SHS Trip in Rajgir and Surrounding: Understanding the Archaeological and Cultural Landscape

April 3, 2022

A field trip to the different locations with archaeological importance in Rajgir was conducted by the School of Historical Studies, Nalanda University. The students were taken to the Ajathasatru fort. The students were briefly educated on the following topics; geological background of the Rajgir, history of Archaeological research in Rajgir, surface Archaeological finds, the concept of the fort and fortification, military architecture, historical pottery types, ancient hydrology, and settlement pattern. The students were then taken to the fortification wall and northern gateway of old Rajagriha city and inner rampart. The concept of the gateways, construction of the wall, bastions and their identifications were explained systematically.

The Chorma Cave is located about 500 meters from the Chorma village on the hillslope of the Udaygiri hill, was visited to instruct the habitation deposits of prehistoric and historical times. The southern city wall and bastions were also visited. Finally, the students were taken to the potter’s workshop in Rajgir town to discuss the process of pottery making methods.