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Did Indraprastha, the capital of the kingdom of Pandavas, as mentioned in the Mahabharata epic, exist around what we today known as Purana Qila ( Old Fort) in Delhi? Historians and archaeologists have long believed so, even though could not be ascertained. Now, an excavation that is underway at the site can possibly bring out the truth and shed light on that era. Earlier, there have been indications that this site was related to the era of Mahabharata. So there is a possibility that once we excavate further will find some evidence," said Vasant Swarnkar, superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India ASI), Delhi circle. The clue that ASI members are looking for to establish the link is painted grey ware PGW). " PGW is a pottery type that archeologists associate with the Mahabharata period. It is grey pottery painted with geometric patterns in black. Excavating 1.5 metres more is expected to expose the lowest cultural settlement that was there," Swarnkar said. This also means that it would take one more month of excavation to find any such evidence. Though the earlier excavations at Purana Qila had failed find any link to Indraprastha, this time the ASI is hopeful of making a breakthrough. The ongoing excavation at site began in mid- January and in the last three months, ASI team has found a rare 12th century sculpture of Vishnu, a seal in terracotta from the Gupta period, pottery typical of the Kushan and Gupta periods, terracotta human figurines, ivory pendants, human figurines, a Gajalakshmi tablet and structures from the Mauryan period and copper coins.
Read more here:
ASI hopes to unravel Mahabharata link at Purana Qila : Mail Today, News - India Today