Annual Report of the Department of Archaeology and Museums Andhra Pradesh: 1974-1975 (An Old and Rare Book)

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Sri Mohd. Abdul Waheed Khan who took charge as Director of Archaeology and Museums in 1962 retired and Dr. N. Ramesan, Ph. D., I.A.S. took over the reigns on 10th June, 1974. This was Dr. Ramesan's second tenure as Director. He was appointed as Director of Archaeology during 1961-62 for a brief period of one year till he handed over charge to Sri Waheed Khan.

Sri Waheed Khan's contribution to Archaeology was considerable. During his tenure he conducted excavations at Yelleswaram, Peddabankur, Chandavaram, Pochampadu, Keesanapalle and Motupalle etc. Quite a good number of publications were brought out of which mention may be made of 'A Monograph on Yelleswaram Excavations' and 'The Stone Sculptures from Alampur Museum' etc. A separate branch for collection and study of epigraphical records was started solely due to his initiative and the co-operation of Dr. Ramesan who was then the Secretary in the Education Department. Sri Waheed Khan was a disciplinarian and a good administrator.

During the year under review the excavation at Peddabankur revealed some more interesting evidences. Some elliptical structures of the Satavahana period raised on rubble foundation with brick walls were noticed. In all probability these structures were covered with tiled roofs on wooden frame work. A large number of iron objects like daggers and knives found during the excavation may lead to the surmise that irou smelting and forging of tools was practiced under the same roof as a home industry.

One interesting object was a terracotta seal inscribed in ornamental Brahmi script as "Mahatalavarasa Vajasamikasa Seva Sabha". Vajasami who was probably the Lord of the Horses, was also a Mahatalavara. In that capacity he might be enjoying some judicial powers. The seal has a beautiful figure of a horse in the middle and impressions of rope at the back. It was either carried by a messenger who travelled on horse or the seal was affixed to a consignment of goods to be carried on horse.

Kadambapur is about 15 kms. from Peddabankur with an extensive Mega- lithic burial site situated on the rocky sloping land bounded on the north by hills and by a Nallah on the East. Besides the Megalithic burials, we have also noticed an early historical habitation site and several polished stone axes of Neolithic affinity and grinding grooves once used for polishing the above tools. We have also noticed a factory site with hundreds of flake chips, half made and full made dolerite stone tools. It is interesting as to how the village got the name Kadambapur. There is no evidence that Kadambas of the East or West have ever ruled this place. Dr. Nelaturi Venkataramanayya suggested that the Kadambas during their exodus to East from West must have sojourned here. Professor R. Subrahmanyam was of the view that the village once must have had clusters of Kadamba trees.

At Kadambapur there are two types of burials the pit circle and the cist type. The Kadambapur burial complex appears to be one of the carly Megalithic burial sites. Some burials have yielded hand-made pottery; some globular vases having a cord design ending in loops.

This is a typical design usually noticed on the Neolithic burial urns. Some burials did not contain black and red ware pottery at all. Some iron objects, such as the battle axe, arrow heads etc., betray strong affinity with Vidarbha burials.

A small scale excavation was conducted at Dhulikatta situated about 8 kms. from Peddabankur. There is a mud fortification around a Satavahana habitation extending to an area of about 15 hectares of land. The cultural deposit noticed in the raingullies is more than 2 meters. Further, we have also discovered a Buddhist Stupa situated one kilometer north of the Satavahana habitation site. It is proposed to conduct a horizontal excavation during the next financial year.

At Gollathagudi the excavation was concentrated towards South of the "Padalagadda" or the mound of feet. At the eastern periphery of the mound, there are vertically erected feet of Jaina faith to a height of 4 feet with soles facing East. The custom of worship of the Padas emanated from the Buddhist period. The feet at Gollathagudi are probably the largest found anywhere in Andhra Pradesh.