Arc Sites Page: 07.

Archaeological Sites

MANIAPPA MOUND
Chandika Asthan
Maniappa, Begusarai
07 Km. Sorth – East from Begusarai district headquarters.
River Ganga flows almost 5 Km. south from this mound
Mound – 200m x 100m x 8m.
Sculpture

This is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites close to the present bed of river Ganges. The thick habitations all around and the hemispherical top resembles to be some religious site. The present Bhumihar population has migrated here from Bihat as suggested by some residents here. The central part of  the top is being cut which occupies a hemispherical shape of almost 30m. diameter. It is also full to potshreds deposit in stratus. Some coins also are said to be found during structural cutting here.

Unidentified defaced deity offering blessing to a younger/smaller one. Door panels (Broken) part of stele.
Black stone
Late pala

A number of broken black stone sculptures as well as broken pieces of stela and door frames are at present placed in the temple under a large old banyan tree, known as Chandika asthan. The tree itself seems to be almost 200 years old.
N.B.P., Black ware (plain & polished), Red black ware, Burnt, Black polished red ware, Red slipped.
Storage vessel, cookware, Bowl, Plate.
   
JAIMANGALPUR
(86° 09’ 18/25° 35’ 40”)
Manjhaul
Cheriya Bariyarpur
Begusarai
20 Km.South, South – East from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mound –  1000 m x 800m x 5m. (Approx)
NBP, Black ware, Blackslipped red ware (Plain and Polished)
Dish, Plate, Stoagevessel , Pan , Cook ware, Water jar, Bowl, Deep Pan.

Jaimangalpur is situated on the southern flank of the vast Kawar Lake. It is poularly known as Jaimangalgarh. The topology and the height of the mound is remarkable.

Jaimangalgarh is infact a set of two mounds. The western part is separated by a chanel from the main eastern part. The eastern has evidence of fortification. It is large in size. At present the temple of mata Jaimangala, for which the site enjoys the great popularity in local tradition, is situated on this southern part. The variety of potshreds can be seen everywhere on both  mounds. (N.B.P. black polished ware, Redware etc.). It seems that the fortified southern part used to remain the residential premises of the royal family whereas the northern might be associated to officials. It is important to notice that there are few other mounds across the Kawar Lake surrounding the main mound. One is towards south while the other is towards East. The cultural sequence of the both mounds seems to be almost same and both of them seem to come into existence just after the main site. The Harsan stupa is towards East and at least another two mounds namely Kanti Dih and Sakra Bad lie in the same direction. In short, at least four smaller mounds and the stupa fall in the periphera of 2 Km.

Sculpture – Black stone, Pala period.
Four handed Vishnu standing sambhanga. A well decorated crown over head. Ajamulambi Mala (garland), right lower hand exposed frontward in Abhaymudra while upper left holding the Shudarshan Chakra. Gada placed downward between the lower armpit. Upper left hand holding the shankha upward while lower holds the shrifala. Under this arm holding shrifala is sitting Garuda Dev in worshiping posture (Aradhaya mudra). The sculpture seems to represent the matured pala or Rajputa period.

SIRAIYA DIH
Chauki
Sahebpur kamal
Begusarai
30 Km. North – East from Begusarai district headquarters.
It is a set of two mounds with a dry river bed intersecting through middle. Regular agricultural practice is being done at the top.
Black polished ware, Red ware, Black polished red ware.
Storage vessel, Cookware, Deep bowl, plate, Deep plate.

MARATTHA DIH
Chauki
Sahebpur kamal
Begusarai
32 K.M. North – East from Begusarai district headquarters.
Extended in more than 5 Bighas. Height – 2m.
Regular agricultural practice is being done on the top of the mound. To the east flows the stream of river Ha – Ha which is locally known as Maratha Dhar.
Red ware, Black polished Red ware.
Storage vessel, cookware, large bowl, Bowl, plate, Basin.

MASURIYA DIH

(86° 11’ 17/25° 27’ 22”)
Sankh
Begusarai
10 Km. North – East from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mound – 150m x 200m x 5m.

The landscape and topology of this site is remarkable. It is situated in the western corner of the famous kola chaur, which is created by some distributaries of river Ganges like Deoki, Koyal etc. The variety of potshreds in surface finding is enough to prove this site the oldest in the region. Some of the pot – shreds seem to be representing even Neolithic culture. Water confluence here even at present catches attention. All around the Kola chaur we can locate important archaeological sites. The Black and Red ware site of Damdama is to its East. Some other sites are Kaith, SangoKothi, Cheriya Dih, Kusmahaut etc.

NBP, Blackware, Red slipped, Black slipped, Red ware.
Storage vessel, cookware, Bowl, Plate, Basin, Water jar etc. and vessels with thick and heavy core.

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