Labourers work at the excavation site at Khukhragarh village. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Khukhra (Ranchi), Feb. 12: A team of the state art and culture department today stumbled upon bricks at Khukhragarh during an ongoing archaeological excavation.

Apprehending that the bricks could belong to a wall of some ancient building, the team is taking extra care in its excavation. As the work is progressing, a sizeable number of other remains are also being discovered. So far, the department has recovered a huge number of archaeological remains in the excavation at Khukhragarh, about 40km from the state capital, believed to be the third capital of the Nagvanshi rulers of the region.

The finds include potteries, terracotta pieces, bones, pieces of iron-made instruments, including six ancient coins, believed to belonging to the Mughal period. “Before the excavation is complete and the archaeological findings are analysed by experts, it would be premature to comment on any thing with regard to their historical importance,” said Harendra Prasad Sinha, the deputy director of the department and in charge of the excavation.

The excavation started on February 1.

The entire area that surrounds the Murhar hill, where the department is carrying out horizontal excavation is full of archaeological remains, which are found even on the surface of the soil and could be seen with naked eyes.

At present, excavation has been taken up in four trenches, which may expand as the time progress. Over 70 villagers with their instruments are engaged in the work, and are on mission under the guidance of Kumar Anand, a trained archaeologist.

Tradition and folktales point out that the Nagvanshis had their capital in Khukhragarh.

“But through excavation, we are looking for archaeological evidence of this traditional belief,” said Anand. While the potteries have curved lines, the terracotta pieces resemble animal figurines. In some small pots, some bone pieces also have been found.