Coins, idols excavated at Vadnagar

[Trinea]

Coins, idols excavated at Vadnagar
Pramod Panwar
[22 Apr, 2007 l 2129 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]
 
PALANPUR:Remains of a walled town, and copper and silver coins, dating to second century AD,were found in Vadnagar of Mehsana district during excavation being carried out by state archaeological department. "The copper and silver coins date to the Kshatrap dynasty in Vadnagar," said archaeological department director YS Rawat.

"Excavation work undertaken on the eastern side of the town near Ghaskot Darwaza reveals that Vadnagar was not the same as it is now. It was far bigger than we thought," said Rawat. "Copper implements, silver ornaments, cut shell circles along with polished shell bangles have been found during the excavation," he added.

A copper and earthen idol of Lord Ganesha bears similarity to others found at sites in Junagadh, Kamrej near Surat, Nagara in Khambhat and Hathap in Bhavnagar, he said. He added that Buddhist begging bowls prevailing during the 2nd century in Vadnagar were also found along with a large number of pieces of northern black polished ware (NBPW).

According to Ratilal Bhavsar, a scholar of ancient history of Vadnagar, Buddha's idol with inscriptions mentioning the time, place and objective behind bringing it to Vadnagar and the polished bowls highlight the survival of Buddhism in ancient Vadnagar.

Rawat said that the five chambers that were found during the excavation suggest a well planned sewage disposal system. Nowhere else has such a system been found during the contemporary period. 
 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Ahmedabad/Coins_idols_excavated_at_Vadnagar/articleshow/1940305.cms