldedbricks of round and other shapes and sizes were neither in vogue during themiddle ages nor are in use today. It was in vogue only 2,000 years ago. Manyornate pieces of touchstone (Kasauti stone) pillars have been found in theexcavation. Terracotta idols of divine fugurines, serpent, elephant, horse-rider,saints, etc., have been found. Even to this day terracotta idols are used inworship during Diwali celebrations and then put by temple sanctums for invokingdivine blessings. The Gupta and the Kushan period bricks have been found.Brick walls of the Gahadwal period (12th Century CE) have been found inexcavations.

Nothing has been found to prove the existence of residential habitation there.The excavation gives out the picture of a vast compound housing a soledistinguished and greatly celebrated structure used for divine purposes and notthat of a colony or Mohalla consisting of small houses. That was an uncommonand highly celebrated place and not a place of habitation for the common people.Hindu pilgrims have always been visiting that place for thousands of years. Eventoday there are temples around that place and the items found in the excavationspoint to the existence of a holy structure of North Indian architectural style at thatplace.

So the excavation was to find the answer to the question as to whether Babursuperimposed the domed structure on a preexisting structure after demolishing itor built it on virgin ground. The answer to this question has been found from theexcavations.

3. Archeological Society of India Says Temple Existed at RamjanmabhoomiSite

LUCKNOW, INDIA, August 25, 2003: The Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) said a temple-like "massive structure" existed beneath the disputed site inAyodhya in its 574-page report. The ASI report, submitted on August 22, wasopened by the three-member Full Bench, comprising Justice SR Alam, JusticeKhem Karan and Justice Bhanwar Singh on Monday. The bench has given six-week time to contesting parties for filing their objections on the sensationalrevelations made by the ASI in its two-volume report. "Viewing in totality andtaking into account the archaeological evidence of a massive structure just belowthe disputed structure and evidence of continuity in structural phases from thetenth century onwards up to the construction of the disputed structure along withyield of stone and decorated bricks as well mutilated sculpture of divinecouple...., fifty pillar bases in association of the huge structure, are indicative ofremains which are distinctive features found associated with the temples of northIndia," concluded the ASI in its report. The ASI team, led by Hari Manjhi and B R

Mani, had excavated the disputed site for nearly five months between March 12and August 7 2003 on the March 5 order of the High Court. In its report on thefamous excavations, the ASI has dwelt at length the period from circa 1000 BCEto 300 BCE and from Sunga (first century BCE) to Kushan, Gupta, Post-Guptaup to Medieval Sultanate level (12-16 century CE). The ASI report mentions ahuge structure (11-12th century) on which a massive structure, having a hugepillared hall (or two halls), with at least three structural phases and threesuccessive floors attached with it was constructed later on. "There is sufficientproof of existence of a massive and monumental structure having a minimum of50 x 30 meter in north-south and east-west directions respectively just below thedisputed structure," states the report. To prove its point, the report says that during the course of digging, nearly50 pillar bases with brickbat foundation, below calcrete blocks topped bysandstones were found. It also suggests that the center of the central chamber ofthe disputed structure falls just over the central point of the length of the massivewall of the preceding period which could not be excavated due to presence ofRam Lala at the spot in the makeshift structure. Significantly, the ASI report didnot give any weightage to the glazed wares, graves and skeletons of animals andhuman beings found during the excavations. Rather it suggests that the glazedtiles were used in the construction of original disputed structure. Similarly, theceladon and porcelain shards and animal bones, skeletons recovered fromtrenches in northern and southern areas belong to late and post-Mughal period, itadds. In drafting its report, the ASI has also given importance to the carbondating to ascertain the period of soil and artefacts found during digging. Aboutthe habitation around the disputed ground, the ASI report observed that "belowthe disputed site remained a place for public use for a long time till the Mughalperiod when the disputed structure was built which was confined to a limited areaand population settled around it as evidenced by the increase in contemporaryarchaeological material, including pottery." However, and as to be expected, the ASI report has come as a rude shockto the Sunni Central Wakf Board and other Muslim organizations. "It is baseless,misinterpreted, based on wrong facts and drafted under intense politicalpressure," reacted Jafrayab Jilani, counsel for SCWB while announcing that theywill challenge the report.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=145797

4. The Archeological Survey of India's Report on AyodhyaAugust 27, 2003

In what could be a turning point in the Ayodhya dispute, the ArchaeologicalSurvey of India has reported to the high court that its excavations found

distinctive features of a 10th century temple beneath the Babri Mosque site. TheSunni Central Waqf Board, however, termed the report as 'vague and self-contradictory'. The 574-page ASI report consisting of written opinions and maps anddrawings was opened before the full Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high courton Monday morning. The report said there was archaeological evidence of a massive structurejust below the disputed structure and evidence of continuity in structural activitiesfrom the 10th century onwards up to the construction of the disputed structure(Babri Mosque). Among the excavation yields it mentioned were stone and decorated bricks,mutilated sculpture of divine couple, carved architectural members includingfoliage patterns, amalaka, kapotapali, doorjamb with semi-circular shrine pilaster,broken octagonal shaft of black schist pillar, lotus motif, circular shrine havingpranjala (watershute) in the north and 50 pillar bases in association with a hugestructure. The archaeological evidence and other discoveries from the site wereindicative of remains that are distinctive features found associated with thetemples of north India, the ASI report said. The ASI report said there is sufficient proof of existence of a massive andmonumental structure having a minimum dimension of 50x30 metres in north-south and east-west directions respectively just below the disputed structure. In course of present excavations nearly 50 pillar bases with brickbatfoundation below calcrete blocks topped by sandstone blocks were found, thereport said. It said the pillar bases exposed during the present excavation in thenorthern and southern areas also give an idea of the length of the massive wallof earlier construction with which they are associated and which might have beenoriginally around 60 metres. The centre of the main chamber of the disputed structure falls just over thecentral point of the length of the massive wall of the preceding period which couldnot be excavated due to presence of Ram Lala at the spot in the make-shiftstructure, the ASI report said. In a significant observation the report said towards east of this central point,a circular depression with projection on the west, cut into the large sized brickpavement, signifying the place where some important object was placed. The ASI report, however, said various structures exposed right from theSunga to Gupta period do not speak either about their nature or functional utilityas no evidence has come to approbate them. The report said during and after theGupta period up to late and post-Mughal period the regular habitational depositsdisappear in the concerned levels and the structural phases are associated witheither structural debris or filling material taken out from the adjoining area to levelthe ground for construction purpose. As a result of this much of the earlier material in the form of pottery,terracottas and other objects of preceding periods, particularly of Kushan period,

are found in the deposits of later periods mixed along with contemporarymaterial, it said. The area below the disputed site thus remained a place for public use for along time till the Mughal period when the disputed structure was built which wasconfined to a limited area and the population settled around it as evidenced bythe increase in contemporary archaeological material including pottery, the ASIsaid in its report. It went on to state that this observation was further attested by theconspicuous absence of habitational structures such as house-complexes,soakage pits, soakage jars, ring wells, drains, wells, hearths, kilns or furnaces. The report said the human activity at the site dates back to 13th century BCon the basis of the scientific dating method providing the only archaeologicalevidence of such an early date of the occupation of the site. The ASI report said the northern black polished ware using people were thefirst to occupy the disputed site at Ayodhya in the first millennium BC although nostructural activities were encountered in the limited area probed. A round signetwith legend in Asokan Brahmi is another important find of this level, it said. The report said the Sunga period (second-first century BC) comes next inorder of the cultural occupation at the site followed by the Kushan period. The report said during the early medieval period (11-12th century AD) ahuge structure of nearly 50 metres north-south orientation was constructed whichseems to have been short lived as only four of the 50 pillar bases exposed duringthe excavation belonged to this level with a brick crush floor. On the remains ofthe above structure was constructed a massive structure with at least threestructural phases and three successive floors attached with it, it said. The architectural members of the earlier short-lived massive structure withstencil-cut foliage pattern and other decorative motifs were reused in theconstruction of the monumental structure which has a huge pillared hall differentfrom residential structures providing sufficient evidence of construction of publicusages which remained under existence for a long time during the period, thereport said. The report concluded that it was over the top of this construction during theearly 16th century that the disputed structure was constructed directly restingover it.

Summary of the Report submitted by the ASI on Ayodhya excavationsAugust 31, 2003Excavation at the disputed site of Rama Janmabhumi â" Babri Masjid was carriedout by the Archaeological Survey of India from 12 March 2003 to 7 August 2003.During this period, as per the directions of the Hon'ble High Court, Lucnow. 82tenches were excavated to verify the anomalics mentioned in the report of the

Ground Penetrating Radar Survey which was conducted at the site prior to takingup the excavations. A total number of 82 trenches along with some of theirbaulks were checked for anomalies and anomaly alignments. The anomalieswere confirmed in the trenches in the form of pillar bases, structures, floors andfoundation though no such remains were noticed in some of them at thestipulated depths and spots. Besides the 82 trenches a few more making a totalof 90 finally were also excavated keeping in view the objective fixed by theHon'ble High Court to confirm the structure.

The results of the excavation are summarized as hereunder.

The Northern Block Polished Ware (NBPW) using people were the first to occupythe disputed site at Ayodhya. During the first millennium B.C. although nostuructural activities were encountered in the limited area probed, the materialculture is represented by terracotta figurines of female deities showing archaicfeatures, beads of terracotta and glass, wheels and fragments of votive tanks etc.The ceramic industry has the collection of NBPW the main diagnostic trait of theperiod besides the grey, black slipped and red wares. A round signet with legendin Asokan Brahmi is another important find of the level. On the basis of materialequipment and 14 C dates, this period may be assigned to circa 1003 B.C. to300 B.C.

The Sunga horizen (second-first century B.C.) comes next in the order of thecultural occupation at the site. The typical terracotta mother goddess human andanimal figurines, beads hairpin, engraver etc. represent the cultural matrix of thislevel. The pottery collection includes black slipped, red and grey wares etc. Thestone and brick structure found from this level mark the beginning of thestructural activity at the site.

The Kushan period (first to third century A.D.) followed the Sunga occupation.Terracotta human and animal figurines, fragments of votive tanks, beadsantimony rod, hair pin, bangle fragments and ceramic industry comprising redware represent the typical Kushan occupation at the site. Another importantfeature of this period is the creation of large sized structures as witnessed by themassive structure running into twenty-two courses.

The advent of Guptas (fourth to sixth century A.D.) did not bring any qualitativechange in building activity although the period is known for its Classical artisticelements. However, this aspect is represented by the typical terracotta figurinesand a copper coin with the legend Sri Chandra (Gupta) and illustrative potsherds.

During the Post-Gupta-Rajput period (seventh to tenth century A.D.), too the sitehas witnessed structural activity mainly constructed of burnt bricks. However,among the exposed structures, there stands a circular brick shrine which speaksof its functional utility for the first time. To recapitulate quickly, exteriorly on plan.It is circular whereas internally squarish with an entrance from the east. Though

the structure is damaged the northern wall still retains a provision for pranala, i.e.waterchute which is a distinct feature of contemporary temples already knownfrom the Ganga-Yamuma plain.

Subsequently, during the early medieval period (eleventh to twelfth century A.D.)a huge structure, nearly 50 m. in north-south orientation was constructed whichseems to have been short lived as only four of the fifty pillar bases exposedduring the excavation belong to this level with a brick crush floor. On the remainsof the above structure was constructed, a massive structure with at least threestructural phases and three successive Peers attached with it. The architecturalmembers of the earlier short lived massive structure with stencil cut foliagepattern and other decorative motifs were reused in the construction of themonumental structure having a huge pillared hall (or two halls) which is differentfrom residential structures, providing sufficient evidence of a construction ofpublic usage which remained under existence for a long time during the periodVII (Medieval-Sultanate level to twelfth to sixteenth century A.D.) It was over thetop of this construction during the early sixteenth century, the disputed structurewas constructed directly resting over it. There is sufficient proof of existence of amassive and monumental structure having a minimum dimension of 50x30 m. innorth-south and east-west directions respectively for below the disputedstructure. In course of present excavations nearly 50 pillar bases with brickbatfoundation, below calcrete blocks topped by sandstone blocks were found. Thepillar bases exposed during the present excavation in northern and southernareas also give an idea of the length of the massive wall of the earlierconstruction with which they are associated and which might have been originallyaround 60 m (of which the 50 m length is available at present). The center of thecentral chamber of the disputed structure falls just over the central point of thelength of the massive wall of the preceding period which could not be excavateddue to presence of Ram Lala at the spot in the make-shift structure. This area isroughly 15x15 m on the raised platform. Towards east of this central point acircular depression with projection on the west cut into the large sized brickpavement, signify the place where some important object was placed. Terracottalamps from the various trenches and found in a group in the levels of Periods VIIin trench G2 are associated with the structural phase.

In the last phase of the period VII glazed ware sherds make their appearanceand continue in the succeeding levels of the next periods where they areaccompanied by glazed this which were probably used in the originalconstruction of the disputed structure. Similarly is the case of celadon andporcelain sherds recovered in a very less quantity they come from the secondarycontext. Animal bones have been recovered from various levels of differentperiods, but skeletal remains noticed at the trenches in northern and southernareas belong to the Period IX as the grave pits have been found out into thedeposition coeval with the late disputed structures and are sealed by the topdeposit.

It is worthwhile to observe that the various structures exposed right from theSunga to Gupta period do not speak either about their nature or functional utilityas no evidence has come to approbate them. Another noteworthy feature is thatit was only during and after Period IV Gupta level) onwards upto Period IX (lateand post Mughal level) that the regular habitational deposits disappear in theconcerned levels and the structural phases are associated with either structuraldebris or filling material taken out from the adjoining area to level the ground forconstruction purpose. As a result of which much of the earlier material in the formof pottery, terracottas and other objects of preceding periods, particularly ofPeriod I (NBPW level) and Period III (Kushan level) are found in the deposits oflater periods mixed along with their contemporary material. The area below thedisputed site thus, remained a place for public use for a long time till the PeriodVIII (Mughal level) when the disputed structure was built which was confined to alimited area and population settled around it as evidenced by the increase incontemporary archaeological material including pottery. The same is furtherattested by the conspicuous absence of habitational structures such as house-complexes, soakage pits, soakage jars, ring wells, drains, wells, hearths, kilns orfurnaces etc. from Period IV (Gupta level) onwards and in particular from PeriodVI (Early Medieval Rajput level) and Period VII (Medieval-Sultanate level).

The site has also proved to be significant for taking back its antiquarian remainsfor the first time to the middle of the thirteenth century B.C. (1250±130 B.C.) onthe analogy of the C14 dates. The lowest deposit above the natural soilrepresents the NBPW period and therefore the earliest remains may belong tothe thirteenth century B.C. which is confirmed by two more consistant C14 datesfrom the NBPW (Period I), viz. 910±100 B.C. and 880±100 B.C.) These datesare from trench G7. Four more dates from the upper deposit though showingpresence of NBPW and associated pottery are determined by Radio-Carbondating as 780±80 B.C., 710±90 B.C., 530±70 B.C. and 320±80 B.C. In thelight of the above dates in association with the Northern Black Polished Ware(NBPW) which is generally accepted to be between circa 600 B.C. to 300 B.C. itcan be pushed back to circa 1000 B.C. and even if a solitary date, threecenturies earlier is not associated with NBPW, the human activity at the sitedates back to circa thirteenth century B.C. on the basis of the scientific datingmethod providing the only archaeological evidence of such an early date of theoccupation of the site.

The Hon'ble High Court in order to get sufficient archaeological evidence on theissue involved whether there was any temple/structure which was demolishedand mosque was constructed on the disputed site as stated on page 1 andfurther on p. 5 of their order dated 5 march 2003 and given directions to theArchaeological Survey of India to excavate at the disputed site where GPRSurvey has suggested evidence of anomalies which could be structure, pillars,foundation walls,slab flooring etc. which could be confirmed by excavation. Now viewing in totalityand taking into account the archaeological evidence of a massive structure jut

below the disputed structure and evidence of continuity in structural phases fromthe tenth century onwards up to the construction of the disputed structure alongwith the yield of stone and decorated bricks as well as mutilated sculpture ofdivine coupe and carved architectural members including foliage patterns,amalaka, kapolapali doorjamb with semi-circular pilaster, broken octagonal shaftof black schist pillar, lotus motif, circular shrine having pranala (waterchute) in thenorth, fifty pillar bases association of the huge structure, are indicative of remainswhich are distinctive features found associated with the temples of north India.

Some Web Sites on More Information About Ayodhya

http://ayodhya2000.tripod.com -- N. S. Rajarama's web site all about Ayodhyaand the ancient temple of Lord Rama. You may also try:http://members.tripod.com/ayodhya2000/table_of_contents.htm.

http://www.ayodhya.com -- another site on the sacred city of Lord Rama,Ayodhya.

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