Vadnagar archaeological site
| Location | Vadnagar, Gujarat, India |
|---|---|
| History | |
| Founded | c. 730 BC[1] |
| Periods | Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Hindu-Solankis, Sultanate-Mughal, Gaekwad-British rule |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 2016–present |
Vadnagar archaeological site is an archaeological site located in Vadnagar, Gujarat, India, known for its significant findings of a continuing settlement since ancient or pre-Mauryan times.[2][3][4][5]
Archaeological excavations[edit]
Archaeological excavations at Vadnagar commenced in 2016 as a collaborative effort that includes archaeologists and experts from IIT Kharagpur, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Deccan College.[6][7]
A 2024 study published in Quaternary Science Reviews, suggests that the settlement in Vadnagar dates to 800 BCE.[2][1] According to Anindya Sarkar of IIT Kharagpur, the lead author of the study, some of the unpublished radiocarbon samples dates back to 1400 BCE.[2] Which, according to Sarkar, suggests a cultural continuity in India for the last 5500 years.
The excavation, funded by Infosys Foundation and Government of Gujarat's Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, may help in shedding light on the period between the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilisation around 4,000 years ago and the emergence of Iron Age cities in northern India.
Cultural stages[edit]
Vadnagar, a multicultural and multireligious settlement, has witnessed seven cultural stages, including Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Hindu-Solankis, Sultanate-Mughal, and Gaekwad-British colonial rule. The city, with continuous habitation since 800 BCE, is identified as India's oldest living fortified city.[2]
According to researchers, Vadnagar has experienced successive rulership, including Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythians (Kshatrapa kings), Maitrakas, Rashtrakuta-Pratihara[disambiguation needed]-Chavda kings, Solanki kings, Sultanate-Mughals, and Gaekwad/British.[2][3][4]
Climate change impact[edit]
The study suggests that climate change, such as rainfall or droughts, played a significant role in the rise and fall of different kingdoms over 3,000 years. Cold arid/hyper-arid conditions are proposed as triggers for migration from central Asia into the agrarian subcontinent.[2]
See also[edit]
- List of World Heritage Sites in India
- UNESCO
- Vadnagar
- Mauryan Empire
- Vedic period
- Indo-Greek Kingdom
- Indo-Scythian
- Delhi Sultanate
- Gujarat under Delhi Sultanate
- Chalukya dynasty
- Gaekwad dynasty
- British Raj
References[edit]
- ^ a b Sarkar, Anindya, et al., (2024). "Climate, human settlement, and migration in South Asia from early historic to medieval period: Evidence from new excavation at Vadnagar, Western India", in: Quaternary Science Reviews, Volume 324, 15 January 2024, 108470: "Radiocarbon chronology of mollusc carbonates, charcoal and drill core sediments, retrieved from six trenches suggest that the settlement began at ∼2754 years B.P. contemporary to Late-Vedic/pre-Buddhist Mahajanapadas or oligarchic republics of ancient India" (Conclusions).
- ^ a b c d e f Ghosh, Bishwanath (2024-01-13). "India's oldest living city found in PM Modi's native village Vadnagar: multi-institution study". The Hindu. Kolkata. p. 1. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ a b Shamsi, Mohammed Safi. "India's 'dark age' could be a myth, suggests new study". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ a b SNS (2024-01-13). "Dark Age may be myth: IIT Kharagpur joint study". The Statesman. Midnapore. Archived from the original on 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ "Archaeologists Find Continuous Human Settlement For 3,500 Years In Vadnagar". The Times of India. Kharagpur. Jan 13, 2024. p. 1.
- ^ "India's abundant monsoon enticed invaders, suggests Gujarat dig". The Times of India. 2023-12-25. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ "Monastery promise unearthed in Vadnagar". The Times of India. 2017-11-27. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-29.