VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Jan 10: While cleaning the surface of a mound in Obra of Pathalgada in Chatra district, the team of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) saw an ‘Asthi Kalash’.
The team of six archaeologists is monitoring the work with the digging going on in three blocks with the upper part of a clay pot seen in the mound. The superintending archaeologist Rajendra Dehuri said Obra is a megalithic site which is the first project of ASI taken up in Jharkhand.
A total of 20 labourers cleaned the surface of the mound by removing leaves and the upper layer of mud.
Moreover, Dehuri said while cleaning the surface, they saw the Asthi Kalash in the mound. The upper part of the Kalash made of clay is visible and it is damaged.
“Many Asthi Kalash was also seen around this site in open,” he added.
He added within these years, many structures of archaeological value got damaged at Obra. However, excavation will now help them to know many things about megaliths and about people of that time.
Sources said megaliths are stones erected on burial sites by ancient people in perfect alignment with hills with sunrise or sunset. Ancient people used to do calculations at such sites.
They said megaliths are always a mystery in the present time and not much research is taken up by government agencies in the past. With Obra now undergoing excavation, all are hopeful of knowing the secrets associated with megaliths, they added.
With people coming here in large numbers every day, the mound area has been barricaded with ropes. ASI has also put information boards at several places which confirm the excavation work going on here.
