An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c37.161

v2.c37.161

The citadel complex was roughly a parallelogram, some 240 m n.-s. and 120 m e.-w. and consisted of two almost equal but separately patterned parts. Both these parts were contained by a fortification wall, 3 to 7 m in width and reinforced at regular intervals with rectangular salients or bastions. The fortifications were built throughout of mud bricks (size: 40 × 20 × 10 cm and 30 × 15 × 7·5 cm) representing two structural phases, the larger size for the earlier phase and the smaller size for the later. Both the inner and outer faces of the wall were plastered with a coat of mud. The s. half of the citadel was more heavily fortified and besides the corner bastions contained rectangular salients on the n. and s. sides. The enclosed area contained some five to six massive platforms of mud bricks, each separate from the other and perhaps intended for a specific purpose by the community as a whole. Of these, sizeable portions of five, including the complete outline of one, have been exposed. At no point are these platforms found to be joined to or integral with the fortifications. Access to the working floor of the platforms was by means of steps which rose from the passage separating the platforms. Through the passage ran baked-brick drains. Of these buildings which stood on the platform, no intelligible plans are available, as they have been obscured by depredations of brick robbers. Nevertheless available remains do indicate that some of these might have been used for religious or ritual purposes, as attested by the occurrence on one of a rectangular brick-lined pit containing bones of antler and bovine representing perhaps a sacrifice and atop another of a row of seven rectangular fire altars aligned beside a well. The entrances of this part of the citadel were located on the s. and n. The s. one was situated between the central salient and the s.-w. corner tower, while the n. one comprised a stairway between the two centrally located salients and led up to the required height, at which passage across the fortification wall was provided. The n. half of the citadel, which was also fortified, contained residential buildings, perhaps of the elite. There were three (one each on the e., n. and w. sides) entrances to this part of the citadel, none of which was of the ramp or stairway type.