Ahmedabad: Shell bangles with gold foil, pearl and gold ear ornaments, and several game pieces, bestow the gleam of a treasury on the camp of archaeologists at Valabhipur, a town about 40km northwest of Bhavnagar.The camp belongs to the Excavation Branch V of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and State Archaeology, Gujarat.Another precious item is a delicate carnelian intaglio with a deer symbol. Carnelian is an orange or orange-red semiprecious stone, and intaglio refers to the process of engraving.These artifacts along with a copper plate and several figurines and terracotta seals evoke the cultural zenith of the Maitraka dynasty. That was one of the earlier dynasties from the Saurashtra peninsula that ruled almost the entire area of today’s Gujarat region and beyond from 5th to 8th centuries.“Based on the evidence so far, the artifacts and structures present a picture of a thriving and prosperous town that not only had manufacturing facilities, but also well-connected trade,” said Dr Reshma Sawant, the superintending archaeologist with the ASI working on the site for the past two seasons.Sawant said, “The trade links are underlined by the presence of torpedo jars that came from the Mediterranean regions.”Torpedo jars are tall, narrow clay jars used to ship goods across long distances.Sawant said, “Moreover, the site was a confluence of religions. We get Lord Ganesha idols, Lajjagauri, and the seals and sealings associated with Buddhism.”The ASI started excavations at the site in 2024-25, aiming to find the archaeological evidence of the ancient Valabhi — the capital of Maitrakas. It was famous not only for its religious discourse, but also for the university that attracted scholars from all corners of India.The nature of these excavated structures will be known with more digs, said officials, as the excavations will continue next season. The approximate age of the finds matches well with the Maitraka period (5th to 8th centuries CE) and later.Two sites in the town — an ancient mound near Mafat Nagar and a town site near Darbargadh — are subject to archaeological investigations. The ancient mound is currently the primary site, said experts.Scholars point out that like several towns that have been in existence for a couple of centuries, the town of Valabhipur has retained its overall contours. Scholars said it is possible that the structures the ASI is searching for are underneath the existing town where excavation is no longer practical.“But evidence from the limited area shows the nature of the site. We have hearths and a large number of conches and shells used for making bangles,” Sawant said. “We have semiprecious stones and bead polishers, indicating a thriving economy.”Sawant added, “We also have coins, sealings and a rare copper plate that provide us with epigraphic (written) records.”She said, “The copper plate has been sent to the Science and Epigraphy Branch in Mysuru for cleaning and deciphering.”Dr Y S Rawat, the director general of the ASI, told TOI that the results from the excavations are encouraging. “The evidence found from the digs will help put the historic facts in perspective,” he said. “The excavations will continue for the next season. A site atop the nearby Thapnath Hill is also an exciting discovery.”Hiuen Tsang, the famous Chinese traveller to India, called the town ‘Fa La Pi’ in his writings and described it as ‘densely populated, rich’ because rare and valuable products were available there.He also described the rich library with royal patronage, according to historian Makrand Mehta. I Tsing, another Chinese traveller, also praised the town and its university.Why is the capital at the current location? Some accounts point to its maritime connection. The current town has two rivers nearby — Ghelo and Kalubhar. The coast itself is no closer than 40km.The experts thus believe that it could be due to the inland riverine trade instead of a seaport. Some of the coastal sites in Bhavnagar district have shown evidence of habitation centuries ago, they added. The current excavation may throw light on the connection with its contemporary sites, added experts.The town holds significance as a confluence of religions — Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism — and as the site for several seminal events. According to historians, it was the site of the historic Valabhi Council of Jainism. The town is believed to have fallen to the invasions into Gujarat in the 8th century CE.It is notable that the ASI is currently working on two sites — Valabhipur and Lothal. The work was taken up after a major excavation at Vadnagar, and it eventually took the shape of an archaeological experiential museum in the town.A ‘citadel’ with a view atop hillockASI officials identified ancient bricks on the flattened top of a hillock, known locally as Thapnath Hill near Chamardi village. What followed was a significant discovery as the 50 sq ft area was found to have a major structure.Dr Reshma Sawant, the superintending archaeologist of Excavation Branch V, said that half the structure is made of burnt bricks of 39 X 23 X 5 cm dimension whereas the rest is made of stones. It is possibly pointing to two phases of structure, she added.“We are yet to ascertain the nature of the structure — whether it was a watchpost that could give an unhindered view of a large area, or if it had any other purpose,” she said. “Some coins found at the site are of the medieval period. One of the interesting discoveries is of a suspected water channel.”The site will be explored in detail in the next excavation season, said ASI officials, as nearby hills also show signs of anthropogenic activities.Maitrakas, the superpower before SolankisAccording to historians, the Kingdom of Valabhi came into existence in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Gupta Empire in the early medieval period in the 5th century CE.It is believed that Bhattaraka, the general of the Gupta Empire in the Saurashtra region, declared himself ruler of the region, and took the title of ‘senapati’ (general), which he held till his son proclaimed himself ‘maharaja’ (emperor).A number of silver coins issued during the Maitraka reign have been found with the distinct trident as the royal seal. A majority of the details of the kingdom are found from the copper plates given as part of grants.The reign is known for its architecture and cultural contributions, especially through the famed Valabhi Vidyapith, which was among the foremost seats of learning in ancient India.Yijing, a Chinese traveller, praised it and said that it was financially supported by the state and several prominent scholars were educated there. Sustained invasions severely weakened the kingdom and rang its death knell in the 8th century, according to scholars.It was only after two centuries that the Chalukyas (Solankis) again made the region a superpower among Indian kingdoms and ushered in the age of cultural renaissance, scholars surmise.
