The Covid-19 outbreak halted the renovation efforts being executed by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. Renovation of the century-old VSS Town Hall, popularly known as Victoria Hall, will be completed by September this year. The revamp work was supposed to be over by 2020 but got delayed due to Covid-19 outbreak. The project is being executed by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) at an estimated cost of Rs 1.24 crore.

Director of INTACH, Bhubaneswar Centre Mallika Mitra said, “We had set a target to complete the renovation by July this year. However, work came to halt for two months due to the second Covid wave.” After the renovation work is over, INTACH will hand over the building to the Tourism department. Almost 80 percent of work has been completed. Some interior and illumination works are left which will be completed by September, Mitra added. There is also a plan to develop a tourist interpretation centre at the building once its renovation is complete. Art, culture, customs and tradition of the region will be showcased at the heritage building. The town hall building holds great historical significance in Sambalpur.

After its foundation stone was laid in 1902, the building was inaugurated by the then Chief Commissioner of the Central Province J P Hewety in 1904. The British Government, kings, landlords and businessmen of the region contributed funds for the construction of the heritage building. It was initially named Victoria Hall but later renamed as VSS Town Hall after Independence. The Zilla School, Women’s College and Trust Fund College (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose College) once operated from this building before being shifted to their existing locations in the city.

MUSHROOM ROCK
Located on the University of Hyderabad campus in Gachibowli, this massive boulder is supported by two narrow rocks which rest on another big rock. It gets its name as it looks like a mushroom. The site is protected on the university campus

UNITED WE STAND
This formation of multiple rocks can be accessed only through the Maulana Azad National Urdu University. It continues to stand the test of time but is dwarfed by skyscrapers in the area

BEAR’S NOSE
This rock formation is now surrounded by Hotel Trident, behind Cyber Towers in HiTec City. Earlier, the formation comprised other rocks too, but most of them have now been buried under the expanding urban landscape. However, the Bear’s Nose is still visible from Rock Heights Function Park near Trident
DARGAH PAHARE - SHAREEF

The dargah is located on an extensive hill with impressive formations mostly indoors. The rock remains protected as the Dargah continues to see high visitor footfall. There have been some construction activities in the peripheries of the rock formation, which pose a threat to it
TORTOISE ROCK
This formation, which resembles a tortoise, is located in BNR Hills near Durgam Cheruvu. The rock was earlier surrounded by other large rocks which eventually disappeared over time due to construction activities

Shameerpet Lakeside Rock Formations
This is an extensive hillock with a temple tucked away in the rocks. It is dotted with formations of balancing rocks. The site is easily accessible, which makes it vulnerable to encroachers. The cry to protect the last few fragments of Hyderabad’s geological heritage grows louder, with only 10 out of 25 sites of rock formations still standing strong. But these too, activists say, are vulnerable to encroachments and haphazard urban development.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2021/jul/07/in-a-rocky-situation-2326484.html, July 7, 2021

Located near Russell Market, its full extent came into view when workers were redoing footpaths under the Smart City project. A well that dates back at least 170 years, located near Russell Market, is now being restored. Located at Chandni Chowk in Shivajinagar, it once had water throughout the year. Only a part of the well was visible, and its full extent came into sight during an ambitious plan to spruce up the market’s surroundings. Architects involved in the Smart City project, now at work in the area, are keen to restore the well to its earlier glory, and showcase it as a piece of the city’s heritage. Estimated to be 35 ft deep, it is connected to two other wells in the vicinity, experts told Metrolife. “There’s a well on HKP Road and another near Elgin Talkies, built in 1896, both in Shivajinagar. But we are still studying this aspect," says Rajiv Hanumanthaiah, managing director of Lateral Architectural Services, the company designing for Smart City works in the area. The conservationists plan to desilt the well and rid it of plastic and other debris brought in by the drains connected to it. “We also want to build a Kalyani (stepped well), around which people can sit. We want to develop this into a piece of public art,” explains Rajiv. The spot will have bronze tigers, birds and monkeys, drinking water from the well. “It will be turned into a selfie spot.

The reputation and image of Shivajinagar being a filthy spot will vanish after we develop the well, he says. The project envisages developing the space opposite the St Mary’s Basilica into an interactive spot. “It will have a dry fountain, where the water comes out of the floor and goes back inside," he says. Simple measures like preserving old lamposts and old streets lends a sense of history to the place and shows how it has evolved, he adds. MLA says... Among those keen to preserve the well is Rizwan Arshad, MLA, Shivajinagar constituency. He is aware the areas around Russel Market are steeped in history.

"The place has been an epicentre of social, cultural and political activities,” he told Metrolife. Rizwan says the completion of the Smart City project will give the area a fresh lease of life. “Old timers say people living in the Cantonment used to fetch water from here and horses too would drink from it," says Rizwan. A BIT OF HISTORY: When the British came to Blackpally... When the British came from the Madras Presidency to set up a cantonment in Bengaluru, they looked for a place where water was available and Blackpally (now Shivajinagar) met all their requirements. Historians are debating the origins of the name Blackpally. Is it a distortion of the Kannada ‘Bili Akki Halli’? ‘Bili akki’ means white rice, a variety introduced in the fields here. It could also be a derivation of ‘Bellakki Halli’ (‘bellakki’ means white birds, and could refer to egrets), or a tribute to a British official called John Blakiston.

Local lore has it that arms were hidden in these wells and the tunnels found inside Chandini Chowk were meant as an escape route for British troops. Many such wells can be found in Bengaluru, some en route to Mysuru Road, but almost all of them are now lost, with unauthorised buildings coming up on them. What happened to our profusion wells? Meera Iyer, convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), says there was a time when Bengaluru depended on wells for almost all its water needs. “In the 1980s, it was estimated that Bengaluru had an astounding 25,000 wells.

Maps of the city of the late 1800s also show a profusion of wells,” she says. In 1875, the British government measured the depth of wells around the city, A well in today’s Russell Market area (near the tower) was reported to have a depth of 35 feet. Another near the beef market was just 26 ft deep.

The depth of water in them ranged from 1 ft to 4.5 ft. The same report mentions a well at the Fort near today’s City Market, 8 ft deep and with 6 ft water, says Meera. Today, she says, when the borewells are dug, they routinely go 1,000 feet deep to find water. It is difficult to imagine there was a time when water was available at just six feet, she says. Oral history has it that Shivajinagar was a maidan and this well served as its source of water, says Krupa Rajangam, founder of Saythu, a heritage collaborative.

"It was also used as a trading centre or mandi. Over time, it metamorphosed into a regular santhe and marketplace. The Russell Market and beef market came up in the early 1900s. People say there could be three to nine wells there," says Krupa.

https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-your-bond-with-bengaluru/170-yr-old-british-era-well-set-for-heritage-showcasing-1006446.html, June 8, 2021

The Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS), an archaeological wing of the State government, has discovered a 4,000-year-old settlement and ancient artifacts in Balasore district. After uncovering traces of fortified early historic sites near Balasore town, the OIMSEAS had sought permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to document the site at the Durgadevi village in Remuna tehsil. Durgadevi is located 20 km from Balasore town. According to the ASI, the site has a circular mud fortification of about 4.9 km between the Sona river to the south and the Burahabalang river on its northeastern margin. Archaeologists have come across distinct traces of three cultural phases at the excavation site — Chalcolithic (2000 BCE to 1000 BCE), the Iron Age (1000 BCE to 400 BCE) and the Early Historic Period (400 BCE to 200 BCE). “Two small nullas, Gangahara and Prassana, join the site on its north and south, forming a natural moat for the site, which was an ancient water management system developed at least 4,000 years back from present,” the institute said. Excavation was started with an aim to correlate the simultaneous growth and development of maritime activities, and urbanisation in the east coast of India, linking the Ganga valley in north and the Mahanadi valley in central Odisha, more particularly to focus on early cultural development in northern Odisha, the institute informed. According to the OIMSEAS, horizontal excavation was concentrated in an area of two acres of high land, where a cultural deposit of about 4 to 5 meters was seen. Archaeologists have come across a human settlement, and artifacts belonging to the Chalcolithic period. “The major discovery of the Chalcolithic period of Durgadevi is the base of a circular hut, black on red painted pottery, black slipped ware, red slipped ware, and copper objects. The floor of the circular hut is rammed with red soil,” Sunil Kumar Pattnaik, archaeologist and Secretary, OIMSEAS. “From the base of the circular hut and the utilitarian objects found, the lifestyle of the people has been derived. People were mostly leading a settled life and had started agriculture, and domestication of animals and fishing,” he said. Similarly, the cultural material evidence and remains found from this phase include pottery, remains of black burnished ware, black and red ware, iron objects like nails, arrow heads, and crucible and slag of various kinds belonging to the Iron Age. “The use of iron is a landmark phase in the growth of civilisation in Odisha, particularly in north Odisha. There are several iron age sites discovered by various archaeologists in the upper and middle Mahanadi valley, but in north Odisha, this is the first site,” said Mr. Patnaik. Cultural materials from the early historic period such as pottery specimens of red ware, terracotta ear studs, bangles, beads, and some conical objects, were also discovered from the site. “The lifestyle of the people, which is derived from the cultural materials, was very improved at that time, from an agricultural base to trade and construction of fortification around the site with a moat, which signify the emergence of urbanisation at Durgadevi around 400 BCE to 200 BCE," said the OIMSEAS Secretary.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/4000-year-old-settlement-found-during-odisha-excavation/article35109780.ece July 3, 2021

A stone inscription, believed to be from the 13th century Hoysala empire, was found recently at Yelachenahalli, South Bengaluru when locals were clearing a plot to construct a building. Epigraphists and history buffs thronged the spot to decipher the Kannada text on the stone but the lockdown hampered their efforts. They’re determined to return once Covid curbs are lifted. Two weeks ago, a piece of ancestral land in Kanakanagar owned by a local politician was being cleared and workers stumbled on an old piece of stone over 3ft tall and around 2.5ft wide with Purva Halegannada (Old Kannada) inscriptions which no one could read.

“We heard about it and I rushed to the spot,” said Rajeev Nrupathunga, founder of Revival Heritage Hub, an NGO extensively involved in Karnataka’s history. What Nrupathunga saw at the site stunned him as the inscription was from the Hoysala period, possibly late 1300s. “The purva Kannada alphabets were from the Hoysala period and certain words, namely the Gandaberunda, indicated it. The slab started with the Linga Akara symbol telling us it was erected to honour the contribution of locals for the welfare of possibly a Shiva temple here,” he said, adding that it’s perhaps the first find of a Hoysala period inscription in South Bengaluru. Senior epigraphist Ravikumar Navalagunda of Davangere deduced that the stone belonged to the Hoysala period and three communities, including the Veerapanchala, from those days were mentioned in the inscription.

“Details of the grant or information of local chieftain or others are not clear as only a portion of the stone has been found. An excavation could possibly lead us to other portions which can shed light on the village and its residents who lived there over 800 years ago,” says O Harihara Sudan, an epigraphy student assisting Navalagunda. In August 2018, the Revival Heritage Hub team unearthed a rare stone inscription of the Vijayanagara period in Kumaraswamy Layout, less than a kilometre from the Yelachenahalli site. The 600-year-old tablet had Elajeeyaraha Halli (today’s Yelachenahalli) inscribed on it. Claiming that this inscription is a rare find, historians plan to excavate the site after alerting the state archaeology department.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/13th-century-stone-inscription-found-in-bengaluru/articleshow/83708594.cms, June 25, 2021

INTACH, Ambala, has presented certificates to schools principals for their teachers who had participated in the teachers training workshop organised by it in June. Col RD Singh (Retd), convener, INTACH, presented certificates and gave books to schools. The principals appreciated the positive and helpful attitude of INTACH members, and complimented them for the useful heritage activities which they were conducting in Ambala for children. As many as 35 teachers from 18 schools participated in the programme, which was also attended by a number of INTACH members.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/jc-bose-varsity-begins-admissions-283981, July 16, 2021

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) has chosen Kolkata Police Commissioner Soumen Mitra for a national award as he took up the restoration of Barrackpore Park and documented its ecological diversity. The “country retreat” of Governor General, Lord Wellesley, built in 1800, was in a dilapidated state when Mitra, the then additional director general (training), took over the campus that now serves as the Swami Vivekananda State Police Academy. A keen scholar of history, Mitra not only led the restoration of the governor-general’s residence but also documented the rich flora and fauna of Barrackpore Park, which was published as a book by the Academy. This year, Mitra is one of the two persons selected by Intach for the Anirudh Bhargava – Intach Environmental Award, a nationally acclaimed honour for conservation. The other awardee is the environmental conservationist, Yashovardhan Sharma, who has worked for saving Orans and created water holes for black bucks and chinkaras in Rajasthan. During the massive restoration of Barrackpore Park, which took two years, Mitra had explored the greenery on the campus and took down notes on various species of trees, flowers, fruits and creepers along with birds, animals, reptiles and insects found there.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/heritage-trust-award-for-kol-cp/articleshow/84389670.cms, July 14, 2021

Four railway stations are to be restored for the Bengaluru Division by the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a non-profit associated with the Archeological Survey of India. The restoration of 105 year old Doddajala heritage railway station in Bengaluru Division has been kickstarted. Four railway stations are set to be restored for the division by the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a non-profit associated with the Archeological Survey of India. Ashok Kumar Verma, Bengaluru Divisional Railway Manager, laid the foundation stone on Monday (July 12) to start the restoration work.

"An Art Centre-cum-Cultural Centre-cum Conventional Centre will be developed at Doddajala,” said an official release. This is in light of an MoU signed on February 25, 2021 to restore and preserve heritage railway stations at Doddajala, Devanahalli, Avatihalli and Nandi Halt based on different themes related to history and heritage, it added. The stations are located on the Bengaluru-Chikkaballapur light railway line, a metre gauge one opened on August 1, 1915. “This is one of the region's oldest railway lines. These buildings are quaint examples of colonial style architecture located in a picturesque stretch," it said.

The release said that an interpretation centre for monuments and history as well as a cafe or snack counter will be set up at Devanahalli while a silk museum and resource centre along with a park, with appropriate tree planting and landscaping will be put in place at Avathihalli. A rail museum, cafe, restaurant, cultural performance centre, pop-up weekend craft markets, interpretation centre, open air theatre and amphitheatre will come up at Nandi Halt Station. The work will be done in two steps. In the first stage, INTACH will undertake the renovation, restoration and preservation of the station buildings in consultation with the railways and identify the partners under CSR for funding the initiative.

In the second stage, ways and means of sustainable maintenance of preserved and restored buildings will be developed by creating additional amenities at the stations and surroundings. Kusuma Hariprasad, Additional Divisional Railway manager (Admin), S Pervesh Kumar, Sr. Divisional Engineer (Coordination) and Jayant Ramachandran, Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer, were present on the occasion. Meera Iyer, Convenor of INTACH, Co-convenor C Arvind as well as conservation architect Pankaj Modi were also present.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/jul/13/restoration-of-105-year-old-doddajala-heritage-railway-station-in-bengaluru-gets-underway-2329552.html, July 13, 2021

After months of one-and-off lockdowns and travel restrictions, tourists are gingerly venturing out again. In this backdrop, we explore how a bunch of dedicated ‘local historians’ are gently helping people notice all the wonders closer home. What is the stuff of history? Is it the grand narrative alone that is to occupy our mindspace? History with a capital H, so to speak — the kind that chronicles an emperor’s achievements, a dynasty’s ascendance/decline or the larger-than-life account of a nation or a region? Is there a place in it for the localised, the specific and the odds and ends that are important to smaller communities and settlements? Admittedly, it is the aweinspiring account that attracts our attention. And when history is spoken of, it is its grandeur that comes to our mind. But, quietly, without creating too much of a spectacle, a new kind of history has crept into public consciousness — what goes by the name of ‘local history’. In these pandemic-ridden times, this is perhaps the silver lining the much-battered travel and tourism industry ought to pay more attention to.

An exploration of home
A few months ago, this newspaper ran an article on a few relics of that grand project of the 19th century — the Great Trigonometrical Survey (GTS) — that still stood in Bengaluru. As it turned out, one such relic (an old structure dating back to the 1860s) was right there, in my own neighbourhood. The GTS itself has been much researched and written about. It was an ambitious project that attempted to measure all of the sub-continent with scientific precision.

It began in 1802 and was completed in 1871. Among its accomplishments were the demarcation of the British territories in India and the measurement of the height of Mount Everest. But the specifics of its connection with the cities, towns, villages, grasslands, marshes and forests where the nuts and bolts of this exercise were carried out, is not the stuff of the grand historical narrative, which prefers to dwell in the realm of the larger picture and talk about those accomplishments and not about what went into the making of it. And yet, there it was in front of me, the GTS Observatory in Kannur in Bengaluru, which according to the article, had been constructed to re-measure the baseline in order to enable the GTS to continue to chug along smoothly and complete its breathtaking endeavour.
That this structure had been conserved and its story brought into the public eye was owing to the efforts of a bunch of dedicated people, who had painstakingly identified the very local remnant of a larger story, preserved it and popularised it. And that, in a nutshell, is perhaps

The local historian recognises that the larger picture is composed of many smaller ones, which are embedded into the larger one, but which when viewed from up close, are complete and fully formed in their own right, even as they contribute to the larger one. ‘History in our backyard’ is what the local historian both brings ‘home’ and keeps at home for all of us. And this backyard history could take several forms — it could be the identification or preservation of a local structure and the unearthing of its backstory; it could be the narration of the story of a locality, a road, a prominent local personality or anything else that innovatively focuses people’s attention on their backyard and connects it to the larger picture.

These connections are made through a variety of ways. Besides the printed word, heritage walks, exhibitions, walking tours, classes in educational institutions and so on, are all arrows in the local historian’s quiver. Of course, a generous helping of enthusiasm is de rigueur. And if one is wondering why at all should it be done, as Meera Iyer, who, along with her teammates at INTACH, was deeply involved in the preservation of the GTS Observatory, puts it, “…when people know the story behind something, they build a connection with ‘it’ — whether it is a street, a building or a locality. It changes the way they look at it. They appreciate it and maybe even love it and then they will care about it."

The ‘real’ vocal about local Given that global travel has increased considerably in the last three decades since a man in a blue turban liberalised the economy, it might seem obvious to make the claim that it is this globetrotting that has given many Indians a taste of how London and Paris are very good at dressing up their local history. Having got a taste of that, many returned to the old country with an idea to do something on similar lines in their cities too. And thus, local history, in the form of walking tours, locality histories, heritage walks and so on was born. Or so goes the legend. But consider this. If you have ever driven out of the city to places in the countryside with its inevitable old temple or some other local monument, chances are that a hawker would have approached you with a little booklet with ‘Sthala Purana’ printed on it. These ‘sthala puranas’, which are extremely popular in South India, are the traditional stories of particular localities, villages, and temples or to put it differently, they are ‘local histories’.

And so, when a raconteur is narrating tales of a locality in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata or where-have-you, isn’t she in effect giving you the ‘sthala purana’ of the place, really? heritage preservation. Mustansir Dalvi of Mumbai is a man of many accomplishments. A published poet and translator as well as a professor of architecture, he has conducted doctoral research on the city’s Art Deco structures, taught and lectured extensively on the history of its architecture and also written on it in both the popular and academic press. His interest is in exploring ideas of the changing urban landscape in the city and he has been a big supporter of the heritage conservation movement in Mumbai, since its start in the early 1990s. His prime motivation, he says, comes from being a citizen who loves the city of Mumbai and he does what he does mainly to create awareness about architectural heritage and the need for conservation. He believes that one can read these buildings as texts for our contemporary times. In a city like Mumbai, or for that matter, any big city the world over, the real-estate market, in its quest for more and more prime land, is often at the forefront of attempting to undermine the value of architectural heritage. In trying to preserve these structures and more importantly, spread the word about their value, the local historian is performing a valuable historical service. INTACH recently completed the restoration of the Fort High School in Bengaluru, something that they had first initiated in 2011. Raising funds for the project took the better part of a decade before work could actually commence.

INTACH convenors over the years have also lobbied steadily with government officials at the Urban Development department to notify regulations for heritage structures. These were finally notified in April 2020, but effective implementation of the rules is what will ensure that heritage structures are preserved. Vikramjit Rooprai, who lives and works in Delhi, identifies as a ‘Heritage Activist’ and says that he has made talking about heritage the nucleus of his teaching. To this end, he both conducts workshops and organises heritage walks and is actively involved in popularising history. The role of social media The role of social media in popularising local history narratives has proved to be quite remarkable. Many Facebook groups and Twitter and Instagram handles are doing an exemplary job at disseminating local historical information. Often, a photograph or a memory serves to trigger several discussions, thereby creating a valuable archive. Groups on Facebook like ‘Bangalore — Photos from a Bygone Age’, ‘Hyderabad Trails’ and ‘Oh Bombay!’ have built up an impressive corpus of photographs and memories about their cities and are veritable. How does local history connect with the larger narratives of history? For instance, Rooprai says, “I talk of South Asian History and I consider it as my local history,” clearly choosing to look further even while he talks about his immediate past. Consider the GTS, for instance.

The observatory, for instance, could be the beginning of a deep dive into the entire exercise, which was intended to serve the exploitative purposes of colonialism, but which also created a huge corpus of knowledge about the subcontinent. The GTS served as the trigger to other similar exercises — the Botanical and Zoological Surveys, the Archaeological Survey, the Linguistic Survey and of course, the Census — all of which have played a huge part in the framing of the modern Indian nation state. A skilled historian can connect all of these stories to form a narrative that quite literally begins in one’s backyard and travels across the world in its bid to explain the motivations of colonialism and how it came to dominate large parts of the globe. Similarly, one could begin with a minor not-so-popular monument or building and use it to sketch the entire story of a king, a dynasty, a time-period, a literature and bring many things alive. This is history home-delivered, quite literally. Going beyond school history Meera Iyer, Dalvi and Rooprai all vehemently agree that the larger public is extremely supportive of their work and have often gone out of their way to support them. Their workshops, walks, exhibitions and appeals for funds have all found enthusiastic takers consistently.

This belies the popular perception that history in school is a ‘boring’ subject and most people are glad to see the back of it once they finish school. Clearly, history as an area of interest does not lose its zing for many, no matter what their experience of it in school is and people are eager to engage with it. This poses an interesting challenge for curriculum makers and history teachers. Among the things that have been said about history is that its excessive emphasis on names, dates and facts have, to an extent, killed the spirit of the subject and rendered it a test of memory rather than one of understanding patterns, movements and change. And then there is the tendency to hark back to a mythical ‘glorious past’ to communicate the minutiae of the discipline. This has resulted in a history shorn of nuance. general populace? Could this backyard history approach prove to be the equivalent of the laboratory method used in pure sciences? Could we begin by asking these questions, at the least? The author is a publishing professional who writes on literature, language and history

https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sh-top-stories/rediscovering-your-backyard-1006739.html, July 11, 2021

The district administration is on the job of bringing historical sculptures, inscriptions, artefacts and ancient agriculture equipment under one roof with the help of locals to preserve these antique items and acquainting tourists with their significance and milieu. A joint team of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and district administration-led Chief Minister Good Governance Associate (CMGGA), Kaustubh Varat, are visiting villages to collect these items for the purpose. The administration is also preparing a proposal to setup a museum in the district, said sources. “A number of sculptures, inscriptions, artefacts and other objects are lying scattered at various places in the district. Many of these have also got damaged as no one earlier paid any heed towards preserving these. All these are now being collected for conservation.

We have prepared a list of 51 villages where such objects are likely to be found, said Ratan Lal Saini, district convener of INTACH. Saini maintained so far, the team had visited Kamania, Shyana, Mandhi and Kultajpur villages here in search of these historical items. Many sculptures that were found in excavations over 50 years ago had been kept in the temples of Kamania and Shyana villages while some idols and inscriptions were lying at farms and other places in Mandhi and Kultajpur villages, he added.

"Mahendragarh district is full of cultural heritage. There are many such historical monuments, which have the potential of attracting tourists in and outside India. The idea of collecting ancient objects came to mind when we were planning to revamp these monuments. We learnt that many antique items have already been sent to Jhajjar, Kurukshetra and Chandigarh from Mahendragarh as there is no place here to preserve these. So, we decided to conserve the objects locally by bringing these under one roof,” said Kaustubh. Ajay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, said a district heritage committee had been formed to identify those places where such items were available. Even locals had been requested to donate artifacts from their collection. Names of such people would be mentioned on the donated items, he added.

"After collecting all valuable sculptures, inscriptions and artifacts, a report will be sent to the state government with a request of taking essential steps for its conservation at the local level," said the DC, adding that initially, the items will be kept on the premises of the district library.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/artefacts-to-be-brought-under-one-roof-in-mahendragarh-281795, July 12, 2021

The caves are nestled amid a maze of quartzite rocks in the Aravalli mountain ranges, just outside the national capital, and a stone’s throw from the region’s only surviving patch of primary forest, a holy grove called Mangar Bani. Palaeolithic cave paintings found in corners of NCR could be among the oldest. The caves are nestled amid a maze of quartzite rocks in the Aravalli mountain ranges, just outside the national capital, and a stone’s throw from the region’s only surviving patch of primary forest, a holy grove called Mangar Bani. The caves are nestled amid a maze of quartzite rocks in the Aravalli mountain ranges, just outside the national capital, and a stone’s throw from the region’s only surviving patch of primary forest, a holy grove called Mangar Bani. While the residents of Manger village, and adjoining villages such as Selakhari, say generations have been aware of the paintings, it is only recently that the Haryana government’s museum and archaeology department took note of them. It sent a fact-finding team to the area in the last week of June.

"So far, cave paintings in Delhi-NCR have only been found here. Most prehistoric sites have been traced in the Aravalli region. The paintings are yet to be dated but at least some of them belong to the Upper Palaeolithic period in all likelihood. We are viewing the paintings in continuation with the Soanian culture which has been found in Shivalik hills, Narmada and Aravallis,” said Banani Bhattacharyya, deputy director of the department of archaeology and museums. The department plans to undertake further explorations in the area. The caves and the paintings themselves are reminiscent of Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, which is home to the oldest known cave art in India, dating back to the Mesolithic Age (around 10,000 years ago). The Mangar cave art is 20,000-40,000 years old, according to Bhattacharyya, but this is something that can be established through archaeological dating. Experts also use qualitative techniques, by comparing the cave art to other cave art, and that found in other excavations. While explorations and excavations in the Aravallis have been undertaken in the past, it is for the first time that cave paintings at the current site have caught the attention of researchers. Bhattacharyya believes the site may have possibly remained relatively undiscovered over the years due to thick vegetation.

"Stone age tools and technology dates to a particular time period. We explore what tool belongs to which time period. In sites such as these, we can conduct dating by studying the pigment. The pigment contains proteins (mainly organic material) which can be dated. At present, we are dependent on typo-technological dating. Tools such as hand cleaver, blade, evolve with types. Starting from the Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic then Upper Palaeolithic, we see the evolution here. We have found significant remains from the Lower Palaeolithic till the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic period too," she explained. Most of the paintings are ochre, but some are white. Experts say cave paintings in white are usually from a later stage (early contemporary era), while Stone Age paintings are more often than not, ochre. “Stone age paintings generally use red and ochre colours. Stones of these colours used to be available locally and inhabitants crushed the stones for preparing the colour for paintings,” said Bhattacharyya. Palaeolithic artefacts have been reported earlier from various parts of Delhi and Haryana. In 1985-86, Dilip Kumar Chakrabarty and Nayanjot Lahiri surveyed and mapped prehistoric sites in Delhi and Haryana. They traced 43 sites. In 1986, AK Sharma discovered the Palaeolithic site of Anangpur in Faridabad.

ASI later undertook excavation at the site. Sharma was accompanied by former joint director general of ASI SB Ota and other experts from ASI’s prehistoric branch. Ota said that while the Aravallis are known for prehistoric remains starting from the Lower Palaeolithic period, unlike Central India and other places that are rich in rock paintings, no rock paintings have been found in Aravallis until now. "That engravings formed part of Aravallis was known through earlier publications but what was not known so far was the presence of paintings in rock shelters. The paintings never got washed away due to these rock shelters. We do not know the date at the moment but this is a clear indication that there must have been many more paintings which might have been destroyed over time,” he said. Ota emphasized the need for conservation after investigations and assessment of the importance of the paintings. “The Aravallis demonstrate the earliest evidence of the stone age which we call the Lower Palaeolithic Acheulean culture. The area can be easily protected since the Aravalli hills also derive protection from various Supreme Court orders. This can be done after experts assess the cultural and archaeological value of the site.” The Aravalli’s are India’s and the world’s oldest mountain range, and have been ravaged by time, the elements, and increasingly over the past few decades, man.

Ashok Khemka, principal secretary to government, archaeology and museums department, Haryana, said that while a team from the department has conducted a preliminary study, further investigations will be undertaken since the site requires extensive documentation. He said the department will grant protection status to Mangar forest. “We will definitely be giving the Mangar Bani forest state protection under the archaeological act because of the presence of a large number of stone age cave paintings that have been found there. The paintings date back roughly 20-30,000 years. We will be issuing orders for protecting the entire Mangar Bani forest under section 4 of Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.” Khemka said his department plans to hire scholars from the region for an extensive survey. “We will be hiring a team of research scholars who are experts in prehistoric cave paintings. Locals and a few research scholars from the nearby universities will also be involved in the extensive survey.” Shalaish Baisla, an archaeology student and independent researcher, said he had spotted tools and cave paintings from the prehistoric age in Mangar. He added that the area needed immediate protection. “There are individuals who have commercial interests in the area. It is crucial that the site is granted protection, even before any research is undertaken.” Residents of Mangar and other villages in the area say they know of the paintings, but that their historical importance eluded them. Hamid, a resident of Selakheri, said: “We know that these paintings must be quite old. It’s evident if you look at them. However, one can’t understand or make sense of symbols or the writing. They have gathered dust over the years.” He uses only one name. Shaukat Ali, a septuagenarian, said that he has seen the paintings over years. “People go there regularly, particularly women -- for grazing goats or routine walks. The caves are a part of our lives...” Sunil Harsana, an activist from Mangar village, said that while the forest needed protection, it was crucial to ensure that protection did not remain on paper alone. “A heritage site has been found here. It is crucial that experts conduct the necessary investigations and ensure that people are made aware of the significance of the site. These sites need to be protected so that future generations are able to understand the history of the region,” said Harsana.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/palaeolithic-cave-paintings-found-in-corner-of-ncr-could-be-among-oldest-in-the-country-101626201354624.html, July 14 2021

A Maharashtra archaeologist may have hit a jackpot by discovering several potteries and artefacts, dating back to the later era of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), at Yawal in Jalgaon district. A Maharashtra archaeologist may have hit a jackpot by discovering several potteries and artefacts, dating back to the later era of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), at Yawal in Jalgaon district. The finds are mainly big and small pieces of pottery and vessels, depicting Harappan-style pictographic scripts that excited the discovery team led by Bhujang R. Bobade, Director, Heritage Foundation. "We found the pottery pieces in the white mounds near the entrance of the Nimbalkar Fortress, around 20 km from Bhusaval... It's a virgin territory, hitherto unexplored by any archaeologist," an enthusiastic Bobade told IANS from the site. A Maharashtra archaeologist may have hit a jackpot by discovering several potteries and artefacts, dating back to the later era of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), at Yawal in Jalgaon district. The finds are mainly big and small pieces of pottery and vessels, depicting Harappan-style pictographical scripts that excited the discovery team led by Bhujang R. Bobade, Director, Heritage Foundation. "We found the pottery pieces in the white mounds near the entrance of the Nimbalkar Fortress, around 20 km from Bhusaval... It's a virgin territory, hitherto unexplored by any archaeologist," an enthusiastic Bobade told IANS from the site.

Scores of pottery pieces, which was the major industry during the IVC with its unique potteries like glazed, incised, perforated or knobbed, have been found in barely 500 sq ft area after the first dig at Yawal. Bobade said that while most potteries of that era were plain, the others were uniquely painted with scales, chequers, images of trees, birds, animals or fish, mostly with plain bases and some with ringed bottoms. The pottery pieces discovered here are mainly wheel-made wares, both plain (red clay, with or without a fine slip) and painted (in red and black colours), as was common in the flourishing IVC era over 3,000 years ago. "Another unique thing here is that besides the ancient Harappan-style artefacts, we also found some pieces dating much later, to the medieval era, or 15th-16th AD. This is probably unprecedented anywhere in India," Bobade said. He said the "twin discoveries" indicate that this particular region of north-Maharashtra was inhabited for an extended period, very long after the IVC faded away into the pages of history. The Director of the Directorate of Archaeology, Tejas Garge, said that it could also date back to the Satavahana period, or roughly the time when the famous paintings were said to have been made in the Ajanta Caves, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Incidentally, the 76m long, 68m wide and 45m tall Nimbalkar Fortress, which stands near the site, was built by the local ruler, Rao Dhar Nimbalkar, in 1788 and at one time it was in the possession of the royal family of Gwalior, the Scindias.

However, several discoveries of bronze artefacts during excavations in 1958, 1974 and 1978 in Daimabad and Ahmednagar suggest that the late Harappan culture may have extended to this region of modern-day Maharashtra, said Bobade. Nevertheless, the potters' wheels, which were made of wood, have not survived the ravages of time, but the remnants of their creations are found scattered here, over 1,000 km away from the heart of the Harappan Civilization. The team members, including Bobade, Samadhan Mahajan, a government official, and his son Parth Mahajan, consider this as 'truly astonishing' and said this will need massive further excavations, study and research. "Yet, it's still a mystery as to how such a large geographical area exhibited a uniform pottery tradition in forms, paintings and pottery designs similar to Harappa," Bobade said. The IVC was at one point the largest ancient human civilisation in terms of its geographical spread, with a core area of over 1,500 km, along the 3,200 km-long Indus River system of north and north-west India before it drains into the Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan. Bobade is confident that after the latest discoveries in Jalgaon, the Archaeological Survey of India and other experts will carry out further excavations and investigations to reveal more of the ancient era to the modern world.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-late-harappan-era-artefacts-found-at-virgin-site-in-jalgaon, July 11 2021

Taking into account the material and style of this temple, it is evident that it was built at least 1300 to 1400 years ago, and is among the oldest intact temples in the region, said Deepak Kumar Nayak, a member of INTAC team. A survey team of the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage has claimed to have discovered the ruins of a 6-7th century Shiva temple in Puri district making it one of the oldest temples in Odisha and one of the earliest in the post-Gupta era. The four member team led by Anil Dhir, Deepak Kumar Nayak, Subhashish Dash and Suman Swain of INTACH found the temple at Biropurusottampur village in Pipili tehsil of Puri district during the survey of Ratnachira Valley and its monuments. The temple locally known as Swapneswar Mahadev is located by the side of Ghateswar temple in the village and is made of square stone Khandolite stone blocks with no binding or cementing as is seen in most Odisha temples of 11th and 12th century onwards such as Jagannath temple and Konark temple. Dhir said the stone blocks were placed one over other in symmetry to make the temple wall and roof. “No evidence of iron clamps has been seen.

The neatly chiselled blocks denote an era when Kalingan traditional temple architectural style was in its infancy. The temple is devoid of any external embellishments on both the inner and outer walls; even the parsadevata niches are empty,” said Dhir, a noted historian. Nayak said the temple is believed to have been built after the post- Gupta era. “The region was a part of the South Toshali area of the ancient Kalinga kingdom and finds mention in the copper plate inscriptions of the post-Gupta period.

The Kanasa plates of Sri Lokavigraha and Olasingh plates of Bhanuvardhana, issued in the 6th-7th century throw light on the worship of Maninagesvar (Shiva) and Naga Cult of the South Toshali region. Taking into account the material and style of this temple, it is evident that it was built at least 1300 to 1400 years ago, and is among the oldest intact temples in the region,” he said. Anil Dhir, who had earlier completed the detailed survey of the Prachi Valley and the ancient Jagannath Sadak said similar temples were seen in the Mahendragiri hill ranges of southern Odisha. Dhir said the ancient monument is in a very precarious state and on the verge of collapse. Growth of thick vegetation on the top and the sides has caused severe damage. The thick roots have split the stone blocks and developed wide cracks and the rear wall is dangerously leaning backwards. The sanctum sanctorum gets flooded because of the leaks in the roof.

The entire temple may crumble down anytime if proper measures are not taken immediately. Superintendent of Bhubaneswar circle of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Arun Mallick said the agency would soon study the temple for its exact history.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/6th7th-century-shiva-temple-discovered-in-odisha-claims-intach-101626884621013.html, July 19 2021

Heritage activists in the city have launched a signature campaign to save Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building which have been marked for demolition though the issue is before the court. The activists of Belaku organisation took the lead in conducting the campaign and it was inaugurated by heritage expert N.S. Rangaraju, member, District Heritage Committee and convenor of INTACH, Mysuru. The campaign was launched in front of the Lansdowne Building and people of Mysuru have been urged to lend their signature in a bid to build up pressure on the authorities and help save the heritage buildings. The campaign will continue for at least 10 days before the activists decide their next course of action. Prof. Rangaraju said the initiative follows the recent announcement by the Minister for Urban Development Byrathi Basavaraj that both the buildings were not in a position to be conserved. The Minister had also stated that the demolition and rebuilding of the Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building would cost around ₹145 crore. Prof. Rangaraju said there is a stay against the demolition by the High Court and yet the Minister has gone on record to state that the buildings would be demolished, which amounts to contempt of court. He also questioned the need for spending ₹145 crore for new buildings when the government is strapped for funds and is battling the pandemic.

"Instead both the structures can be conserved at a fraction of the cost and will serve the needs of the city for a few more years,’’ he added. The activists have also taken exception to the remarks of Tourism Minister C.P. Yogeshwar who said that he would go ahead with the ropeway to Chamundi Hills despite the opposition of the environmentalists. The Minister had remarked that on completion of the project the environmentalists themselves would be convinced of its benefits. Prof. Rangaraju said not only should the Tourism Department seek permission from the Forest Department, it should also seek clearance from the heritage committee as Chamundi Temple and its precincts are a heritage zone.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/signature-campaign-launched-to-save-heritage-buildings/article35428741.ece, July 20 2021

Jalandhar boy Aryan Rajput has won the Regional Award for the INTACH ‘Nature in Danger’ contest for his report on his project report “Water Body Clean Up”. As aspiring astronaut and ardent environemnt lover, Aryan, who studies in the 9th standard has submitted his report is based on and inspired by the mammoth clean up and kar sewa of the Holy Kali Bein. The INTACH competition titled “Nature In Danger: My Project Report” invited thousands of entries from students across the country of which 10 national, 42 regional and some special awards were announced. Aryan who won the regional award is a Jalandhar-based student inspired by the environment.

Speaking to The Tribune, Aryan said: “I met environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal on one of my recent trips to Sultanpur Lodhi after the lockdown and was inspired by his Bein clean-up initiative. I talked to the environmentalist and the villagers who shared hugely inspirational stories. That prompted me to work on this project. The award is a huge encouragement.” Aryan who conducted intensive search of internet about the project knowing it in and outs is also keen to make a difference environmentally. He is an ecology lover and believes everyone should do their bit to save the planet. Aryan is currently preparing to pursue astronomical engineering. While Aryan’s mother is principal at a Beas school, his father is an educational consultant. He says the atmosphere at home also helps him pursue his dream.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/inspired-by-balbir-singh-seechewal-jalandhar-boy-wins-award-for-project-on-bein-284383, July 20 2021

Delhi govt will unveil Chandni Chowk's new look next month — freshly tiled with red sandstone, its sides colourful with flowerpots, punctuated with benches for the tired feet. When the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan shifted his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad — now old Delhi — he allowed his favourite daughter Jahanara’s imagination to conceive its main street and marketing hub, Chandni Chowk. The moonlit square. For nearly 400 years, the spirit of that bustling market — an important trading centre in north India — has remained indomitable, but time has heaped on it layers of neglect and anarchy. From a beautiful trade centre and a vibrant cultural space, Chandni Chowk had become quite the nightmare for urban planners and public administrators. But all that is set to change next month, when the Delhi government unveils the new look of the historical site after working hard at it for nearly three years. The first phase of the project, which is complete, concentrates on the beautification of the 1.3-kilometre stretch between Red Fort’s Lahori Gate and the Fatehpuri Masjid — the main thoroughfare of this historical hub since the 17th century. The menace of motor vehicles is gone from this road as only manually-pedalled rickshaws are allowed. The street has also been beautified — retiled, potted with plants, and pavements widened for a better walking experience. The dirty mesh of overhead wires has also been removed. The work, which started in December 2018, has been implemented by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) and Delhi’s Public Works Department (PWD). However, like other attempts at the redesign of a historical place, Chandni Chowk’s preservation is also fraught with criticism. Preservation is a one-way street as there is no going back, experts said. Murmurs have, therefore, risen whether laying tiles over the central verge has “silenced the dynamism of centuries”. There are also questions on when the rest of the teeming area will get a makeover as the first phase missed several deadlines due to Covid and other issues. And what are the permanent stakeholders saying — those whose livelihoods depend on the economy of the main street? Phase 1: The new look As one enters Chandni Chowk, posters on steel gates warn that motor vehicles would be fined Rs 20,000 if they enter the revamped road opposite Red Fort between 9 am and 9 pm. The Chandni Chowk road is freshly tiled with red sandstone, its sides colourful with flowerpots, punctuated with benches for the tired feet. The untangled mess of the overhead wires, the low-hanging loops have also been taken underground. Several residents felt that the street is now a tourist’s delight, a shopper’s haven. The old water pipeline has been replaced with new ones, while the existing sewerage network has been cleaned with its inner surface re-laid. A dedicated water line has also been created to feed street fire hydrants in the area which is notorious for frequent blazes. Nodal officer of the project, Nitin Panigrahi, said: “Since Chandni Chowk is the very kitchen of street food, gas pipelines have been laid along the entire stretch so as to make these congested food joints safe.” He added: “There’s no plan for vending zones in the stretch as hawking has been prohibited here by various courts.” To top all efforts, the market did not stop bustling even one day during the redevelopment work — except for the Covid lockdown. Mixed reactions from stakeholders The permanent stakeholders of the area — regular commuters, shopkeepers, rickshaw pullers, residents and streetside hawkers — whose livelihoods and heritage are connected to the main street are either happy or circumspect. With cars missing from the scene, business has improved for the rickshaw pullers. Ibrahim, 32, who has been in the business for 10 years, said: “Customers ko ab rickshaw se hi jana padta hai, par licence hona chahiye (Customers now have to travel in rickshaws but we need licences to operate).” But his friend Rajdeep, who drives a battery rickshaw, is unhappy because entry is banned for him. Commuter Pramod Kumar, though, is irritated that the area is now overrun by rickshaws, making it difficult to enter nearby Chawri Bazar. He said the police have to deflate tyres at times to reduce overcrowding. Traders are also divided over the redevelopment. President of Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal Sanjay Bhargava said business has improved in the area and business will get better once the pandemic settles down. He said: “The footfall is expected to increase by 60 per cent as there is no traffic jam now. Bhargava also said the air quality has improved in the area. Jasroop Singh, a third-generation shopkeeper at Lal Stores, is unhappy that cars have been banned from the road during the day. “While social distancing is possible now, old people need cars to come up to specific shops. It is also not easy to stock the shop before 9 am or after 9 pm. It is difficult for the staff.” For 30-year-old Mehak Dogra, a regular shopper at Chandni Chowk, the experience is now more practical. “One doesn’t have to worry about traffic jams anymore.” Manohar Lal, a 65-year-old resident, however, would have liked better guidelines for homeowners to leave and enter the area. “We have no problem following rules, but there needs to be a mechanism in place for residents,” he said. BJP leader Vijay Goel — who has represented Delhi Sadar constituency once and Chandni Chowk twice in the Lok Sabha — criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for developing just one road. He told ThePrint: “What will one good road achieve? The whole traffic burden just moves to other mohallas and small roads.” Goel is the owner of a restored haveli in the undeveloped area of Chandni Chowk. Known as the Dharampur Haveli, it offers five-star facilities to tourists. It was also commended by UNESCO in 2019. Though shut due to the pandemic, Goel believes tourists will fill up the hotel once the entire area is focused on. What experts say The AAP government’s plan to “restoring the historic glory” of the area has so far only focused on redeveloping the main street, while the rest of Chandni Chowk — its streets, buildings, drains — are in dire need of attention. Historian and convener of the Delhi chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage), Swapna Liddle, lauded the upgradation of services and absence of hanging wires at Chandni Chowk, but said the development of the rest still needs to be addressed. “The issue was of poor management and through this project; we are finding a development solution to a management problem.” Liddle, who is also the author of ‘Chandni Chowk: The Mughal City of Old Delhi’, added: “Making a lane vehicle-free and pedestrian-friendly could also mean shifting the bottleneck as poor traffic management continues on the main road.” Liddle also pointed out that focusing on developing only the street and not the buildings wasn’t a fair long-term solution, especially when business comes from the shops and eateries in the buildings. Noted conservationist and executive director of World Monuments Fund, India, Amita Baig said traders were unhappy because their community was not consulted before implementation of the project. “In my view, this is another Dilli Haat. We also need to understand that India is not a London or a Paris where people are willing to walk so much. It will be torture at 44 degrees Celcius,” she said. Architect and urban planner Professor A.G.K. Menon feels there’s more to development than beautifying facades. “This is a beautification project, not quite a development project.” He said: “Beautification is a part of developing a heritage site but that is not the only thing to do. We need to realise the relevance of nurturing a site like Chandni Chowk and have separate bylaws for it as there is in Italy.” He added that laws in Milan, Florence and Venice differ from each other. Menon, who is a member of INTACH, said governments always focus on developing new cities rather than conserving heritage ones. Recalling a run-in with authorities over the need to preserve Chandni Chowk, Menon said: “Once we had recommended to a panel of IAS officers that Shahjahanabad be included as a world heritage site. He had laughed and asked us if we were crazy to insult India’s heritage by advocating a slum site.” How it all began The project was conceived by the Congress-led government in 2006. The first comprehensive proposal was prepared by the SRDC in 2015. But work only began in 2018 after the intervention of the Delhi High Court. That December, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia laid the foundation stone for the project. In the first phase of the project, utilities such as electric and other cables were taken underground and dedicated lanes for non-motorized transport and walkways were constructed. Facilities such as toilets, ATMs, and benches were provided. SRDC — the nodal agency for the redevelopment project — plans to improve the facade in the second phase. The recognised stakeholders in the project so far have been the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the Archaeological Survey of India, the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Traffic Police, among others. The project missed its original March 2020 deadline due to the pandemic and legal issues in removing encroachments. Elaborating on the challenges, the project’s nodal officer Nitin Panigrahi said they had to fight a “perception battle” about restricting cars in such a large commercial area. Traders thought this would result in enormous loss to business, he said. Panigrahi told ThePrint: “We gave them empirical evidence as well as examples to allay unfounded fears. We have successfully convinced them that unless motorised vehicles are restricted, it’s not possible to decongest streets.” He added the project has cost Rs 99 crore so far.

https://theprint.in/india/delhis-chandni-chowk-gets-new-look-a-restoration-of-not-just-facade-but-400-yr-old-legacy/697319/, July 21 2021

Korkai was the ancient port city dating back to the early Pandya dynasty. In the present day it is a small village in Srivaikuntam taluk of Tuticorin district. The ongoing archaeological excavation at Korkai region in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin district, 623km from Chennai, threw light on a 2,000-year-old brick structure, local media Dinakaran reported on Thursday. The seven-layer brick structure since evinced the interest among archaeology enthusiasts in the state. Finding its mention in Sangam literature for its pearl fishery, Korkai was the ancient port city that dates back to the early Pandya dynasty. In the present day it is a small village in Srivaikuntam taluk of Tuticorin district.

It is believed that the ancient city once situated at the banks of Thamirabarani river ended up inland, six kilometres from the sea, due to river sedimentation and the receding water. In addition to the existing excavation works, Tamil Nadu state archaeology department also commenced excavation work at three places in the state, including Korkai. In the Korkai region, excavation trenches have been dug at Korkai, Sivagalai and Adichanallur. The excavation work commenced on February 26 after the state government sanctioned ₹29 lakh for the project. The archaeologists dug 17 trenches at Korkai from where they found cast iron material, glass beads, and signs of industrial activities.

The recent addition is the seven-layered brick structure indicating that it was a settlement area of the ancient civilisation. Between 1968 and 1969, the Tamil Nadu government undertook archaeological research at Korkai and surrounding areas. It was the first time since the archaeology department was formed that the government commissioned excavation works. Research conducted in the past established that Korkai was an archeologically significant place with 2,800 years of history. The literature and archaeological evidence suggest that Korkai was the hub of export and import of goods with other ports of ancient civilisations. It could be noted that the department recently unearthed a sword, possibly dating back to 2,500 years, and a large clay pot that could be a burial urn at Mayiladumparai in Krishnagiri district where the excavation work is currently underway.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/brick-structure-unearthed-in-tamil-nadu-s-korkai-may-date-back-to-2000-years-101626975302272.html, July 22 2021

The cave paintings first came to light in May this year when an environmental activist, Sunil Harsana, spotted them in Mangarbani hill forest in the Faridabad district of Haryana. Archaeologists in Haryana have estimated that a prehistoric site Faridabad’s Mangar Bani hill forest, from where cave paintings were discovered recently, may be up to a lakh years old. “On the basis of tool topology, it can be said that the date of prehistoric habitation at the site may be from about 1,00,000 to about 15,000 years ago. But we have also found evidence of later habitation, even up to 8th-9th century AD,” said Banani Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director of Haryana Archaeology & Museums Department. “It can be said that it may be one of the biggest Palaeolithic sites in the Indian subcontinent, where stone age tools were recovered from different open air sites as well as from rock shelters."

It was in May this year when environmental activist Sunil Harsana spotted a prehistoric cave painting in the Mangar Bani hill forest. This prompted the Haryana archeology department to conduct exploration in Shilakhari, Mangar, Kot and Dhauj areas in Faridabad, and Roj ka Gujjar and Damdama in Gurgaon in June this year. Speaking to The Indian Express, Harsana said the paintings and the caves in which they are made have been a part of his life for many years, but it never struck him they could be this old. “There are many old caves that have survived here, we were aware of the paintings in them before but never realised they could have so much significance,” he said. Harsana has lately been documenting various aspects of the Aravallis, from the wildlife to the vegetation, and decided to do the same with the art in the caves. During the lockdown, he took pictures of the drawings which he later uploaded on social media. It was these images, he said, that drew the attention of archaeologists.

"The caves are in an area that is difficult to reach, so we have to plan before going. It is on a high cliff and the terrain is very difficult, it is the maximum difficulty level in terms of climbing. This is probably why the caves and the art survived as well, because people don’t normally go there,” said Harsana. “Some of the caves have rock art while others have paintings, but only a few of the paintings are in good condition, the others have deteriorated. The art includes what appear to be symbols, markings, some are drawings that are very old, but what exactly it is, only the archaeology department will be able to tell,” he said. Officials said it is for the first time that a prehistoric site with cave paintings and rock art of a large magnitude has been found in Haryana, though tools from the Palaeolithic age have been identified earlier in parts of the Aravallis. The latest discovery, officials said, will take the history of Haryana further back in time. “The cave paintings are yet to be dated but at least some of them belong to the Upper Palaeolithic period in all likelihood,” said an official.

Sources said the area is not a protected site and it has not been properly documented or explored so far. However, Haryana Principal Secretary Ashok Khemka said: “We will give state protection to Mangar Bani forests under the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964, because of the presence of a large number of stone age site with cave paintings and tools of the Palaeolithic age that have been found there.” “This site is very promising as these cave paintings may even be compared with the world famous Bhimbetka cave paintings. In the near future, we will carry out trial trench digging, document and map all rock shelters and open-air sites. Carbon radio dating and accelerator mass spectrometry techniques will be used to date the cave paintings. With cooperation of other departments, Mangar Bani forests will be comprehensively developed as a pre-historic eco-forest. This also underscores the need to keep such pockets in NCR areas out of the reach of land sharks and unmindful development," said Khemka.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/mangerbani-cave-paintings-1-lakh-years-old-archaeologists-7407264/, July 23 2021

An , which seems to have been hand-modelled out of terracotta, has been found at in the cluster in . Site director and deputy director of archaeology said the specimen was found at a depth of 167 cm. It is about 6.5 cm in length, and about 4.3 cm in width. It might have been a toy, he added. The head was broken, and a circular cavity is seen where the head may have been. The surface is crude, and finger made impressions have been used on the body.

All the legs are broken except for the right foreleg which is short because a portion of it has been broken. The body has been made to look bulged and stout. There is no tail attached to it. He said that as much of the details were lost, they were unable to determine what animal it could have been.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/mangerbani-cave-paintings-1-lakh-years-old-archaeologists-7407264/, July 23 2021