Bhubaneswar, Feb 26 (Bureau) Traces of an early period civilization have resurfaced in the bed of the Kuakhai River near Cuttack City with the discovery of several archaeological remains by a team led by Co-Convener of Intach’s Cuttack Chapter Deepak Kumar Nayak. The remnants of an old settlement that once flourished near the Balimangala Devi Pitha, near Uttampur Village of Cuttack’s Sadar block have resurfaced recently in a large area spread over the dunes about 200 meters from the present embankment. The INTACH team found a large number of fragmented pieces of redware, blackware, grey ware, rings of mud well, and bone pieces from a small mound-like structure inside the river. Pieces of sculpted images that were unidentifiable were also discovered. According to Nayak, the site has a lot of historical significance as it is situated midway between the Barabati Fort and Chudanagada Fort in Barang.
Similar pottery and ware have also been found in the ongoing excavation work being carried on inside the Barabati Fort by the Archaeological Survey of India. The type of potteries found are very much identical to those found in the excavated sites at places like Khalakatapatana, Manikapatana, and Sisupalagada establishing that there has been significant maritime trade in the waterway of the Kuakhai River in early centuries. According to Anil Dhir, the Convener of Intach’s Bhubaneswar Chapter, the findings suggested that there was either a riverside port or a large settlement in the place that had been abandoned due to frequent flooding.
A small-scale archaeological excavation in the riverbed is required to determine relevant history associated with these finds, he said, adding that the INTACH will soon write to the ASI and the State Archaeology Department to survey the area. Dr.Biswajit Mohanty of INTACH thinks that the remnants have resurfaced due to erosion of the river bed due to rampant sand mining. The Mahanadi and its delta system have rich archaeological remnants spread on its river bed and banks, he claimed. During INTACH’s recent comprehensive survey of the Mahanadi Valley, many new sites and heritage structures have been reported and documented. The report also had details of 63 submerged ancient temples in the Mahanadi which are being destroyed and vandalized by illegal sand mining, Mohanty said.