[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c9.s18.25 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.25 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.25 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c9.s18.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s18.25) Remains of fortification have been identified at MATHURĀ, AHICCHATRĀ, KAUŚĀMBĪ, ŚRĀVASTĪ and RAJGHAT. At AHICCHATRĀ and ŚRĀVASTĪ the initial construction has been dated to a period between 250 and 150 B.C. With certain modifications they continued to be in use till the 1st century A.D. At MATHURA the corresponding date is nearer the 1st century A.D. At KAUŚĀMBĪ the brick-revetted wall has been placed at \*c.\* 1000 B.C. by the excavator, but the basis for such an early date has been questioned. It may be noted that the bricks used in the construction of the defence-wall at KAUŚĀMBĪ conform to a size of 49 × 30 × 7 cm—a size found at several sites including KAUŚĀMBĪ itself in the period after 300 B.C. At all these places the defence-wall was constructed mainly of mud, but at AHICCHATRĀ and ŚRĀVASTĪ a burnt-brick wall was raised over the mud wall at a later stage. The fortification of ŚRĀVASTĪ had a crescent-shaped plan enclosing an area of 1525 sq km on the bank of the river Rapti. While the wall was raised over the debris of an earlier habitation on the river front, on the opposite side it was raised directly over the natural soil. In the earlier excavation conducted during 1908-9 a gateway complex with provision for guardrooms and watch towers on the n. side had been exposed. The excavation had also identified several entrances to the fortified area but whether all of them were deliberate openings or subsequent breaches is difficult to say. At KAUŚĀMBĪ the rampart was about 4·6 km in perimeter, provided with towers and bastions at regular intervals. The excavated e. gateway complex was in the form of a mud-bund curtain, with a 91 m long and 7·5 m wide passage connecting it with the rampart and separated from it by a 90 m wide moat. The excavated part of the rampart opposite the curtain represented an enormous mud wall with a burnt-brick revetment available to a height of about 13 m. The AHICCHATRĀ fortification was of the shape of an isoscels triangle with a perimeter of over 5·6 km. Originally of mud, it was subsequently provided with a burnt-brick wall at the top. At RAJGHAT enormous clay rampart dating to the earliest occupation of the site was traced facing the Ganga. At all these places there were openings in the defensive walls, but all of them need not have been gateways. - [Previous: v1.c9.s18.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s18.24) - [Next: v1.c9.s18.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s18.26) - [Up: v1.c9.s18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s18) ## Linked texts (3) - [Ahicchatra](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.ahichchhatra) - [Kauśāmbī](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.kausambi) - [Śrāvastī](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.sravasti) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s18.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s18.25) · Pramāṇa