Introduction
The
Ancient Temple complex at Chandore (18 09’ 52” N; 73 11’ 02” S) is
situated near the hamlet of Chambharpada at Chandhore Village, Tal Mangaon,
Dist Raigad, Maharashtra. The site was discovered in 2011 by a joint team of
members from the Centre for Extra-Mural Studies (CEMS), University of Mumbai
and the India Study Centre (INSTUCEN), Mumbai. These explorations were
carried out in March 2011 (Dalal 2012). (See
earlier post fromMay 2011)
After
explorations it was decided to apply for permission to the Archaeological
Survey of India to conduct archaeological investigations (both excavations and
clearance) at the site in the 2011-2012 Season. The CEMS applied in conjunction
with the India Study Centre Trust (INSTUCEN), Mumbai. Permission was
granted and the excavations carried out under the direction of the author along
with the past and present students of the CEMS.
The
Site
The
ancient site of Chandore is located less than half a kilometer to the east of
the modern village of Chandhore opposite (and to the west of) the hamlet of
Chambharpada. This site is essentially a cluster of Temples/Temple Plinths and
lies close to the medieval coastal port site of Mhasla and the other medieval
port sites on the Rajapur Creek.
It
is also located along the very road that leads from the interiors of
Maharashtra to the Rajapur creek and eventually the coast. It is equidistant
from Goregaon and Mangaon and would have been the convergence centre for the
routes from the north (via Mangaon) and south (via Goregaon) flow of traffic of
goods from the interior to the ports of the Konkan. It thus lies on a critical
node of one the most viable trade routes in this region.
The
ancient site itself is made up of a complex of temples/temple plinths and
assorted structural and sculptural members. The plinths in turn can be divided
into 2 sub complexes – divided by the Chandore-Govele road - the first opposite
the Chambharpada and the second about 100m to the west of the Chambharpada. The
first group/complex of temples includes a single large disturbed plinth with an
adjacent tank/step well with a smaller temple and nandimandapa. The second
group/complex (north of the first group and west of Chambharpada) consists of
at least two more temple plinths (one intact and exposed and the other buried
and only partially exposed) and a host of smaller structure bases and scattered
sculptural members.
The
Excavations
The
excavations per se were carried out on the eastern side
of Complex1 - Plinth 1. Two quadrants each measuring 2.5 x 2.5m were taken up
for excavations. The reason for the location of the trench was the slope and
the possible accumulation of debris due to the obstruction of the natural flow
of rain borne soil and artefacts by Plinth 1.
The
excavations revealed a very small deposit between 30 and 70cm. the soil
excavated was uniform and no real layers with the exception of humus
discolouration were visible. The bedrock (laterite) locally known as kaatal was exposed in both quadrants. A large
number of potsherds of coarse Red and Grey wares, bangle fragments of glass, a
broken wound (black) glass bead, a fragment of Monochrome Glazed Ware – a West
Asian import (a second example was found whilst clearing the debris on the
steps of the tank), a silver Gadhaiya coin (Maheshwari 2010: 83, Cat No.
204-244) and a large number of retouched stone tools (microliths) and tool
making debris were recovered from the trench.
The bangles are
mainly opaque black with a few green and fewer blue/bichrome blue examples.
Amongst the large number of bangle fragments are few with coloured appliqué
glass dots reminiscent of similar bangles found at Sanjan (Gupta et.
al. 2003; 2004) and dated between the 9th and 12th
c AD.
The microliths are a
separate and unique ‘problem’. To the best of the authors knowledge these are
the first microliths excavated in a stratified context in the Konkan. They
require a serious and dedicated study and will be dealt with separately and in
detail at a later stage.
Suffice to say that
the microliths take back the antiquity of human occupation at Chandhore to at
least the 2nd millennium BC.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the
sculptural material, the hero/sati stones, the pillars and the Gadhaiya coin
all point out to a 10th to 13th c AD period for the site.
The Monochrome Glazed Ware and a few very specific types of decorated glass
bangles point to a slightly later terminal date of approximately the 15th
c AD.
All these
conclusions are preliminary and much more work is needed to ascertain the
facts.
Acknowledgements
The excavation at Chandhore was carried
out by the Centre for Extra Mural Studies, University of Mumbai in partnership
with the India Study Centre Trust (INSTUCEN), Mumbai.
I am very grateful
to the Archaeological Survey of India; the Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai;
the Director of the Centre for Extra Mural Studies, University of Mumbai; Mr.
Samuel Nazareth, Dr Aravind Jamkhedkar, Dr Suraj Pandit and Dr Abhijit
Dandekar.
Special mention must
also be made of Dr B. Vaidyanathan who almost single-handedly created the
detailed site plan for the first season of excavations.
I am also indebted
to the staff at the department, all of my students past and present who
participated in the excavations and the labourers and villagers of Chandhore
for all their help and patience.
And
finally, my sincerest thanks to Siddharth Kale, Tukaram Kadam and Andre
Baptista for being the pillars on whom I could lean with effrontery.
