The sheer size and richness of Indian culture and history has spawned several hundred books, films and folklore. But even today, possibly large chunks of it remain buried in obscurity in all parts of India.
The latest excavation to remind historians of these yet to be discovered fragments of history is that of a mysterious 80-120 km long wall that runs right through the heart of the country with no plausible excuse for existing.
The Great Wall Of India
Many theories abound as to why the wall, which was first spotted by Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti, an NGO based in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh and is believed to date back to the 11th-12th century, though it might be older. Many historians have claimed that the wall could be a remnant of a Parmer fortification, which would prove the existence of a 1,000 year-old kingdom. The fortification, parts of which are yet to be excavated, may be the longest fortification in India, and the second longest in the world after the Great Wall of China.
The length of the wall, starting from Gorakhpur-Deori and going on till Chokigarh in Chainpur Bardi in the Raisen district, is interrupted by more modern constructions such as a dam. But along its length, archaeologists have discovered several relics of temples and murals. While many argue that the Wall may have been built by the British, though the theory is unlikely, it is as yet unknown what the purpose of the wall was, whether to keep out invaders, or epidemics or even natural disasters.
But the fact that the structure has eluded attention till now even though it exists smack in the heart of the country makes one wonder how many other such historical wonders are hiding under the dusts of time.
Take a look at some of the other archaeological discoveries that have been made in India in the past decade.
Skeletons at Rakhigarhi
In April last year, almost 15 new skeletons were found in Rakhigarhi, in Hisar, Haryana, one of the biggest excavation sites of the 5,000-year-old Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation.
Scientists and archaeologists have been trying to identify and match the DNA found in these remains to that of Rakhigarhi residents today. A match in DNA will prove that the bloodline of Harappan inhabitants may still be continuing to present day.This would not only disprove the theory that all Harappans died of a mysterious cause as the civilisation ended, but also make the Harappan civilisation the longest existing one in the world.
Tarighat in Chattisgarh
In 2013, archaeologists found the remains of a gutted settlement near Chhattisgarh’s Raipur buried under 13-20 ft of ash. The 2,500-years-old site has been touted as one of the oldest and quite complex urban centres in India, which possibly had trade ties with countries such as Africa.
The site dates back to the 5th-3rd Century BCE when the region was under the rulership of Kushana and Satavahana rulers.
Chhattisgarh has been home to even more excavations. Just last year, two Swachh Bharat workers, digging for toilets near Raipur, found three gold coins dating back to the 5th century BCE. Historians claim the coins belong to the Sarabhapuriya dynasty.
Early Humans of Andhra Pradesh
In 2010, archaeologists working in Andhra Pradesh discovered ancient tools dating back to almost 74,000 years. If the evidence checks out, it will prove that the oldest humans to arrive and settle in India came almost 15,000 years before the time it is usually believed that they did.
The excavation of these tools can be seen as a pointer of Toba eruption theory. According to anthropologists, the Toba eruption, an Indonesian super-eruption, near wiped out all of humanity. But according to these findings, humans may have survived the supposed eruption after all as tools made by pre-eruption humans and those made by post-eruption humans have been found to follow the same technical patterns and make.
If correctly identified, the perfectly preserved sites, discovered at Jwalapuram village and Bilasurgam caves in Kurnool and Dhaba village in middle Son valley, AP, may lend important clues about the earliest inhabitants in India, where they came from and what eventually became of them.
Feature Image Source: Reuters (Representational)