PHANIGIRI - ART AND CULTURE
News: Telangana | An earthen pot
containing 3,730 lead coins from Ikshvaku period unearthed in Phanigiri,
Suryapet
What's in the news?
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Recently, the Department of Archaeology and Museums
have unearthed a coin hoard at the Phanigiri in Suryapet district, Telangana.
Phanigiri:
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It is a famous
Buddhist site located 110 km away from Hyderabad.
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This site derived its name from the shape of the hillock, which appears to be like a snake hood.
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The word Phani in Sanskrit means snake and Giri
means hillock.
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It is believed to be one of the important Buddhist
monasteries strategically located on the ancient
trade route (Dakshinapatha) connecting the west and the east coast of the
Deccan.
Other Findings of the
Excavation:
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Lead coins with elephant symbol on one side and Ujjain symbol on the other side are
found.
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According to the archaeologists, the coins belong
to the Ikshvaku period dated between
the 3rd century and 4th century Common Era.
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Also stone
beads, glass beads, shell bangle fragments, stucco motifs, broken limestone
sculptures, a wheel of a toy cart, final nails and pottery are excavated.
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Mahastupa, apsidal Chaityagrihas, Votive stupas, pillared
congregation halls, Viharas, platforms with staircases at various levels,
octagonal stupa chaitya, 24-pillared mandapam, circular chaitya, and cultural
materials that included terracotta beads, semi-precious beads, iron objects,
Brahmi label inscriptions and holy relic casket are also excavated.
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All the cultural material is datable from the 1st
century BCE to 4th century CE.