Archaeology - 5th Century Gupta Era Relic Found

News From Bangladesh ^ | 4-20-2007 | Hasibur Rahman Bilu

[blam]

Archaeology -5th century Gupta era relic found

This photo shows terracotta plaques with Brahmi letters, ancient forms of Bangla letters. The relics were recently found at Bhair Dhap dig site in Shibganj upazila of Bogra. PHOTO: STAR

The Brahmi inscriptions show ancient formation of some Bangla letters

Friday April 20 2007 12:30:03 PM BDT

Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra

The archaeology department recently found cement-like ancient building material, known as "vajralepa", dating back to the Gupta era, during an excavation at Bhair Dhap site in Shibganj upazila of Bogra.( The Daily Star )

Rajshahi region Director of the department Abdul Khalaque said this is the first time that building material from such an ancient time was found.

Vajralepa was used for construction of the brick-built walls of the two Buddhist temples from the 5th-6th century AD recently discovered at the site, he said.

Archaeology department Custodian Nahid Sultana said vajralepa is like the cement and was made of banana, pulses, broth prepared from boiling buffalo hide, starch and other materials.

Assistant Custodian Md Mahabub-Ul-Alam also said vajralepa plaster is still on the walls of the two recently discovered Buddhist temples.

Mahabub and Nahid Sultana have already prepared a report on the excavation at Bhair Dhap and vajralepa to submit to the department concerned.

Indian authors mentioned vajralepa and its use in books like "Bharat Samhita" and "Visnudharmotantra".

Meanwhile, antiquities including terracotta plaques with Brahmi inscriptions were found in huge number at the Bhair Dhap site during the five month-long excavation that started on November 1 last year.

The Brahmi inscriptions show ancient formation of some Bangla letters, said Regional Director Abdul Khalaque.

The other relics found at the site include terracotta balls, ornamented terracotta, arch panels, and ornamental bricks.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[SengirV]

So that's where I left it.

[scouse]

Rajshahi region Director of the department Abdul Khalaque said this is the first time that building material from such an ancient time was found.

Does this mean found in India?

[Sleeping Freeper]

Looks like the guy has chalk all over his hands and is missing a thumb!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[SuzyQue]

the cement and was made of banana, pulses, broth prepared from boiling buffalo hide, starch and other materials

Pulses? I can't figure that one out.

[blam]

"Pulses? I can't figure that one out."

Pulses

Legumes.

The Chinese used rice in the mortar when building the Great Wall.

[sevenbak]

I think it’s some kind of vegetable roughage or seeds of some kind.

Daniel (in the bible) requested it of the king to eat if for 10 days to make him strong.

Daniel 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Further, we know what it’s not, because those are listed in this verse as well as pulse.

2 Samuel 17: 28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

Sorry to butt in, I'm a noob to the GGG ping list.

[SuzyQue]

Now I get it. Thanks.

I can see where it would work - I love lentils, but by the third day, they’re getting pretty close to mortar.

[sevenbak]

Beans and lentils are listed separately from pulse in that last verse, so I’m not sure that’s it either, but yes, I agree with you!!