In an antique land
Dilip Patel, Mumbai Mirror
January 6, 2008
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article&sectid=47&contentid=20080106200801060427380061ee014d&pageno=1

Introduction: ISRO discovers 2,200-year-old settlement in Gujarat.

An ancient township, nearly 2,200 years old, has been located buried under the Mahadev Mandir's dry jungles on the Bhuj-Nakhatrana road, 35 km from Bhuj in north-west Gujarat.

The township, founded by king Lakho Fulani's nephew Poso Fulani in the 2nd century B.C. after his father split from his uncle and decided to set up his own kingdom, could fill several gaps in historical accounts of that period. Poso Fulani, according to the State Gazetteer, named the townships 'Punwarnoghadh' in his father, Puwara Fulani's honour.

However, according to some accounts, the same area was inhabited by Kathi-Rajputs before Poso Fulani's arrival there.

First signs of this township's presence were picked up by an Indian Science Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite two years ago. But the confirmation came only this week after data collected from the site by a team of experts from ISRO's archaeology department and state's archaeologists was studied and vetted by historians.

Excavation work has already begun at the site and Y S Rawat, head of the Gujarat Archaeology Department, is hopeful that answers to many unanswered questions about the Solanki dynasty would be now unearthed. Some pictures of the site have been put up at ISRO's exhibition centre in Ahmedabad.

The find is being credited to ISRO researcher Dr P S Thakkar, who first spotted the township while studying some satellite imagery. "I could see a clear square shaped ground clearing in the middle of a jungle. Since this clearing was by the side of a river, I knew I was on to something," he told Ahmedabad Mirror on Saturday evening.

What gave him more confidence was the presence of an ancient Mahadev (Shiva) temple just outside this square shaped clearing. Rawat, who visited the site with Thakkar soon after, said the temple probably was built for visitors arriving after sunset when the three gates to the town were shut. "The visitors would spend the night in the temple and were allowed into the town only in the morning," he said.

Initial excavations have revealed presence of two palaces within the township. Historical accounts say these palaces were called Motimedhi and Nanimedhi. While Nanimedhi belonged to Poso Fulani's queen, he himself occupied Motimedhi.

Excavators have also come across another structure, which is believed to be a 'math', which, some historical accounts say, was a pharmacy.

One account has it that the pharmacy was known to churn out medicines popular both at home and in other states and often hosted guests from other kingdoms. Poso Fulani's queen, this account says, had fallen in love with one such visitor to the pharmacy. When the king found out, he got the lover killed.

According to Rawat, some remnants of the town's fortification and its three gates are visible overground. "Nobody ever paid attention because this spot lies deep within a dry, inhabitable jungle," he said.

But there were clues that were probably ignored. In 1880, a British researcher had found some ancient coins and copper vessels from the same spot.

The river, which possibly was the reason why the township was built here, has dried over the years. Quite aptly, it's now called the Bhuki river.

Meanwhile, enthused by what they have found near the temple, the Gujarat Archaeology Department is now also studying the area around a stupa, known locally as Tekri, not very far from the site that is being excavated.