2800 year old settlement found in Gujarat, name of PM Modi’s village Vadnagar comes in headlines
Remains of a 2800-year-old settlement have been found in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s village Vadnagar in Gujarat. Researchers from IIT Kharagpur, Archaeological Survey of India, Physical Research Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Deccan College have found evidence of human habitation dating back to 800 BC. According to the information, the presence of 7 cultural phases has been revealed in this 800 BC old settlement. Professor Dr. Anindya of IIT Kharagpur told in the media report that the Vadnagar excavation work has been going on since 2016 and the team has excavated to a depth of 20 meters.
What was found in the excavation?
ASI officer Abhijeet Ambekar has informed in the media report that excavation in many of its deep trenches has revealed the presence of 7 cultural phases. Including Maurya, Indo-Scythian and Shaka-Satraps, Hindu Solanki, Sultanate Mughal to Gaekwad – British colonial rule and today’s city continues. One of the Buddhist monasteries has also been discovered during our excavations. Earthen pots, copper, gold, silver and iron objects, bangles with intricate designs have been found in the excavation. Along with this, molds of coins of Greek king Apollodatus have also been found. They also claimed that the discovered remains make Vadnagar the oldest surviving city within a single fort ever excavated in India.
The settlement may be related to the Harappan period
Apart from this, it is also being said that this settlement may be as old as 1400 BC, which is contemporary with the last phase of the Northern Urban Harappan period. Archaeological Supervisor Mukesh Thakur told in the media report that during the last 2200 years of tumultuous time of Indian history, there have been seven invasions on India from Central Asia, the impression of which can also be found in the successive cultural periods of Vadnagar. He said that more than one lakh remains have been discovered and excavations have been done at about 30 places in Vadnagar.
