Gottiprolu- An Early Trade Centre of Andhra Pradesh | 01 Nov 2019

Why in News?

• Excavation by Archaeological Survey of India at Gottiprolu near Nellore (now renamed as Sri Potti Sriramulu) district, Andhra Pradesh has discovered the remains of a huge settlement.

Key Points

• The site lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi.
• The proximity of the site (at southern coastal location) to the seacoast suggests that the site could have served as a strategic settlement involved in maritime trade.
• Detailed topographical studies have identified an early historic settlement surrounded by a fortification and the possibility of a moat encircling it.

Discovered Items

• Sculpture- Life-size buried Vishnu sculpture with following specifications:
  
  • Four-armed Vishnu standing over a pedestal,
  • Carrying chakra and conch in his upper right and left hands respectively.
    
    • The lower right is in bestowing boon position and the left hand in ‘Katihastha’ (resting on the hip) posture.
  • Features like the elaborate headgear, thick holy thread, and decorative drapery dates it back to the Pallava period (c. 8^th cent. AD).
• Pottery- conical jars that are considered to be imitated variety of Roman Amphorae jars (ancient Greek or Roman jar/ jug used to transport liquid commodities).
  
  • These settlements could have been an important trade centre due to the presence of imitated amphorae wares.
  • The conical jars of broken terracotta pipes found fitted into one another revealed about the civic amenities and drainage system pattern maintained by the occupants at the site.
  • The ceramic assemblage of the site consisted of fine quality black and redwares collected from the conical jars, russet coated ware, etc.
• Brick-built structures in different sizes and forms like elliptical, circular, rectangular, and curvilinear pattern.
  
  • The size of bricks can be compared to those found in the Satavahana/Ikshvaku period structures in the Krishna valley viz. Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda.
  • This dates back the site to the 2^nd century to 1^st century BC.
• Molded female terracotta figurine- with two hands lifted upwards.
• Varied stone tools of Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods were also found which suggest that prehistoric people also occupied this area.
• Other major retrieved antiquities unearthed are copper and lead coins, iron spearhead, stone celts, terracotta beads, ear stud in semi-precious stone and hopscotches.
• Important Remnants of the Site: fortified early historic settlement at Puduru, Sunbrahmanya temple at Mallam, unique rock-cut laterite stepped well at Yakasiri, Vishnu temple at Tirumuru.

Source: PIB