Monday, August 31, 2009

Monastic Complex at Moghalmari, West Bengal

The mound of MGM1 rises up to 8 metres from ground level. Besides other antiquities, structural remains have been identified in all the trenches of this mound. A 26.53-metre burnt brick structure forming a triratha projection has been exposed in the western part of the mound running north-south. It appears from the alignment of the structure that this wall formed part of a small monastic complex. The width of the wall varies between 1.89 and 2 metres, and its height from the plinth is 1.13 metres. The excavation at MGM1 has also yielded some regular rectangular/ square structures (which may be called cells) attached to the outer wall on the southern part of the mound. Some of the completely exposed cells measure 3.20 x 2.80 metres and 2.45 x 2.35 metres.

The excavation of MGM2 in 2003-04 revealed three circular brick structures with diameters of 2.80, 2, and 1.25 metres (figure 3). It is clear in the light of the character of the site as well the material assemblages that these huge regular circular brick structures were originally the bases of stupas. Altogether five such structures have been found, suggesting that the main large stupa might have been located somewhere near these. The ceramic industry as well as other associated cultural remains of MGM2 suggest its close association with the post-Gupta cultural phase (6th-7th centuries CE). However below this cultural level, there was a long time gap in the cultural history of the site as indicated by a 55-centimetre silt deposit which is totally devoid of any human artefact. Below this silt deposit which may have been a result of flooding of the river, there was a Black and Red Ware (BRW) cultural deposit 1.46 metres deep, represented in layers 5 and 6. Besides such representatives of the BRW culture, the typical type was Red Ware with white painting.
In 2006-07 a more extensive excavation was undertaken. Altogether 21 trenches covering a total area of 750 square metres, 20 in MGM1 and one in MGM3, were taken up for excavation. The trenches were excavated partially or fully at different levels as per requirements. Of the 20 trenches, eight were in the western part of the mound. The basic objective here was to trace the triratha (with three projections) plan of the structure which had been partially exposed in 2003-04. But the major emphasis was given to the eastern part of the mound where as many as 12 trenches were taken up for excavation with the objective of tracing the entrance of the monastic complex.

However, instead of the entrance of the monastic complex, we encountered an extensive wall running north-south. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the entire wall excavated to a depth of 3.75 metres was found plastered with stucco over exquisitely decorated moulded bricks (figures 4 and 5]. The major area of decoration was found between 50 and 118 centimetres below the surface. The bricks were of a uniform range in depth and thickness. From a comparative study of other excavated monastic sites in eastern India, it appears that this wall possibly formed part of the outermost wall of the eastern temple of the monastery. (2) The excavation further reveals that there were at least two phases of structural activity (if not more) as evidenced by the presence of a still earlier structural phase in the western part of the mound. However, the most notable discovery of 2006-07 is a Buddha image in slate stone from a stratified level of MGM1 (figure 6). The image, measuring 24 x 14 centimetres, was found at a depth of approximately 1 metre.

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