An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c47.16

v2.c47.16

Another excavation was undertaken in 1961 (*IAR 1961-2*, p. 36) to expose the original features of the hill face in front of Caves 6 to 9 and Cave 14 which had lost its natural contours due to the modern construction of masonry steps and artificial terraces to hold the debris, as well as to find out if there was any approach road to the all-important Cave 14. The excavation has brought to light an imposing ramp, evidently of Khāravela's authorship, made of large laterite blocks rising from the foot of the hill to the terrace in front of Cave 14. The ramp, over 3 m in width, is supported on either side by retaining walls. Two revetment walls are erected at right angles to the ramp at its top end to support the filling below the terrace in front of Cave 14. From the base of the revetment wall towards the w. end has been recovered the upper part of an exquisite sculpture of a female figurine. Made of coarse sandstone, it represents a *yakṣī* with heavy ornaments and with the hair artistically arranged in two plaits. On grounds of style the sculpture is ascribable to the 1st century B.C.; it is the sole free-standing female figure of the pre-Christian era discovered in the region. An experimental dig in front of Cave 14 has confirmed that the terrace was built over the filling of *kankar* soil which has yielded from the upper level a silver punch-marked coin [3.1] and from the lower level a number of microliths [4.14.1] comprising short blades and lunates.