The builders kept the length of second phase cell as it was in the first phase .i.e.,3.28 m, but slightly changed the breadth from 2.74 to 2.59 m. Here it is noticeable that the breadth of this phase cell could be determined in very small portions of the northern wing and south-east corner of the monastery where the regular face of back wall of this phase was evident. Regular inner face of the major portion of the back wall could not be traced due to damage caused by the brick-hunters. Thickness of the partition wall of the cell of this phase remained unchanged i.e.,1.85 m. In the second phase cells we observed four brick paved floors succeeding layers (1),(2),(3) and (4), respectively. But at the levels of these floors, the walls of the cells were found entirely missing. Since the walls had been removed and the cell areas had been lift as isolated heaps of earth looking like stupas no doorway of the cell could be found. Each of the floors was about 40 cm thick. The brick paved floor exposed below layer (4) was well preserved. This was the first floor of the second phase building and was built over the deep filling of carried earth. The verandah measuring 1.9 m wide with its 1.5 m thick retaining wall had been exposed in the middle of southern wing and in the south-east corner of the monastery. It is already mentioned that only four brick paved floors associated with layers (1),(2),(3) and (4) were encountered in the middle of the southern wing but seven floors (related to layers 1 to 7) were found in the south-east corner. In the former case the earliest floor was built over the deep filling of sandy soil as noticed in the cell areas. The floors in the latter area were made of brick-bust. But two brick-dust floors associated with layers (3) and (6) were supported by brick soling also. In front of the middle of the southern wing a projection was accommodated. It consisted of two small room and a staircase. The staircase was 1.93 wide. The arms were 1.37 m side. Each of the two small rooms internally 1.8m E-W and 2.5 m N-S. Function of these two rooms is still uncertain. It is yet to be examined whether this projected staircase along with these rooms were also used in the first phase of the monastery.
The excavation in the middle of the courtyard revealed the layout of a cruciforn shrine similar to the central shrine of the first period of Salban Vihara (Khan 1963, Alam A.K.M.S.1982:38) but larger in size. The outer face of the entire southern arm of the temple, a certain portion of its eastern arm and considerable portion of the western arm were unearthed. The southern arm was 56.00 m long and perhaps each arm of this temple was of the some length. Two projections, one in the middle of the southern arm and the other in the middle of the western arm. Were uncovered. Five terracotta plaques were found in situ on the outer face of the basement wall of the western projection The plaques depict a maned lion face, two warriors and two horse-riders2.Three courses of ornamental bricks survived. The exposed projected part of the western arm externally measured 7.92 x 3.35 m. A large broken image of Bohdisattva Avlokitesvara made of Dupitila Formation (Bakr:1976), locally known as soft stone, was recovered from the area of the western projection. The upper part of the wall had been removed by the brick-hunters and its foundation was traced at the depth of 1.22 m from its surviving top. As many as five brick-dust floors were encountered in the southern area of the temple. The floors were associated with layers (1), (2),(3),(4) and (5) respectively. The lowest floor (related to layer 5) was traced 30 cm below the foundation of the temple wall. It indicated that this floor was not associated with the exposed remains of the temple, rather it was associated with the earlier structure. Further investigation needs to ascertain it. It is most likely that like the monastery area this temple too might have two phase of building activity. If so, it can be inferred that the exposed portion of the temple belongs to the second phase and the lowest floor was associated with the first phases of the temple whose structural remains yet to be exposed. A 2.74 m wide brick paved floor had been unearthed around the temple to its southern, eastern and western sides about 3 m below the frieze of terracotta plaques mentioned above. The floor probably formed part of the circumambulatory passage of the temple. Since the excavation was restricted to a limited area the entire layout of the temple and its other feature could not be exposed.
Few trenches were sunk in the courtyard area between the southern wing and the central shrine on order to trace the probable existence of ant pathway in this area. Since the excavation was restricted to upper level it did not reveal any positive result. Except a few irregular fallen brick debrise no regular structural remains could be found
Stratigraphic record in extensive site like Ananda Vihara was not uniform throughout the area. The monastic cells and the central shrine showed some differences in the formation of cultural debrise particularly in the upper level. Since the site had been disturbed several times its stratigraphic sequence at the upper level has also been disturbed badly. Apart from these, unless the natural soil of the site is traced at several points it is difficult to establish the stratigraphic sequence of all the exposed part of the site satisfactorily and make a correlation amongst them. However, deep digging in a restricted area at the central shrine revealed six strata and five occupation levels. Of these the lowest level (5th level) seemed to be related to the first phase of building activity while the upper four levels to the second phase. Digging in the monastic arms had revealed clearly the strata of two building Phase. In the first phase. Occupation levels (floors) had been unveiled in the verandah only. No floor was found in the cell due to very restricted area of excavation as already stated. In the second phase, occupation level had been cleared in the verandah as well as in the cell. The antiquities recovered were mostly from the upper layers particularly from the shrine area. Description of the strata exposed in the deep trench of the shrine area is given below.
It was observed that layers (4), (5) and (6) were composed of sandy soil, carried from outside each time to raise the floor levels.
More than five hundred antiquities of various types were salvaged in the operation including one large stone ( local soft stone) image of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, one inscribed ornamental brick, two bronze image, about two dozen of terracotta sealings, about half a dozen of clay and baked clay votive stupas, forty terracotta plaques, a fairly large number of ornamental bricks, fragments of bronze images, pedestals and bronze vessels, a beautiful bronze saucer, a few semi-precious stone beads, a number of terracotta beads, balls, disca and toys, a large number of iron nails, some complete and semi-complete earthen pots, oil lamps, stands, sprinkler’s tops and numerous potsherds.
A large stone image of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was recovered from the western projection of the temple ( Square C-IV/25, layer 3 ). It was broken into few pieces. This was made of local soft laminated black stone geologically known as Dupitila Formation ( Badr, 1976: 12). Similar sculptures of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara were recovered from inside the deep shaft of the central stupa of Kutia Mura and had been dated to 7th century A.D. ( Khan, 1963:23). The present image may also be assigned to the same period.
Two bronze images and the head of a small bronze image were discoverd in excavation . One of these measuring 5.8 cm × 6.4 cm probably represented Dhyani Buddha, while the other one 3.2 cm high could not identified as it was heavily encrusted.
Among the various bronze objects salvaged from the site a complete bronze saucer or lid, 7.36 cm in diameter, fragments of a few bronze vessels and an ornamental bronze piece are noteworthy.
As many as 40 terracotta plaques had been registered from the site, most of which were found loose on the site of the shrine area in layer (2) while five were in situ in a frieze in the basement of the western projection of the shrine. These plaques were removed from the wall and kept in the store of the Mainamati museum for their security. A few plaques were also found at the monastery area. The plaques recovered from the site represented man and animal, divine and semi-divine beings, composite figures, natural motifs etc. This rich plastic art faithfully represents the social, cultural and religious life of ancient Samatata.
A short descriptive catalogue of the selected specimens is given below:
1. Terracotta plaque, 31×23×6 cm, broken, slightly damaged; with a representation of bas-relief of a warrior seated in a relaxed pose, holding a sword in his left hand. Something was in the right hand which is broken and missing. He wears a necklace. Accession No.477, Square C-VII/, Layer (2). Depth 1.16 m.
2. Terracotta plaque, 33×20×2 cm, complete, slightly damaged, depicts a pair of confronting rajhansa with a pair of pearl necklaces. The plaque contains a whole in the middle of its back VII/, (1), 45 cm.
3. Terracotta plaque, 9×8×5 cm, damaged and worn, depicts a human figure. Only the lower part of his right hand holding some basket or pot like object survives. 581, E-VII/1, (2),46 cm.
4. Terracotta plaque, 32×22×6 cm, complete but badly damaged, depicts a warrior with sword in right hand , excellently executed. It is one of the finest example of mainamati terracottas. 584, , E-VII/1, (2), 53 cm .
5. Terracotta plaque, 1×10×5 cm, decayed and broken, portraying the hind part of a wild boar, Major portion of the animal is missing.601, E-VII/1, (2),76 cm.
6. Terracotta plaque, 30×17×6 cm, very much decayed and slightly damaged, represents the bas relief of an elephant. Its hollowed body is open from the side probably due to breakage or it is prepared in this design. It shows an interesting feature of its manufacturing technique, it seems that the plaques of large sizes were cast with hollowed body.642, D- VII/19,(4), 1.50 m.
7. Terracotta plaque, 19×11×5 cm , broken and decayed, retains only the hind quarter of a cow or buffalo with long tail and hoofed legs.655,D- VII/22, (2),1.5 m.
8. Terracotta plaque of a wild boar, 21 × 18 × 5 cm, broken into two pieces but restored with, its right upper corner missing and decayed. The animal is more or less intact. 664, E-VII 15, (1) 10m
9. Terracotta plaque probably depicting a warrior measuring 29 × 21 × 5 cm, broken into two halves but restored, decayed and worn out. 689, D-XV/18, (2) 82 cm.
10. Terracotta plaque, 29 × 21 × 5 cm, broken and decayed representing two male figures fighting each other. Their heads are missing. 690, V-1/18, (2) 68 cm
11. Terracotta plaque,23 × 21 × 5 cm, broken and decayed, representing running male figure. 692, D-V/18, (2) l m.
12. Terracotta plaque, 33×21×5 cm, slightly damaged depicting a monkey sliding on a wooden log. Its hands are raised upwards and the head damaged and missing. 739, E-V/6, 3.2.5m,
13. Terracotta plaque, 35×22×6 cm, broken into two halves and damaged, representing two warriors. Left one is holding sword and the right one is seen with sword in his left hand; right hand holds some object. 744, E-V/6,(4), 2.88m.
14. Terracotta plaque, 29×21×6 cm , complete, depicting an archer in action with bow and arrow. 756, D-V/22,(2), 1.37 m.
15. Terracotta plaque, 33×22×6 cm, broken at lower right corner. It probably depicts three stupas resting in an ornamental pedestal with double rows of beads. In front of the central stupa there is probably a flower pot with a diamond shaped plant and flower. 758 E-V/6, (4), 3.15 m.
16. Terracotta plaque, 20×21×5 cm, complete representing a lion with single head and two bodies. The plaque probably was meant to decorate the corner of the shrine. 759, E-V/6,(4), 3.1m.
17. Terracotta plaque,26×20×5 cm, complete, slightly defaced, representing a composite figure comprised of human face (badly damaged ) and animal body with two stylized wings. 760. D-V/22,(2), 1.37m.
18. Terracotta plaque, 15×12×5 cm, broken, only the left hand of a warrior is preserved which holds a shield. 761,E-V/6,(3),2 m.
19. Terracotta plaque, 24×16×5 cm, broken out but restored. It depicts a crudely lion with a single head and double bodies. 782.D-V/22,(2),
20. Terracotta plaque, 23×15×5 cm , broken and decayed, depicts a stylized horse. 784 (2), D-V/22,(2), 1.6 m.
21. Terracotta plaque, 30×21×6 cm, broken and decayed, represents a horse-rider. Arms of the rider are raised upto his shoulder level. Tail of the horse is missing. 795.E-V/4,(2), 1m.
22. Terracotta plaque, 33×21×6 cm, beautifully depicting an elephant and two rats representing a popular folk tale of Bengal. The elephant is ensnared with rope around its legs and the tiny rat friends ate cutting the rope to get the elephant free from bondage. Trunk and tail of the elephant are partly broken. 796, E-V/4, (2),1 m 1).
23. Terracotta plaque, 34×20×7 cm, broken and decayed, representing a male dancer. His head, right knee and fingers of both the legs are broken and missing. 817.E-V/6, (4), 3.5 m.
24. Large terracotta plaque, 40×21×6 cm, complete and beautifully executed. It represents two fighting monkeys.871.E-V/4,(4),76 cm 2).
25. Terracotta plaque, 30×21×5 cm, broken and decayed depicting makara. 896, C-IV/24,(2A),2.2 m.3).
26. Terracotta plaque, 26×22×9 cm, complete but worn out. It represents a male dancer. Back side of the plaque is carved. 913,C-IV/24,(2A), 2.05m 4).
27. Terracotta plaque, 31×21×7 cm, complete, excellently executed. It depicts a blue lotus with expanded petals.914,C-IV/24,(2A),2.05m .
28-29. Two terracotta plaques, 24×21×4 cm, and 25×21×4 cm, respectively. Both are complete and excellently executed; each depicting a horse-rider. Since these two plaques were set in the basement confronting each other it appeared that they were fighting one another. 950, C-IV/24, 951, C-IV/24,6).
30. Terracotta plaque, 26×18×5 cm, complete and in good state of preservation. It excellently represents a maned lion face with protruding tongue, bulging eyes. Developed eye brow. Paws of the animal ate placed in front. 952. G-IV/24, 7).
31-32.1 Two complete terracotta plaques, 24×19×5 cm and 24×20×5 cm, in good condition. One depicts excellent archer having bow. The archer wears dhoti, necklace and bangles. 953,G-IV/24. The other one is holding shield in his left hand. Like horse riders these two plaques also were set on basement in such a fashion that they appear to fight one another ( two figures on left of this panel).
About a dozen of circular terracotta sealings, measuring about 5 cm in diameter, with the usual Buddhist creed had been recovered from the site. These were intact and Buddhist creed in the periphery.
Among the four terracotta votive clay stupas recovered from the site one was salvaged from the verandah area of the south-east corner of the monastery, two from the adjacent courtyard and one near the eastern exterior wall of the monastery. These were intact and their height ranged from 3.75 to 5 cm.
A large number of ornamental bricks were found from different areas of the site, specially from the shrine area. They depict various designs such as half-found edge and thinned edge, stepped pyramid, flower motif, lotus petal, dental ,motif, indented and saw, loop, zigzag, geometric-cum floral design, billet and rope design. The lotus petal and stepped pyramid patterns were most common not only in Ananda Vihara and other sites of Mainamati but also in Bahsu Bihar, Paharpur and other Buddhist sites. The ornamental bricks were used with the terracotta plaques for decorating the exterior wall of the shrine. In the central shrine a large number of these bricks were found in situ in the basement of the exterior wall of the eastern and western arms of the shrine. When the shrine collapsed a huge number of ornamental bricks also were detached from the building and were haphazardly strewn on the adjacent areas. A large number of these bricks were discovered from the heaps close to the shrine area during excavations.
Among the salvaged antiquities, an inscribed ornamental brick deserved special mention. It contained three/four lines of inscription of proto-Bengali character on one side with lotus petal design in the face. It had been pocked up loose from the fallen debris of layer (3); square E-V/6, at the south-east corner of the central shrine. The brick measured 28×25×5 cm .The inscription is yet to be deciphered.
A few semi-precious stone beads of agate, cornelian, quartz etc. were recovered from the site. They were disc, cylindrical, elongated and spherical in shape. Most of them were collected from the shrine area. Besides, a few glass beads also were discovered.
A number of iron objects were collected from the site including a few iron nails, one iron knife, one iron blade, one iron hinge, one iron cutter, one iron hook with two chain links etc. Most of these were rusted, decayed and broken.
The miscellaneous objects recovered from the site included terracotta beads, balls, discs, toys, dabbers, grinding stones, stone pestles, pieces of laterite, lime stone, fossil wood, charcoals, burnt rice, chalk pieces, bricks with foot print of man and animal, terracotta weight, copper wire, animal teeth (of a horse of a mule), etc.
In course of digging a large quantity of potsherds were recovered from the site. Complete wares were a few. These were medium sized pots, lids and saucers. The shreds were composed of all sorts of texture i. e.. thin, medium and thick. Medium textured shreds were dominant followed by thin and thick textured wares respectively. These shreds varied in colour from redish, pale redish, grey and blackish. These sherds were of cooking pots, pans, vases, bowls, tumblers, jars, pitchers, lids, saucers, oil lamps, stands, sprinklers and various other household objects of everyday use. A good number of sherds bear decorated designs such as square, rope and net impression, incised grid pattern and herring-bone design. Square and herring bone design were common whereas rope impression was rare.
A large number of cultural materials including structural remains had been discovered from the site. But no epigraphic record could be salvaged from here in excavation. In the absence of dateable evidence it is difficult to establish any absolute chronology of this site. Moreover, the site has not yet been fully exposed. The cultural material from its lowest level is negligible. However, on the basis of the iconographic parallels, and the themes reflected in the plastic art and their style and manufacturing technique, a relative chronology of the site can be drawn. The site might have been built in the 7th century and was in use upto 13th century A.D.
It is interesting to note that 5 pottery kilns were accidentally discovered in 1977 on the open field just outside the southern wing of the monastery towards its south-east corner. Here a large hockey ground had been prepared for the soldiers by removing earth to a depth of about 0.75 m to 1.25 m about a year back (1976). While removing earth a number of old pottery kilns were exposed. These might have existed in larger area in the unexcavated higher ground in the west. In order to examine their nature one kiln was cleared inside upto the depth of about 1 m and it was found that the kilns was full of complete and semi-complete earthen wares of various shapes and sizes similar to the pottery recovered from excavation at Ananda Vihara. Since the wares were fully fired it is presumed that the potters perhaps kept them in the kiln for the time being of did not get time to take them out. Because of incessant rains it was not possible to expose the kiln fully and recover all the objects found inside. However, about a dozen of large and medium sized pots, a number of small wares, vases, saucers, cups, lids with semi-complete pots and large body fragments of some other earthen wares were collected from the kiln. These pots were found completely filled with earth. But because of their thin body and weak fabric and also long association with earth they were very much decayed and cracks were developed on their bodies. So in curse of recovery and during cleaning almost all of them had been broken into pieces. Only a few could be restored. The discovery of these pottery kilns close to the archaeololgical site like Ananda Vihara is significant for it is the first of its kind in the country. Until this discovery no other pottery kiln has been reported from any site in Bangladesh. So this unique discovery is the only unmistakable evidence for pottery manufacturing centre of ancient ‘samatata’. Other sited like Rupban Kanya Mura, “Bhojrajar Bari, and “Itakhola Mura and ‘Rupban mura’ are not very far form this kiln The possibility of supplying the earthen wares from this factory to these archaeological sited cannot be ruled out.
The excavation had revealed the remains of a square monastery measuring 190.5×190.5 m arranged around a central cruciform shrine. The monastery showed two phase of building activity. But only one phase had been unveiled in the temple complex excepting a floor which appeared to be related to its earlier phase. No other remains of the earlier phase had been evident in this shrine area. Science the excavation in this area had been carried out in a limited area further digging is required to expose the architrectural remains related to this floor and more particularly the earlier phase. We have already noted that no floor could be traced in the first phase cells of the monastery. But exposure of a number of floors in the verandah of the first phase clearly indicated that the monastery was undoubtedly in use during this phase. That means there were floors in the cell contemporary to those of the verandah. Most probably during the construction of the second phase wall in the middle of the first phase cell the upper floors (s) had been destroyed. Since digging could not be carried down further deep in the first phase cell due to the existence of second phase wall, we were not sure how many floor were there. It needs further digging in the first phase cell by cutting through some portions of front wall to the second phase cell. Here it is worthnoting that the construction and reconstruction of such ancient building was not an unusual phenomenon. Rather it was very common in all the ancient establishments. For instance, the similar feature was noticed at Salban Vihara (Khan 1693). Rupban Mura (Alsm M.S. et al. n.d.), Itakhola Vihara (Rahman 1998) in Mainamati, Paharpur Mahavihara in Naogon ( Dikshit 1934), Bhasu Bihar (Ahmed 1979) and Bihar (Alam M.S, 1990) in Bogra. The builders either changed the original layout of the monastery (Rupban Mura), or without changing the external layout they shifted the alignment of cell either backward (4th phase in Salban vihara) (Khan 1963) or side way (Paharpur) (Alam M.S.n.d.). The unique chance discovery of pottery kilns behind the monastery had largely added the importance of the site. It is reported that only 5 kilns were discovered and there might have been more, which could not be discovered due to time constrain. Similar types wares found in the kiln as well as in the site indicated that these kilns were the sources of the pottery used in ‘Ananda Vihara’. It is likely that the potters manufactured their wares here and supplied those to other neighboring sited also like ‘Bhoj Vihara’, ‘Itakhola Mura’ and ‘Rupban Mura’. This conjecture is supported by the discovery of similar types of earthen wares from those sites. But it does not exclude the possibility of existence of more pottery kilns in other sites of Mainamati. Rather it is more likely that there might have been more manufacturing centers of earthen wares near other establishments like ‘Salban Vihara’, Kotbari etc. which are yet to be discovered. Until then these kilns will remain as unique discovery in the country.
The excavation had been carried out in a very restricted area if the monastery and the shrine. Remains of large portion (more than 80%) of the total area of the vast site yet remain unexcavated. Even the digging had been mostly confined to the upper level. Only 13 monastic cells had been excavated so far. Similarly a small portion of the central shrine had been exposed to its southern half. In order to explore the earlier level of Mainamati and to ascertain the association of this monastery with the Deva dynasty, if any, we must resume the work as soon as possible.
Source: http://learnfirsttolive.blogspot.com/2013/05/ananda-viharapart-1.html
