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Chapter 8
Discussion
The inquisitiveness is a basic character of the entire animal kingdom and of all the animals human has the most inquisitive character, he has exploited it to the extreme levels. That is one of the major contributing factors for the phenomenal growth and development of our species. Archeological explorations and studies are the result of this basic human nature. The same spirit of inquiry initiated and sustained my research at Nani Rayan.
How old is archeology? As old as man kind! Man has tried to explore his past in different ways. The first state sponsored archeological exploration in Gujarat, took place in the period of Maharaja Kumarpal. A rare statue of Lord Mahavir, created during his lifetime, was unearthed. The entire excavation is narrated by Muni Hemchandracharya. The science of archeology, too, has grown with the times.
The finds at the site of Nani Rayan have been surface finds or accidental finds while the earth was being dug for some reason, i.e. planned excavation has not been conducted.
However, this does not undermine the importance of this site.
Yes one can not chronologically determine the age of civilization but then the profusion of artifacts and their similarity with the finds at the confirmed sites do convey, although roughly, the periods of human dwelling.
The study of the trench dug for laying the pipeline shows number of walls, potters cline, iron smelting foundry, buried 4 ft below the ground level. This indicates the presence of a buried civilization, an iceberg, whose tip is what we see as the surface finds.
All these collectively tell an interesting story and answers many questions like: 1 Since when was this site occupied? 2 Who were the people? 3 What did they do? 4 What was their religious and cultural background? 5 Whether they had any trade contacts with the outer world and the other parts of India? 6 What was imported and exported? 7 Does this site fit in to the chain of the events of the history and what is its importance?
8 What buried this site 4 feet below the present ground level? 1. Since when was this site occupied ?
The earliest antiquities are Dish on stand and Etched carneliun, Long Barrel cylinder, and steatite beads.
The above mentioned beads found from the pot are typical harappan antiquity. They have been found from almost all major harappan sites. They are important evidence of trade and cultural exchange of Harappan people with Mesopotamia. Although a typical Indus seal is not found one can safely date this site back to Indus Valley period.
119 Parva X of Tri Shrusti Shalaka writen by Muni Hemchandracharya
Discussion
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