Ancient settlements discovered in a jungle of Papum Pare district in Arunachal Pradesh

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ITANAGAR: An ancient settlement remains covering an area of more than 20 acres has been discovered in a jungle of the Papum Pare district in Arunachal Pradesh during an exploration by the archaeology section of the State Directorate of Research, officials informed here on Thursday.

The archaeological excavation at the jungles of Ramghat, under Tarasso circle of the district, unearthed fortification (rampart) measuring 226 meters long which is made of stone blocks, burnt bricks and stone boulders along with one gate.

The gate is made of stone blocks - rectangular and hemispherical type shapes, burnt bricks and stone slabs having 2.83 meters passage (interior), informed archaeologist Pura Koji and assistant Tadu Ringku of the department, under whom the excavation was carried out.

Some of the stone have symbols and designs inscribed on them, resembling combined bow & arrow and trident. Different shapes and sizes of stone blocks and 31 burnt bricks were found during the excavation, which have been used in the fortification.

A Shiva linga (broken), sealing ball and potsherds were also discovered from the site and the field investigation revealed the ancient human habitation made of the stone piles (pillars), Koji said, adding that the stone piles discovered during the scientific debris clearance were also partly conserved.

Archaeological exploration in and around Vyas Kund under Tarasso circle was also conducted and remains of a stone staircase was discovered.

Koji informed that further intensive field work and investigation are needed at the jungles of the Ramghat and Vyas Kund areas to unearth more ancient remains.

He added that the archaeological excavation, which had started on March 24 this year, was concluded successfully with full cooperation and support from the local administration and panchayat members.

He also thanked the land owners Tem Tatik for donating the land under fortification remains including the gate, Tem Natung for donating the main settlement remains of Ramghat site, Tana Tagung for Vyas Kund site and Taba Mania for Upper Balijan site.

The research team also conducted archaeological exploration and excavation at Balijan circle and unearthed the brick structures remains at Upper Balijan area, which seem to be an ancient settlement remains, Koji said.

The footpath made of bricks connects the structures and runs east to west direction and then towards north direction. Prehistoric tool (flake - Palaeolithic scarper) and potsherds were also discovered from the site, he added.

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