| Identification / पहचान | |
| Reference Number / संदर्भ संख्या | AP17008467 |
| Built Heritage/Site निर्मित धरोहर / स्थल |
Built Heritage |
| Name of the Monument / Built Heritage / Site स्मारक / निर्मित धरोहर / स्थल का नाम |
Amaravati |
| State / राज्य | Andhra Pradesh |
| District / जिला | Guntur |
| Manual District | |
| Sub District / उप-जिला | Others |
| Manual Sub District | |
| Village / गाँव | Others |
| Manual Village | Amaravati |
| Cultural Affiliation / सांस्कृतिक सम्बंधन | Historic - ऐतिहासिक काल |
| Date/Period तारीख/युग |
|
| Sub Period | |
| Geo-Location / भू-अवस्थिति | |
| Latitude / अक्षांश | |
| Longitude / देशान्तर | |
| Approach to the Monument / पहुंचने का मार्ग | |
| Approach /पहुंचने का मार्ग | |
| Air Port / विमानपत्तन | |
| Railway Station / रेलवे स्टेशन | |
| Bus Station / बस स्टैंड | |
| Topographical Features / स्थलाकृतिक विशेषताएं | |
| Topographical Feature / स्थलाकृतिक विशेषताएं | |
| Topographical Description / स्थलाकृतिक विवरण | |
| History / इतिहास | |
| Brief History / संक्षिप्त इतिहास | |
| Local / Traditional description associated with Built Heritage / Site निर्मित धरोहर / स्थल से सम्बंधित स्थानीय/ परम्परागत विवरण |
|
| Architectural Style / स्थापत्य शैली | |
| Building/ Structure/Site
इमारत / संरचना / स्थल |
|
| Description of Building/ Structure/Site
इमारत/संरचना/स्थल का विवरण |
The South-eastern Circle of the survey, carried out a small-scale excavatin at Amaravati pl.I II . It may be recalled that the stratigraphical sequence of the site had not been properly established, though th site had ben excavated several times, right from the days of Mackenzie 1797 . The objectives of the present excatation ware to provide a firm chronological frame-work to the history of the maha-chaitya. The area of the old sculpture-shed lying to the north and east wards of the maha-chaitya, being comparatively undisturbed, was chosen for the purpose. The excavation rvealed the following cultural periods fig. I . Period I circa fourth-third century B.C. has two sub-phases. Sub-period I A is characterized by the occurrence of pits dug into natural soil. These pits yielded profuse-tion with iron. Among the noteworthy antiquities of the site ware two inscribed potsherds pl. IV A and B in early Brahmi Characters reading thisapata and malasa . There was some evidence of the existence of huts built of wattle and daub and posts. Sub-period I B is also associated with a large quantity of the Northern Black Polished Ware, Black-and-red ware and black polished ware. As is well known inscribed granite uprights pl. IV C , bearing typical Mauryan polish Kalavairagamasa thabho and some limestone cross-bars indicated the existence of an oblong structure built of fragmentary bricks and limestone encasement slabs. These limestone slabs with curved top bear repre-sentation in low relief of a three-barred rail pl. V. A . Period I by and large appears to be coeval with the Mauryan phase.Perhaps no other site on peninsular India yielded such large quantity of Northern Black Polished Ware in association with a Buddhist establishment. Further, the stratigraphical position of the granite railing pl. VI A , which appears to be partially flanking the main eastern and western enrances, together with the earlier finds like the fragmentary Asokan pillar-edict,revealed that the main stupa had decidedly a Mauryan base like that at Sanchi of Vaisali Emperor Asoka appears to be the first royal patron to surround the chaitya with railing accompanied by an inscribed pillar. Period II second-first century B.C. is marked by the continuation of the Northern Black Polished and Black-and-red Wares. Slipped and dull red wares and punch-marked coins, however, were found to occur in greater profusion. Equally significant is the intensive structural activity during this period. The excatation laid bare, near the eastern ayaka platform, a gateway in which bricks of large sizes-- viz, 47x30x9 and 42x21x9 cm-- have been used. Other finds include inscribed cross-bars, an upright carved with the figure of an elephant tusker standing below a tala tree pl V B , recalling the Gajatama on the rock at Kalsi, and lime-floors spread uniformly throughout the site. During this period, the railing appears to have covered the entire perimeter of the stupa. The sculptural activity on lime-stone was found to be quite rich showing a distinctive. Amaravati style with its affinity with th post-Asokan sculptural art of Bharhut. Period III circa first-second century A.D is characterzed by the occurrence of the Rouletted, kaolin, polished black and polished black and polished red wares. It yielded a large number of Satavahana coins of copper, lead and potin, the earliest issue belonging to Vasisthiputra Pulumavi. Serval sculptured cross- bars and copings have also come to light. The strati-graphical evidence satavahana shows that the stupa, as it stands today, belongs to this phase. Period IV crica third-sixth century A.D yielded coins of th Ikshvaku and Vishnukundin rulers besides some isolated structures built of reused bricks. The Vishnukundin uninscribed copper coins pl. VI B depicting on the obverse kuta-sikhara is a distrinct example. |
| Structure material and other material संरचनागत सामग्री और अन्य घटक |
|
| Building/Structure material and other material used प्रयोग में लाई गई इमारती / संरचनागत सामग्री और अन्य घटक |
|
| Usage(s) & Sub Type | |
| Usage(s) / प्रयोग | |
| Sub-Usage(s)/ उप-प्रयोग | |
| Ownership / स्वामित्व | |
| Protection status / संरक्षण अवस्था | |
| Plan/Elevation विन्यास/उध्र्व विन्यास | |
| Published Reference / प्रकाशित संदर्भ | |
| Author / लेखक | |
| Name / नाम | IAR |
| Year / वर्ष | |
| Published/Unpublished प्रकाशित / अप्रकाशित |
PG. 4, 5 |
| © Disclaimer:NMMA may be contacted for any further information. The documented data is under correction and subject to validation. |