EXCAVATIONS - HISTORIC SITES

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PAGARA (1980-81)

Y.K. Bajpai assisted by D.K. Mahashabde and N.K. Pathak conducted excavation at Pagara (Lat. 22° 14' N and Long 75° 18' E), a site about 25 kms to the south-west of Dhar and 55 km west of Indore. The site came to light in April 1981, when a bowl containing 9 Gupta gold coins and 39 Ksatrapa coins were accidentally discovered from a field.

Two trenches namely PGR - I and PGR - II were laid measuring 4 x S and 4 x 4 m respectively and dug upto a depth of S.30 m. The following sepuence was revealed

Period I (Ist - 3rd Century A.D.)

This was marked by abundance of red ware represented by concal bowls, sprinklers, medium sizepots, carinated vessels and basins. About 15-20 percent red ware was treated withbright red slip. A few sherds of Black-and-red and Black ware were found associated with it.

Period II ( 4th· 6th century A.D.)

This was charavterised by the presence of shell bangle, bead, terracotta figurine, wheel. flesh rubber, gold piece and carved soap stone fragments. No appreciable change in the ceramic industry except presence of miniature pots of black were was noticed.

Period III (7th - 12th century A.D.)

This phase was marked by presence of iron and copper objects along with early and late medieval pottery, mostly represented by grey ware

REFERENCES
IAR, 1980-81, pp. 32-33, Krishna, c., 1987,"Excavation at pagara," 1981, in Vajapeya, (A.M. Shastri et ai, Eds.), I, pp. 69-71.