An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s14.4

v1.c19.s14.4

[At Kankali-tila, the site of the ancient Jaina *stūpa* at MATHURA, an impressive tank complex, 35 × 35 m, of Pd IV, 1st to 3rd century A D. has been exposed. Made of baked bricks of various sizes, e.g. 40 × 26 × 5 cm, 38 × 26 × 5 cm and 30 × 15 × 5 cm, the tank is cut into the natural soil to a depth of about 3·96 m from the original ground surface; it mainly consists of a central pool, 9·10 × 8·10 m, attached to a ramp amidst its e. side and oblong and irregular ancillary compartments on the long the n. and s. sides. On the top of the n. wall of the tank a stone channel has been found fixed for the purpose of filling it up with water. Near the outer end of the ramp leading to the tank is a well sealed as a result of the subsequent extension of the passage attached to the ramp in the third phase of the construction of the tank. It shows four phases of construction. Of first phase only a few basal courses of bricks of the main tank are extant; the major portion of the superstructure indicating an almost, complete reconstruction belongs to second phase; the ramp was added in the third phase and the shabby irregular structures in the top were added in the fourth. The date of its first phase may be dated to in the first half of the 1st century A.D. and the fourth to the early phase of Pd V. (Information from M.C. Joshi.) See also UJJAIN.]