The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c7.22

c7.22

A rough practical means of testing the soil for the foundations was to dig a pit one *hasta* in depth, and then return the excavated soil into it. A stable foundation would be indicated by the soil at the top being higher than it was before; an indifferent one, if it were of the same level; a bad one, which must on no account be used, if the surface were lower.