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| The remains of Talatal Ghar |
Guwahati, Sept. 13: Excavations at the Kareng Ghar — also referred to as the Talatal Ghar — are blowing away the veil of mystery from the Ahom palace in Joysagar.
Archaeologists have discovered staircases buried deep in the Kareng Ghar, confirming the fact that the palace provided subterranean subways for the royal family to flee at the time of crisis.
The excavation undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will study the buried structural features of the Kareng Ghar, constructed in the Ahom capital of Rangpur. The ASI team has discovered pathways, paved brick platforms and terracotta pipes built in three phases in the late medieval period.
“We can say with ample evidence that this was the palace occupied by King Rudra Singha as documented in the Assamese chronicles,” said B.D. Gupta of the ASI.
He said a pathway, running towards the northern side and cordoned by bricks on either side, is connected with a large brick caved platform by three flights of steps. “Eight wooden logs, potholes and pottery were found in the east-central region. A thick layer of ash indicated burning activities on an impermanent structure, while ceramic objects like pots, goblets and chinaware were found scattered,” he said.
The ASI team has deduced from the findings in the north-western wing of the palace that the massive structure was built in three phases. Structures of the first phase comprise small rectangular cells, staircases and paved brick platforms, while the walls were joined with mud mortar. In the second phase, two semicircular structural remains have been found near the eastern arm of a large rectangular hall. The paved brick platform was fully damaged in the third phase.
Remnants of four tower-like structures have been found below the octagonal temple of the palace with stone pebbles at the base of the posts. The damaged portions of plasters, covering arches and walls of the palace have been removed and lime plaster has been applied on them.
The ASI had taken up conservation work of the excavated structures and platforms in the palace.
