Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s5.146

c9.s5.146

Apart from the literary sources, we have some archaeological evidence to show that the Licchavis survived Ajātasattu’s attack for centuries. Altekar reports on the excavations carried out on the site of ancient Vesāli and says that the smaller tank of the Licchavis was “enlarged and surrounded by a wall, represented by its present remains, in about second century B.C. when the Licchavis might have once more become powerful after the downfall of the Maurya Empire”.¹ This is also indicated by the finds of “cast coins and terra-cotta figurines stylistically assignable to the Śuṅga period. The three periods allocated to the development in the ramparts of Vaiśālī attest their existence during the first century B.C.”.²