An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c30.4

v2.c30.4

Trenches across the rampart have revealed two clear phases of its construction. The gushing out of the subsoil water has not allowed the tracing of the foundation level of the rampart wall but by pumping out the water the natural soil of yellowish hue mixed with *kankar* has been touched. Overlying this is a deposit of dirty brownish and black soil surface from which have been picked up a number of crude black-and-red ware sherds unassociated with the NBPW. It may suggest an earlier flimsy occupation of the black-and-red ware people before the advent of the NBPW, to the last phase of which the first phase of the rampart may be placed. The rampart is characterized by a thick wall of blackish soil with a gentle slope on the outer side. A few copper cast coins [3.1], terracotta sling balls, charcoal showing fibres of burnt bamboos and a number of red ware, Black-slipped Ware and a very few late NBPW sherds are the important finds. The second phase is characterized by a massive construction: the rampart wall was built by the dumping over of yellow and red soil to form a thick wall and it was raised against a 3·80 m wide embankment of brick debris possibly to prevent scouring by water. The maximum height traced is 5.80 m. Further w. of the debris-built embankment a high brick wall was raised right over the rampart to strengthen the overall defensive system of the fort; however this wall has been completely robbed. Characteristic Śuṅga antiquities including miniature pots, cast copper and punch-marked coins [3.1] with silver coating and numerous weapons like bone arrowheads, socketed arrowheads, socketed iron spearheads and terracotta plaques have been discovered. This phase may be placed in 150-50 B.C. Associated with it is a rammed brick floor with six post-holes, which may represent the provision of a watchman’s room on the rampart.