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352
AN EARLY HISTORY OF ORISSA
to counter-effect the inscriptions of Asoka---a victor of Kalinga,
A group of monolithic pillars of laterite can also be seen in the centre of the fort. Average height of the pillars is between 14 and 15 feet. Top and bottom are cubical and 2} ft. square, top is 2 to 3 ft., and bottom is 4 to 5 ft. long. The central part is octagonal or sixteen faceted. Across the top, the pillars have a socket obviously to hold super-imposed beams or coping. Two pillars are, however, circular in section. Some of the pillars present medallions as at Bodh Gaya, Bharhut, Sanchi and Kaņda. giri. Evidently, a pillared hall stood here about the 2nd1st centuries B. C.
Much can, therefore, be said in favour of Sisupalgarh being identified with Kalinga-nagara. The Sisupalgarh recalled śiśupāla who was a Chedi king, so also was Khāravela. The excavations revealed that the site was occupied from the beginning of the 3rd century B. C. to the middle of the 4th century A. D., and was marked by one integral culture throughout, though there were gradual changes in some of the industries, particularly in pottery.
The fort defences which were erected at the beginning of the 2nd century B. C. revealed four phases. In phase I, they consisted of a clay rampart, some 25 ft. high and over 110 ft. wide at the base. In phase II, a 4 to 6 ft. thick covering of laterite gravel was added on the top of the clay rampart, while in phases III and IV, the clay filling was retained by baked-brick revetments on either sides. The defences remained in use till about the
1. It is, however, not understood why Khāravela did not like to remove the Iubcriptions of Asoka which certainly were the cause of humiliation to the people of Kalinga,
2. Refer Plates.
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