EXCAVATIONS - PRE-HISTORIC SITES

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ATUD KHAS (1984-85)

Atudkhas (Lat. 76°20' N. Long. 22° 8' E.) is situated on the confluence of two rivers, Kaveri and Amakha (tributaries of the Narmada) at a distance of 36 Ian. NorthEast of Sanawada and 55 Ian. South-West of Khandawa in the East Nimar district of Madhya Pradesh. It is connected by bus and train with attar, the nearest Railway Station on the Indore-Khandawa meter-gauge line of western Railway.

The excavations were conducted by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal during 1984-85 under the Directorship of shri C. Krishna. The team included S/Shri R.R. Singh, Dr. a.p. Misra, Vinod Joshi, S.L. Soni, L.P. Kadam, Ram Ajorepal. The site of excavation is on the North-Western end of the present mound.

Stratified Deposit	Spouted Vessel and Spouts
Deposit and Storage Jar	Copper Objects

During surface exploration the remains noticed included antiquities right from chalcolithic to historic periods comprising blades made of chalcedony and chert, painted black-and-ware, buff ware, black-on-red ware, copper objects, iron implements, Northern Black polished wares, copper coins, shell bangles conch and glass bangles and stone and terracotta objects of Mauryan, Sunga Gupat and Paramara Periods. Literary references indicate that the region was known during the Later Vedic, Epic and the Puranic periods. The Narmada Purana States that Mandhata glorified itself as one of the twelve jyotirlingas of the country. The Mahabharata refers to this region as the capital of the Pandavas and the Land held by the fire God, Agni, who enjoyed the benevolence of Arjuna. In the Ramayana, it is stated that the demon king and Dhushana were enjoying their supremacy within this land. In this region great philosopher like Shankaracharya discoursed with Mandana Misra and his wife. This area was on the ancient trade route from North to South.

To detennine the cultural sequence of this site and historicity of East Nimar, two trenches viz ATK. I and ATK II were laid on the mound-one on the top and other on the Western slope of the mound. ATK. I and II measured 7 x 6 and 3 x 15 metres respectively. On the basis of antiquarian remain the following cultural sequence was determined:

• I-A Chalcolithic - Ahar - 25 cm. deposit
• I-B Malwa Chalcolithic - 90 cm. deposit
• II-A Pre Mauryan - 22 cm. deposit
• II-B Mauryan - 85 cm. deposit
• III Sunga - 45 cm. deposit
• VI Gupta - Kshatrapa - 50 cm. deposit
• V Paramara - 60 cm. deposit
• VI Medieval - 50 cm. deposit
  

Pd. I-A: Ahar Chalcolithic

This deposit was noticed in ATK. I and II. In ATk. I layers (23) to (26) were related to this period and ATK. II layers (II) to (13) belonged to it. It yielded lustrous red ware incised pottery black-and red ware, back-slipped ware, stone and terracotta beads, microliths made of chalcedony, parallel sided blades, lunates and cores were the main antiquities found. Excepting mud rammed floors, no house planning was noticed. A crude blade was found from the lower levels of the deposit of this period and this was a noteworthy stone implement.

Pd. I-B : Malwa Chalcolithic

It is characterised by painted black-on-red ware, black-and ware, red-slipped ware, black-slipped ware of various shapes and sizes. The paintings on red ware are mainly geometrical such as criss-cross, hanging loopes and parallel bands. A single peacock desing was found from ATK. II. These designs are similar to those found in the excavations at Maheshwar-Navdatoli. Other remains from the deposit included chalcedony blades, lunates, crested ridged blades with lengths varifying from 4 em. to 2 em. hexagonal beads of carnelian in a large quantity and terracotta beads. No. house planning was noticed excepting a post-hole measuring 20x7 em. layer (23) of ATK. I and mud rammed floors. 'A' few pot-sherds with paintings and texture similar Chalcolithic pottery were found in layer 27.

Stone querns and pestles were also used by these people.
The thickness of Malwa Chalcolithic deposit is nearly 1.00 metre in ATK. I (Layers 19 to 23) and 70 em. in ATK. II (layers 9 to 10).

Pd. II-A: Pre Mauryan

The deposit of this phase in 55 em. in ATK. I from layers (16 to 18) with the occurrence of black-slipped ware, black -and-red ware, red-slipped ware and stone implements. Plough nails, rings, stone and terracotta beads, bangles of shell terracottaetc. formed other antiquities. No. N.B.P. piece, however recorded from the deposit of this period.

Pd. II·B : Mauryan

The Mauryan period has been noteced in three trenches viz., ATK I, ATK. II and ATK. IV with the presence of Northern Black polished ware sherds, ivory mothergoddess, ivory mother-goddess, copper objects, terracotta moulds for ornaments, iron objects, skin-rubbers, beads of stones, terracotta and bangles of shell, terracotta glass etc. The thickness ofthe deposit is roughly 85 em. ATK. I (layers to 15). InATK. II the related layers are from 6 to 8.

From the surface collection copper punch marked coins were picked up from this mound. Nagacoins prove the rule of Naga dynasty in this area. Some Naga coins have been recovered from the surface of the mound.

Pd. III : Sunga

At the end Mauryan deposit the early historic pottery with the antiquities have been recovered from ATK. I ATK. ill and ATK. IV with the average thickness of 45 em. in almost all the trenches. No. important antiquities have been recovered excepting terracotta beads, stone beads, bangles of shell, and glass. Iron implements included nails and clamps of plough. Pottery comprised of red ware, black ware, black -and-red ware. Shape included carrinated handi, sprinklers, vases, and storage jars. ring-wells have been noticed from various locations of this village. Two ring-wells have been exposed upto 5 coarses on the bank of the Kaveri and three more ill the village.

Pd. IV : Gupta-Kashatrapa

Gupta- Kshatrapa level has been distinguished by find of decorated pottery, structures and other antiquities. The thickness of deposit was 50 em. in ATK. 1. Important antiquities am terracotta figurines, stone images, copper implements viz., Antimony roads, hair-pins and copper rings, iron implements viz., nails, rings etc. beads of terracotta and stone, bangles of shell, glass, and terracotta etc.

Rubble structures have been found in ATK. 1. Querns, pestles, and other kitchen materials were found in ATK. IV.

Pd. V : Paramara Period
The thickness of this period noticed in ATK. I is 60 em. The same deposit has been noticed in ATK. II.

Apart from the antiquarian remains, ruins of a Saiva temple have been noticed r------, on the other bank of the river Kaveri. It is a Paramara temple deteable of l2-l3th century A.D.

Pd. VI : Medieval Period
This period has been noticed in ATK. m. Thickness of the deposit is of em. with presence of medieval copper coins, pottery, glass bangles, iron nails etc. A gadhi fort wall surrounds the mound.

REFERENCES
Mishra, a.p., Excavations at Atudkhas (East Nimar) - 1984-85" in Shastri A.M. et. ai, Vajapaeya, Prof. K.D. Bajpai Felicitation volume, Delhi, 1987, pp 81-83, IAR,/1984-85, PP 44-45