An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c37.289

v2.c37.289

**Kanauj**, **Kannauj**, **Kanoj**; (27°3′; 79°59′), Dt Farrukhabad, the ancient city, variously known as Kānyakubja, Kanyākubja, Mahodaya, Mahodayā, Gādhipura, Gādhinagara, Kuśasthala, Kauśa, Kauśika and Kusumapura (the last according to Hiuen Tsang), situated on the s. bank of the Bhagirathi near the confluence of the Ganga and Kali. The ASI conducted a small-scale excavation at the mound known as Qila in 1955 (*IAR 1955-6*, p. 19). Prior to that a few stone sculptures—*caturmukha liṅgas*, Varāha retrieving the Earth, Kalyāṇasundara-mūrti, standing Sūrya and Viśvarūpa Viṣṇu standing with Śrīdevī and Bhūdevī, all belonging to the 7th-8th centuries (Ghosh, 1953), and a later dancing Gaṇeśa—had been recovered from the neighbouring regions. Explorations in the early years of. this decade have brought to light a treasure of archaeological wealth. The pottery includes the PGW [11.14] represented by the bowl and dish, Black-slipped Ware [11.13], fine as well as coarse red ware and the NBPW [11.16]. Several stone sculptures have been found the prominent of them being those of Pārvatī, Kārttikeya, Sūrya, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Gaṇeśa and some Jaina figures datable from the 4th century A.D. to the medieval times.