Uttar Pradesh
Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Mahabharata Age
- 04 Dec 2024
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Recently, an update is seen on the conservation and development of the protected site in Hastinapur, Meerut, which was designated as one of the five 'Iconic Sites' by the Union Government in 2021-22, under the management of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Key Points
- History:
- Hastinapur was the capital of the Pandavas and Kauravas during the time of the Mahabharata.
- The site is associated with many places from the Mahabharata, including Vidurr Tila, Pandaveshwar Temple, Baradri, Draunadeshwar Temple, Karna Temple, Draupadi Ghat, and Kama Ghat.
- Excavations:
- B. B. Lal, the Director General of the ASI, conducted excavations at Hastinapur in the early 1950s.
- He found correlations between the Mahabharata and the material remains he unearthed, which led him to historicize some of the traditions in the epic.
- Iron objects:
- The site has many iron objects that date from the 6th century BCE to the 16th century CE.
- The excavated slag samples indicate that the site was involved in crucible carburization activities.
- Crucible carburization is a process that uses a crucible to heat wrought iron with carbon-rich materials to create steel.
- Recent work:
- The ASI has conducted excavations at the site in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
- The site has also undergone conservation and development work, including the construction of pathways, parking, and gardens.
Five Iconic Sites
- Dholavira:
- An archaeological site with a water system that was used for rainwater harvesting. The people who lived there during the Harappan civilization are known for their water conservation techniques.
- Hastinapur:
- A historical and cultural site in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. It was the capital of the Kuru dynasty emperors in the Mahabharata.
- Sivasagar:
- A town in Upper Assam known for its Ahom palaces and monuments. It was the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788.
- Adichanallur:
- An archaeological site from south India with a history dating back to 2500 BC–2200 BC. In 2004, human skeletons of varying ethnicities were unearthed here.
- Rakhigarhi:
- Rakhigarhi in Haryana’s Hissar district is one of the most prominent and largest sites of the Harappan civilisation. It is one among the five known townships of the Harappan civilisation in the Indian subcontinent.
