Ambari archaeological site: Can unfold much more

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sep 10: History remains buried under thick layers made of time and civilization. Archaeologists try to dwell on time and dive in the ocean of history and excavate memories that encircle monuments and sites.

One of these sites in India is the Ambari Archaeological site in Guwahati. It was discovered in early 1960's when it was excavated by Gauhati University in the beginning, along with the Directorate of Archaeology, Assam.

"It was one of the major excavations. In Assam in a small area of 20X20 square metres archaeologists never recovered monuments of different sizes in such a large numbers before. As many as 150 monuments date back to Sunga-Kusha between 8th and 12 century AD. The monuments recovered are mainly devotiol, and are made of stone, terracotta and celadon clay. Terracotta is a burnt moulded clay and celadon clay, is a kind of ceramic origited from Chi. Devotiol sculptures of Surya, Vishnu, Durga, Ganga, Yamu, Muni, Yonipith, Shiva Lingam, taraja, Bangles made of terracotta clay belonging to the common people as kings, princes and princesses used bangles made of precious stones wears found during the excavation. The site was an Artist guild and a production centre of sculptures and was also an important cultural centre flourished in ancient Kamarupa and the findings of Chinese Porcelain depicts that trade flourished between India and Chi. Perhaps the bilateral trade that South Asian countries have with India dates back between 8th and 12th century", technical officer, Directorate of Archaeology Assam, bajit Deuri said.

Terming the development as bad urbanization Deuri said, "If we excavate further the history will unfold itself out of areas like Silpukhuri and Uzan Bazar and its adjoining areas of Ambari. The chances of availability are high. Perhaps those monuments are hidden forever."

According to Deuri, excavation is awaited at Haflong and Goalpara this winter.

The Ambari archaeological site awaits beautification as this is a potential tourist spot. As grass and weeds grow from all sides, the site seems to get covered and looked an abandoned one.