The Ambari excavation site. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

May 14: The Assam archaeology department, trying to retrace the roots of Guwahati, is clearly unhappy with the terms “development” and “unplanned” attributed to it.

“Since buildings have cropped up in all the key areas of the city and in an unplanned manner, it has become impossible for us to ascertain the human settlement pattern and other details about Guwahati in the prehistoric period,” H.N. Dutta, director of the state archaeology department, said.

The exposed evidence at the protected site at Ambari pointed to the development of an urbanised habitation with at least six stages of construction of very fine bricks and decorated stone blocks dating back to the ninth or tenth centuries.

The state government declared the site at Ambari as protected in 1969.

“It has become almost impossible for the department to acquire additional sites for excavation near the existing one at Ambari because it is surrounded by government and private buildings. It is seriously affecting our efforts to explore the glorious phase of the city’s history,” he said.

The materials found during the excavations indicate that Kamrup or present-day Guwahati was a flourishing urban centre. However, it could not be ascertained whether Kamrup had served as the capital of the Kamrup kingdom during the Pala dynasty’s reign.

“In Ambari, we have dug up brick structures of living apartments dating back to the ninth and tenth centuries. These brick columns indicate the growth of urban culture in that area during that period,” Dutta said.

A well or bath surrounded by a square brick structure with a pathway of 1 meter to 1.2 metres in width running towards the south and the north was discovered at the Ambari site. A vertical brick alignment of similar nature was found and seven potholes were discovered.

The director said construction of a museum at the site was at its final stages. The museum, where the relics found during the course of excavation will be displayed, is likely to be inaugurated in the first half of next month.