Naimisharanya, located on the eastern bank of the Gomti River in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh, has been revered for centuries as a sacred forest where knowledge was born. Ancient Hindu scriptures describe it as the site where Rishi Shaunaka conducted a 12-year satra, during which Ugrasrava Sauti narrated the epic Mahabharata to an assembly of sages. It is also believed to be the place where the Puranas were first composed and transmitted orally.
Despite its importance in scriptural tradition, Naimisharanya had never been the subject of an extensive archaeological investigation—until now. The excavation of Naimisharanya, led by Professor D. P. Tiwari of the University of Lucknow, has brought forward evidence that not only affirms the site’s historical significance but offers a rare opportunity to connect mythology with material culture.
This major excavation is documented in Volume 1, Number 2 of the Journal of Archaeology, now available as a downloadable e-journal.
The central goal of this excavation was to verify whether the mythological narratives associated with Naimisharanya could be supported by archaeological evidence. Using stratigraphic excavation techniques, Prof. Tiwari and his team sought to uncover:
Architectural remains indicating permanent or ritual settlement
Artifacts corresponding to key historical periods
Physical evidence of religious or educational activity
Chronological layers that match scriptural descriptions
What followed was a breakthrough in Indian archaeological research.
The site revealed continuous occupation and activity across several major historical periods, including the Mauryan, Kushan, Gupta, and early medieval eras. These discoveries provide an uninterrupted narrative of Naimisharanya’s development from a sacred forest to an enduring center of religious and scholarly life.
Artifacts from this period include:
Red polished ware pottery
Punch-marked silver coins
Mud-brick architectural remains
These finds suggest that Naimisharanya had already achieved significance during the early historic period of India and was likely a well-organized settlement.
Among the most important findings were:
Terracotta figurines
Domestic pottery
Agricultural tools
Palaeoethnobotanical analysis conducted on this layer revealed carbonized remains of wheat, barley, rice, pulses, and medicinal plants such as neem and jujube. This suggests a community with an advanced understanding of agriculture, domestic economy, and traditional medicine.
Often considered the golden age of Indian culture, this period is represented by:
Temple fragments
Devotional sculptures
Stone inscriptions with Sanskrit references
These artifacts confirm Naimisharanya’s role as a spiritual and intellectual hub during this era, in line with the site’s literary portrayal as a place of religious discourse.
The most recent archaeological layer includes:
Remains of pilgrim shelters
Ceremonial fire pits
Religious implements
These discoveries point to the continuation of sacred traditions, suggesting that the site remained a pilgrimage destination and scholarly center well into the medieval period.
What makes the excavation of Naimisharanya particularly significant is the identification of physical locations mentioned in ancient texts:
Suta Gaddi and Vyas Gaddi are platforms identified as the seats from which sages delivered Vedic discourses.
Chakratirtha, mentioned as the site where Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra created a powerful energy center, was verified through structural remains around a sacred water body.
Dadhichi Kund corresponds with the site where Sage Dadhichi is believed to have donated his bones for the creation of Indra’s thunderbolt.
Dashashwamedha Ghat and Hanumangarhi continue to be used for ritual worship today and were found to contain evidence of long-standing ceremonial practices.
The discovery of these locations with archaeological support provides a rare intersection between literary tradition and physical history.
The excavation not only enriches our understanding of ancient Indian religious geography but also contributes valuable data to several academic fields, including:
Archaeology and ancient Indian history
Vedic studies and mythology
Cultural anthropology and sacred geography
Early Indian economy and agriculture
The combination of stratigraphic data, material culture, and botanical remains allows researchers to study the development of religious, economic, and educational practices at a site long thought to be only legendary.
This landmark research is presented in detail in Volume 1, Number 2 of the Journal of Archaeology. The issue includes:
Detailed excavation reports
Stratigraphic maps and site illustrations
Artifact photographs and classifications
Interpretive essays linking the site to classical texts
Paleobotanical findings supporting domestic and ritual use
This volume is an essential resource for scholars, students, and institutions focusing on South Asian heritage, religious studies, and archaeology.
To access the full research findings, visual documentation, and scholarly interpretations, you can purchase Volume 1, Number 2 of the Journal of Archaeology directly from our website.
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