Vol-2 Number-1 January 2017
Chief Editor: Vijay Kumar
Publisher: National Trust for Promotion of Knowledge, Lucknow
Mode of Publication: Online (e-Journal)
Pollen evidences from a 2.6 m thick sediment profile from Karela Jheel have demonstrated that ~14,000 to 12,500 cal yr BP, open grassland with sparsely distributed trees viz., Holoptelea integrifolia (chilbil) and Oroxylum cf. indicum (shyonak) occurred in the region under a cool and dry climate regime. The feeble presence of aquatic elements viz., Potamogeton and Typha (elephant grass) as well as fresh-water algae Botryococcus reflects the prolonged existence of the lake. ~12,500 to 8700 cal yr BP, the forest groves dominated by Oroxylum cf. indicum (shyonak) together with Holoptelea integrifolia (chilbil) and Madhuca indica (mahua) were established, interspersed with open grasslands under a warm and humid climate as a consequence of increased monsoon rainfall. The maiden record of Cerealia ~9,000 cal yr BP along with cropland weeds viz., Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Artemisia (nagdona) and Rumex (jungli palak) depicts the onset of cereal-based agricultural activities. However, a sharp reduction in Oroxylum (shyonak) and associated trees, barring Madhuca indica (mahua) and Acacia cf. nilotica (babul), which increased slightly, ~8700 to 4800 cal yr BP, suggests that the forest groves became less-varied in response to a warm and less-humid climate, on account of reduced monsoon precipitation. Between 4800 and 2000 cal yr BP, expansion of forest groves as evident by the improvement in Madhuca indica (mahua), Acacia cf. nilotica (babul), Holoptelea integrifolia (chilbil), etc. and invasion of more trees took place due to a warm and more humid climate, attributed to intensification of SW monsoon. The agricultural practice accelerated as indicated by the steady presence of Cerealia and cropland weeds. During 2,000 cal yr BP, the depletion in the arboreals indicates that the region supported open grasslands with scanty trees with the reduction in monsoon precipitation.
All the faunal materials recovered from Masudpur I (Sampolia Khera) was examined (n=2118) using a standard protocol developed at the Archaeozoology Laboratory of the Deccan College, Pune. The faunal material belonged to Early Harappan, Mature Harappan and the Late Harappan cultural phases in addition to mixed contexts. Mammals identified were cattle (Bos indicus), buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), goat (Capra hircus), sheep (Ovis aries), domestic pig (Sus domesticus), domestic ass (Equus asinus), Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), spotted deer (Axis axis), wild pig (Sus scrofa), hare (Lepus nigricollis), mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii), wolf (Canis lupus), fox (Vulpes bengalensis), elephant (Elaphus maximus) and house rat ( Rattus rattus). The non-mammalian species identified were peafowl (Pavo cristatus), carp (Catla catla), freshwater mussel (Lamellidens sp.), and freshwater gastropod species (Digoniostoma pulchella).
The article traces the development of residential and palatial structures from Neolithic age to the Gupta period. The pre-historic beginnings of the dwelling of the early men have also been discussed. The sculptural representation of the early architecture has also been discussed. Palatial structures came into existence during NBP period in the middle Ganga plains. Houses for guilds and merchants have also been constructed during this period. The evolution of the residential structures has been dealt with in great details in this article.
Megaliths are found all over the world. In India, these have been reported from Kashmir to Tamilnadu. In Vidarbha region such megaliths have been found in very large numbers. Some of these megaliths are associated with Iron Age cultures. The remains of horse and their equipments have been recovered from a number of excavated sites in Vidarbha region e.g. Takalghat Khapa, Mahurjhari, Naikund, Raipur and Vyahad. The author has described the finds from these sites in details. He has also described technological and social ramifications of these discoveries.
Traividya sealing from Sanchankot district Unnao, U.P. was found by a villager and was represented to Professor Angne Lal, then Vice Chancellor of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Awadh University, Faizabad. It bears well preserved legend in Brahmi script of Gupta period which reads as, ‘Traividyasya’. Many sealings with this legend have been found from different parts of the country. These refer to a person well versed in three vedas. Such seals never refer to the name of a person.
Maḍaī stone slab inscription of the Gaṅgeydeva Kalchuri of dated 1029 C.E. was found in the village maḍaī in district Satna, M.P. This is the 1st official inscription of the later Kalchuri king Gaṅgeydeva so far known. This inscription has been written in Nāgarī characters of C.E. The language is Sanskrit. It is a rare example of the land grant written on a stone slab. It referred to the reign of Gaṅgeydeva of later Kalchuri dynasty of Tripuri. The object of the inscription is to record the grant of a piece of land to Upādhyāya Bhatta Uduka by the queen mother Gaṅga Devi in the village Kastharahaṭṭa.
The development of iconography of tīrthankaras has been discussed in this article. The evidence of the images made in all mediums i.e. stone and metal stored in different parts of the world has been taken into consideration in reconstructing the process of evolution. The conclusions drawn in this article are based on the long study of Jaina Iconography by Dr. Umakant P. Shah, Prof. M. N. P. Tiwari and to some extent the author. The conclusions are based on the texts, actual art remains and our own field survey.
This is the second part of the article earlier published in the 4th issue of this journal which is about the antiquities related to Jain religion. It describes in details the antiquities fixed in the wall of the sculptures located around Śāntinātha temple also known as Temple no. 30. It also describes the antiquities kept in the gallery and basement of the museum built inside the temple complex. The antiquities kept in the temple situated in Dharamshala have also been described in this article. The complete catalogue of the antiquities preserved in Sahu Jain Sangrahalaya has also been given in this article.
Tomb of Sadiq Khan built during Mughal period is situated near Gailana, Agra, U.P. It has an octagonal plan with a underground chamber for the graves in the tomb building. The space has been organized as a hall in the center surrounded by eight portals in each side. An irregular octagonal chamber with projection in longer side exists as a crypt for underground hall.
Chini ka Rauza is the tomb building of Afzal Khan Allami. It is situated near tomb of Itmau-ud-Daula. This tomb is considered to the best example of polychrome glazed tile decoration in India. This was built in Charbagh setting. The garden of Chini ka Rauza is aligned on North-South axis. Building is situated on a square plinth. It has a square plan. The tomb building is a cube. It is built on noni-partite plan. The central chamber is surrounded by eight compartments. Here the central chamber is surrounded by corner double storey rooms and the four pistaqs at the cardinal points.
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