[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) › v2.c45.248 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.248 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.248 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c45.248](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.248) \*\*Saradkel\*\* (23°5'; 85°21'), Dt Ranchi, on the e. bank of the Tajna, at a distance of about 9 km to the e. of the Subdivisional town of Khunti, first noticed by Roy, 1915, who quotes a local tradition connecting it with one Dit Rājā, associated by him with the traditional Asuras or Vikramāditya, and elaborates a theory that the Asuras were the predecessors of the Mundas forming the local population and the authors of the so-called Asura sites \[14.4\]. The site, which is the most extensive of the Asura sites, was excavated by the writer in 1964-5 (\*IAR 1964-5\*, p. 6) and was found to be a mono-cultural site with two clearly defined occupational Pds. No structure has been encountered in Pd I but it has yielded burnt brick. A number of pits with charred iron slag and sand make it reasonable to infer that they were smelting furnaces. The structural remains of Pd II consist of a massive defensive wall of baked brick which runs along the periphery of the mound and houses built of burnt as well as mud brick. The floorings of some houses are made of brickbats, occasionally solidly rammed. The pottery is mostly wheel-made, usually terracotta-red and normally of a coarse fabric. The presence of the flanged lid, flat-based bowl and sprinkler, combined with incised decorated designs, suggests a Kushan complex. A large number of iron objects such as arrowheads, axes with single or double cutting edges, chisels, nails, caltrops \[19.3.5\], knives and longitudinal ploughshares bespeak the prevalence of a full-fledged iron industry. Beads of chalcedony, agate and carnelian, terracotta figurines, clay sealings, round copper coins, too debased to be identified, copper hooks and copper rods have also been found. - [Previous: v2.c45.247](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.247) - [Next: v2.c45.249](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.249) - [Up: v2.c45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.248](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.248) · Pramāṇa