An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c47.64

v2.c47.64

The habitation was surrounded by a mud-brick fortification in the shape of a pentagon, wider on its n.-w. side than on its on the s. following the outlines of a convex bend in the course of the Sipra. The fortification, as extant, is 74·67 m wide on the e. side and 197 m on the w. (riverine) side and rises to a maximum height of 13·72 m over the natural Black Cotton Soil [9.1]. It was enclosed by a protective moat, resulting from the earthwork excavation for building up the mud fort, on the e. and s. sides and by the river on the e. and somewhat distantly also on the n., the two arms of the moat being connected with the river for water supply. To save the mud fort-wall from erosion resulting out of the periodical floods of the river, a unique contraption of a network of hollow rectangular chambers made of neatly cut logs of wood with 23 to 25 cm square cross-section was built alongside the river and following its curved outline and laid as nearly as possible at right angles to the direction of the flow of water from the point of the deepest thrust of the river to a total length of 116 m n.wards to the n.-w. corner. These served as a buffer against the periodical fury of the river. The traditional methods of work for piling up mud are indicated by the iron blade of a spade and iron crowbar and the impressions of two wickerwork baskets embedded in the deposits of the mud rampart.