History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c30.s3.29

v1.c30.s3.29

Free standing towers some 22m in height were a special feature of the defensive system at this place (Fig. 4). There were eleven gateways and at a later stage baked brick revetments were provided for. These were in 140 courses (Sharma, 1960, pp.27-40). Other places like Rajghat, Vaisali had earthen ramparts around them. At Ahichatra this earthen wall was topped by a brick wall of 3m height and to economise in brick it was built in blocks, the intervening spaces being filled with rubble and clay. Its width was 4.88m (IAR, 1963-64, p. 44). In a number of cases the foundation of the earthen ramparts was strengthened by placing huge logs of wood in piles at the base. Ujjain has yielded the best example in this regard (IAR, 1957-58, pl.XLI). The so-called palisade of timber uncovered in the excavations at Pataliputra poses more problems than it solves. It is often cited to support the statement of Megasthenes that there were wooden ramparts (Fig. 5) round the town. These palisades really seem to form a long tunnel or reinforcement over which the earthen ramparts were built. In that case Megasthenes could not have seen them, the only possible explanation of his statement seems to be that instead of brick parapets as at Ahicchatra wooden parapets were erected over the earthen walls. With the possible exception of the so called War of Relics' which is depicted as having taken place below the ramparts of a number of towns, no important battle in ancient India had taken place below or around a fortified town.