(From top) An excavation site at Panr in Samastipur, a bone seal and an ivory ring from the Gupta period, bone tools and bowls, probably used for measuring grains, found at the site. Telegraph pictures

Patna, Aug. 18: Agriculture, the backbone of the state, goes long back in Bihar, literally. Recent findings from an excavation site in Samastipur district have revealed so.

The excavation site at Panr, 5km northwest of Dalsinghsarai, the sub-divisional headquarters of the district, is 110km northeast of Patna. Excavations conducted by KP Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna, in the last decade have unearthed 52 agriculture and animal remains dating back to 4200 BC (Neolithic period). The findings suggest farming techniques like crop rotation and multiple cropping were in practice then too.

Based on the findings, archaeological and scientific experts are of the view that applying science to agriculture has become the need of the hour. The findings also point to trade of agriculture products between Bihar and the eastern world, as well as the West.

The mound where most of the excavations were carried out is known as Pandavasthana. Two scholars — K.P. Sarswat, a retired scientist from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, and P.P. Joglekar from Deccan College, Pune — helped in carrying out the excavation.

According to Sarswat’s findings, rice, green gram, barley, wheat, lentils, and grass pea, dating back to 4200 BC, were found at the site. A preliminary study of a sample of skeletal remains, examined by Joglekar, also revealed the presence of buffalo, goat, spotted deer, blackbuck, gazelle, wild pig, porcupine, hare, peafowl, common teal, Ganges soft shell turtle, Indian mud turtle and others during the same period at Panr. This indicated domestication of animals was in practice at the time. The use of bone and evidence of copper hooks also suggest the people practiced hunting and fishing for subsistence.

The director of KP Jayaswal Research Institute, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, said: “The evidence found at Panr indicated that wheat and rice were cultivated here 6,000 years ago. These two crops were indigenous to the Mediterranean region, from where they came to the western part of Indian subcontinent. The recent findings indicate that from there the crops and agricultural practices came to northwest India and then eastern parts of Bihar. Rice, on the other hand, is also supposed to be indigenous to the eastern world. So, all these indicate trade and exchange of agricultural products and practices between Bihar and the eastern and western worlds in the ancient times. This was not known earlier. There is a need to compare the botanical remains from the historical period in Bihar with respect to those from other regions during the same period so that we can understand the history of agriculture in Bihar and the rest of the country. This will be possible only by adopting multi-disciplinary scientific approach to study zoological and botanical remains in the state.”

Sarswat said: “Earlier excavations did not give any information regarding exchange of trade and agricultural practices between Bihar and the rest of the world, indicating that this region was isolated in the ancient times. But the new findings reveal otherwise. Further scientific study of the history of agriculture in the state would reveal more aspects of practice in ancient times and animal husbandry in the region.”