SHS Field Trip in Rajgir: Understanding Prehistoric Archaeology and Culture

March 4, 2023

School of Historical studies conducted a field trip to the Archaeological and historical sites of Rajgir on 04.03.2023. Students were taken to the archaeological sites in old and new Rajgir area (Ajatshatru fort, fortification wall, inner ramparts, Jara devi temple, Sone Bhandar cave, Bimbisar prison, Jeevak- Amravan, Chariot wheel mark, newly excavated Stupa, Makhdum Kund, and Palaeolithic Site in Ban-Ganga.

In addition to the archaeological locations within the inner and the outer fortification walls of Rajgir, students this time, were also taken to Makhdum Kund where they were briefed about the historical background and cultural significance of this 14th century Sufi site, through a lecture and close study of the various structural elements of the site, like caves, meditation chambers, and hot springs. The students were then taken to Jara Devi temple where the concept of the mother goddesses and the presiding deity of the old city. The students were taken to the newly excavated Stupa, located near the Banganga river pass, important for the recovery of the stone relic casket engraved with Brahmi script. The architecture and remains found on the site were narrated to students. The students were taken to the Paleolithic site near Banganga, located on the foothills of the Songiri. A large cluster of paleolithic artifacts belongs to the late Acheulian and middle paleolithic periods have been found at the site. Students were explained methods of identification of stone tools on the field and the typo-technological characteristics of the lithic assemblages found on the site.