Archaeological and Epigraphic Uttarakhand

Archaeological and Epigraphic Uttarakhand

Archaeological and Epigraphic Uttarakhand :Uttarakhand, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, is a region rich in history and culture. The land has witnessed the rise and fall of many kingdoms and dynasties over several millennia. Remnants of these bygone eras can be seen in the numerous archaeological sites and epigraphs found scattered across the state. These archaeological remains and inscriptions provide a glimpse into Uttarakhand’s ancient past and reveal details about the society, economy, administration, art and architecture of the different periods.

This article traces the archaeology and epigraphy of Uttarakhand from the prehistoric times to the medieval period. It discusses the major archaeological sites, their key finds as well as the important inscriptions discovered in the region. The article is divided into the following sections:

1. Prehistoric Uttarakhand
2. Protohistoric Uttarakhand
3. Early Historic Uttarakhand
4. Medieval Uttarakhand

1. Prehistoric Uttarakhand

The prehistory of Uttarakhand can be traced back to the Lower Paleolithic age. Some of the major prehistoric sites discovered in Uttarakhand along with their key finds are:

Lakhu Udyar Rock Shelter

• Location – Bhimtal, Nainital district
• Time Period – Mesolithic period (10,000 – 4,500 BC)
• Key Discoveries – Microliths, animal bones

Lakhu Udyar is a rock shelter site that provides evidence of mesolithic habitation in the Kumaon region. Excavations have revealed tools made of quartzite as well as bones of animals like deer and goat. Pottery is absent from the site.

Tokwa Rock Shelter

• Location – Almora district
• Time Period – Mesolithic (8,000 – 1,000 BC)
• Key Discoveries – Animal bones, microlithic tools

Located on a hill slope near the Suyal river, this rock shelter has yielded various quartzite stone tools like blades, scrapers and arrowheads belonging to the Mesolithic period.

Dangwaliya

• Location – Nainital
• Time Period – Mesolithic to Neolithic
• Key Discoveries – Ochre colored pottery, blades, scrapers

This site has provided evidence of the beginning of the transition from hunting-gathering to early agriculture in Kumaon, marked by the emergence of Ochre Colored Pottery (OCP).

Bhimtal

• Location – Bhimtal Lake, Nainital
• Time Period – Neolithic (4,000 – 1,000 BC)
• Key Discoveries – Polished stone tools, pottery

The excavations around Bhimtal lake have brought to light neolithic celts, arrows and handmade pottery. Remains of pits and hearths have also been found here.

Jhaua

• Location – Champawat district
• Time Period – Neolithic to Megalithic
• Key Discoveries – Burials, iron objects, beads

This site has yielded various iron artifacts including arrows and axes as well as semi-precious stone beads, pointing towards progress in material culture.

Some other notable prehistoric sites in Uttarakhand include Gufkhal and Lakhu Udyar in Nainital district, Tokwa in Almora district, and Jhaua and Putali Bori in Champawat district.

2. Protohistoric Uttarakhand

The time period between the Neolithic age and the early historic period is known as the Protohistoric era. This transitional phase is marked by the emergence of metal technology, the beginning of the caste system, evolution of rural and urban settlements, and the rise of states. Uttarakhand has many protohistoric sites, especially from the Iron age. Some major sites are:

Agora

• Location – Rudraprayag district
• Time Period – Iron Age (1,200 BC onwards)
• Key Discoveries – Iron objects like swords, daggers, arrows

Excavations at Agora have revealed an iron smelting furnace as well as various iron weapons and domestic tools like knives, sickles, nails, clamps and axes. Remains of mud walls have also been found.

Hastinapur

• Location – Dehradun
• Time Period – Iron Age
• Key Discoveries – Iron slag, furnaces

Hastinapur excavations have brought to light pottery, beads and crucibles along with iron slag and furnaces indicating local iron smelting.

Jageshwar

• Location – Almora district
• Time Period – Early Iron Age (1,000 BC)
• Key Discoveries – Iron artifacts, bones with cuts

The Jageshwar valley has remains from protohistoric times in the form of iron objects and bones bearing cuts and marks.

Some other Iron Age sites in Uttarakhand are Lakha Mandal (Dehradun), Tokwa (Almora), and Jhaua (Champawat).

This era also saw the building of megalithic burials in Uttarakhand. These memorial burials consisted of large stone slabs arranged in various patterns like cists, cairns, dolmens etc. Some examples are:

Chhoti Haldwani

• Location – Nainital
• Time Period – Iron Age
• Key Discoveries – Cist burials, iron objects, pottery

This site has remains of four cist (stone casket) burials along with iron implements and black and red ware pottery.

Jhaua

• Location – Champawat
• Time Period – Iron Age
• Key Discoveries – Cairn circles with cist burials

Excavations at Jhaua have revealed three cairn circles made of boulders with cist burials containing bones and iron artifacts inside.

3. Early Historic Uttarakhand

The period from 6th century BC to 4th century AD marked the early historic era in Uttarakhand. This phase was characterized by the emergence of Janapadas, minting of coins, beginning of inscriptional evidence and contacts with the Mauryan empire. Some of the important archaeological sites of this period are:

Ukhimath

• Location – Rudraprayag district
• Time Period – Kushana period (1st – 3rd century AD)
• Key Discoveries – Terracotta figurines, coins

Excavations at Ukhimath near the Madmaheshwar temple have yielded terracotta figures, beads, bangles and Kushana coins pointing towards a flourishing settlement.

Devalgarh

• Location – Garhwal
• Time Period – Kushana period (1st – 3rd century AD)
• Key Discoveries – Stupas

Devalgarh has remains of several Buddhist stupas from the Kushana era indicating the spread of Buddhism in the early historic Garhwal region.

Jageshwar

• Location – Almora
• Time Period – Kushana (2nd century AD)
• Key Discoveries – Stone architectural fragments, terracottas

The Jageshwar temple complex has remains from the early historic period in the form of stone sculptures and architectural pieces as well as terracotta figurines.

Some other important early historic sites are Nandprayag, Karanprayag (Chamoli) and Someshwar (Almora).

The period also marked the beginning of the tradition of donative inscriptions as evident by the Hat Kalika and Ritha inscriptions of the Katyuri king Brahmdev Rai (7th century AD) found in Bageshwar district. These inscriptions record land grants made to Brahmins.

4. Medieval Uttarakhand

Archaeological Evidence

The medieval period spanning from 8th century to 18th century AD was an important era in the history of Uttarakhand marked by the rise and fall of powerful dynasties like the Katyuris, Chands and Panwars. The unique hill architecture developed during this period. Some of the main archaeological sites of medieval Uttarakhand are:

Jageshwar Temple Complex

• Location – Almora district
• Time Period – 7th-12th century AD
• Key Discoveries – Stone temples, sculptures

The Jageshwar temple complex contains the remains of over 100 stone temples dated between 7th to 12th century AD. Intricately carved architectural fragments, sculptures and images representing various deities have been found. The artistic style represents the quintessential hill architecture of the Katyuri period.

Baijnath Temple

• Location – Bageshwar
• Time Period – 11th-12th century AD
• Key Discoveries – Nagara style stone temple

The Baijnath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was constructed in 1090 AD in the Nagara style of architecture. It has carved stone panels depicting various Hindu deities.

Ukhimath Temple Complex

• Location – Rudraprayag district
• Time Period – 11th-13th century AD
• Key Discoveries – Remains of old shrines

Excavations have exposed remains of earlier shrines below the present Ukhimath temples dated to the Katyuri period. Architectural fragments from this early phase have been found.

Some other important medieval period temples signifying the evolution of distinctive hill architecture are the Champawat temple, Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves (Pithoragarh) and the Sun temple at Katarmal (Almora).

Forts and Palaces

This era also saw the construction of forts, palaces and military outposts by the various ruling powers in the region. Some examples are Chandpur Garhi (Garhwal), Bamori (Nainital), and the Katyuri fort at Dwarahat (Almora). Excavations at the Dwarahat fort site have revealed structural remains along with iron objects, coins, terracottas and sculptural pieces. Medieval period weapons have also been found at places like Silgad.

Epigraphic Evidence

The medieval period saw the tradition of donative inscriptions reach its zenith in Uttarakhand. Thousands of stone inscriptions related to land grants, construction of temples, pilgrim rest houses, tanks etc have been discovered across Uttarakhand. These inscriptions are important sources providing information about the ruling dynasties, administration, society and economy of that era.

Some of the major epigraphic discoveries have been:

Hat Kalika Inscriptions

Over 50 stone inscriptions dated between 6th to 8th century AD have been found at Hat Kalika temple (Bageshwar district) . These provide information about the early Katyuri kings like Vashudev, Shankardev, Prithvidev etc. as well as their military achievements and land grants.

Baijnath Inscriptions

The walls of the Baijnath temple complex (Bageshwar) contain inscriptions belonging to the period between 10th to 16th century AD recording details related to the later Katyuri rulers as well as the Chand dynasty.

Jageshwar Inscriptions

More than a hundred stone inscriptions dated from 8th century to 15th century AD have been found in the Jageshwar temple complex (Almora) . These record various land grants made to Brahmins by the Katyuri and Chand kings.

Ukhimath Inscriptions

The Ukhimath temple complex houses around 60 inscriptions from the 12th-13th century AD referring to the reigns of Katyuri rulers like Prithviswarup, Abhayapal, Sahanpal and Kamesvar. They contain information about royal lineages, land donations and construction activities.

Several other temples like Bageshwar, Dwarahat, Someshwar (Almora) and Pandukeshwar (Chamoli) also have important medieval inscriptions throwing light on the political history of Uttarakhand.

Conclusion to Archaeological and Epigraphic Uttarakhand

Archaeological and Epigraphic Uttarakhand : The rich archaeological and epigraphic heritage of Uttarakhand provides invaluable insights into the state’s ancient history and culture. The prehistoric remains indicate the early settlement and material progress made by humans in the region since the Stone Age. The protohistoric era marks the beginning of metal use, megalithic burials and trade links with the Indo-Gangetic plains.

The early historic period signifies the start of urbanization and the emergence of early states in the Central Himalayas. The medieval phase witnessed the development of the unique hill architectural style as well as provides written records related to the various ruling powers, administrative systems, land ownership and social life through thousands of inscriptions.

Thus the archaeology and epigraphy of Uttarakhand together recreate a fascinating picture of the land’s long journey through time. They highlight the continuous habitation and dynamic cultural evolution witnessed by the Central Himalayan region since prehistoric times through the rise and fall of successive ruling powers in the medieval era. The archaeological remains stand testimony to the enduring human endeavour of the mountain people while the inscriptions provide a contemporary voice recording the events and lifestyle of these bygone ages.

FAQ’s on Archaeological and Epigraphic Uttarakhand :

What are some major archaeological sites discovered in Uttarakhand? 

Some major archaeological sites in Uttarakhand include the Neolithic sites of Lahuradewa, Jhusi, Tokwa in the Vindhyas, and many megalithic burial sites containing iron artifacts, pottery, bones, and skeletons.

What evidence suggests urbanization in ancient Uttarakhand? 

Discoveries of artifacts like coins, seals, weights, terracotta figurines etc. indicate that towns and cities had developed at Kausani, Baijnath, Dwarahat and Jageshwar during Kushana-Gupta period.

What are some significant epigraphic sources found in the region? 

Important epigraphic sources include the Hatkalika inscription describing the Katyuri dynasty, Chand pur copper plates referring to the Panwar dynasty, as well as multiple stone inscriptions documenting land grants and political events.

What information do the Rock Art sites provide? 

The rock art sites with their unique style of paintings and engravings give insights into the material culture, economic activities, rituals, religious beliefs as well as social life during different periods.