Chirand | |
|---|---|
  Chirand Location of Chirand in Bihar, India Show map of India Chirand Chirand (Bihar) Show map of Bihar | |
| Coordinates:25°44′27.1828″N84°49′11.5651″E / 25.740884111°N 84.819879194°E /25.740884111; 84.819879194 | |
| Country | India |
| District | Saran district |
| Area code | 841211 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-BR |
Chirand is anarchaeological site in theSaran district ofBihar, India, situated on the northern bank of theGanga River.Evidences of wheat were found.[1][2] It has a large pre-historic mound which is known for its continuous archaeological record from theNeolithic age (about 2500–1345 BC) to the reign of the Pal dynasty who ruled during the pre-medieval period. The excavations in Chirand have revealed stratified Neolithic,Chalcolithic, andIron Age settlements, and transitions in human habitation patterns dating from 2500 BC to 30 AD.[3]
The riverGhaghara joins Ganga a short distance away from the village, nearRevelganj. TheSone River also joins Ganga about a few kilometres away from Chirand. About 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the north of the mound there is a dry river bed which is inferred as one of the meandering dry loops of theGandaki River. Thus, there are four rivers in the vicinity of Chirand. The village has undergone erosion due to which the mound abutting the Ganga River bank is exposed, revealing brick features and potsherds. On the top of the mound there is amosque, which was built by SultanAbul Muzaffar Hussain Shah ofBengal in 1503 AD. This mosque reveals ruins ofpilasters ofHindu temples.[4]
Chirand is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) fromChhapra, the district headquarters in the state of Bihar. TheArchaeological Survey of India controls about 0.5 square kilometres (0.19 sq mi) of the area of the village.[5]
The average annual rainfall in the area is 125 centimetres (49 in).[6] Much of the rainfall occurs from June to September when the monsoons tend to start.[6] The Ganga River tends to flow beyond capacity causing flooding and deposition of alluvium in the adjoining area.[7]
Part of the village, including about 10 metres (33 ft) of the mound, have been subject to submergence and river erosion caused by the Ganga river. TheNonia tola in the village was in imminent danger of getting submerged. In 2010, protection of the part of the village exposed to erosion was envisaged by way of stone pitching.[5]
The Chirand village, as per 2011 census, has a population of 2971 comprising 520 families. The male population is 1600 while that of females is 1371. Literacy rate is 61.09 % of the village compared to 61.80 % of the state.[8]
ThePal dynasty ruled the region that included Chirand during the medieval period.Ananda, a disciple ofBuddha, died in Chirand. King Mayurdhwaj of theChero dynasty ruled from Chirand.[5]W.W. Hunter, a historian known for publishing nine volumes ofThe Imperial Gazetteer of India, has recorded an account of this village which he visited in 1871.[5]
The Bihar State Directorate of Archaeology conducted excavations at the Chirand mound 1962–63 and returned for more 1970–71. The mound is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) in length. The Neolithic deposits uncovered a layer of 3.5 metres (11 ft) thickness.[7][5][9] The civilization includes area inIndia andSouth Asia that dates back to the Neolithic age according to archaeological finds from this village mound and four other locations[10] in India.[11]
Chirand Neolithic group occupied the plains, while their contemporaries inhabited the plateaus and hills. The occupational categorization in Chirand covers three periods – Period I Neolithic (2500–1345 BC), Period IIChalcolithic (1600 B.C) and Period IIIIron Age.[12]Carbon dating of the top layer of the Neolithiic period dates the layer between 1910 BC and 1600 BC. The lowest level of the finds date to 200 BC.[13][14]
Neolithic people experienced an economy that included hunting, gathering, fishing and animal rearing.[15] Paddy husk impressions in some potsherds indicate Neolithic involvement in cultivating rice and cereals such as wheat, moong, masoor, and barley.[15] Both cultivated and wild rice was harvested during summer and again during winter.[7] The wild forms of rice areOryza rifipogon andOryza perennis, from whichOryza sativa (Asian rice) originated.[16]
The archaeological finds in Chirand are from a Neolithic deposit of 3.5 metres (11 ft) thickness, a Chalcolithic layer 5.5 metres (18 ft) thick and iron age formation of 2.45 metres (8 ft 0 in) thickness. Copper was used during the Chalcolithic period, while iron was found in the upper strata.[4] A cache of 88 Kushan period coins were unearthed at the site.[17]
Analysis of antiquities related to skeletal remains revealed 12 species of domesticated and wild animals: cattle, buffaloes (Bubalisbubalis linn), sheep (Ovis aries), cheetal (Axis axis),barasinga,pig,elephant,rhinoceros,cheetal (Axis axia), dog, acarp and two types ofturtles. Bones of birds and fish were also found. Faunal finds indicate that the area was forested over an undulating topography.[13][18]
25,000potsherds excavated from Chirand are grouped according to the Period II Neolithic pottery appearing more refined than the Period I pottery, all from smoothed clay mixed with mica. Most of the pottery was hand made. Some vessels were made by turn table or dabbing. Half of the potsherds are red ware and half areblack and red ware from different shapes and sizes of vases, bowls, and knobbed pottery.[7]
Pot wares in varying designs in post-firing painting technique in ochre colour, generally of grey ware and few in red-ware were also found.[4] The Chalcolithic pottery unearthed at the site are of black and red ware pots and pans.[7]
Neolithic people lived in circularwattle and daub huts made of mud and reeds with rammed floors. Earlier hut floors were built below ground level, later hut floors were built at ground level.
Hearths and oblong shaped ovens were found in a semicircular hut. The white colour of the soil around the hearth and the ovens found at the site pointed to animal meat roasted in the ovens, likely for community feeding. Rice was a staple food.[4][19][20] Mud boundary walls of houses were traced. Burnt chunks of clay with reed or bamboo impressions suggest that houses were destroyed by fire. Houses were larger in size in the Chalcolithic period compared to the Neolithic period, made of reeds and bamboo with mud plaster and flooring of fired earth.[19] A circular hearth and a few post-holes were also found.[4]
The Neolithic stone implements of celts were found. Axes found were made ofquartzite,basalt andgranite. The finds included nine types ofmicroliths. Waste flakes found in the area indicate prevalence of the process of manufacture in a well establishedmicrolithic industry in the area that includedchert,chalcedony,agate andjasper, derived from the dry river bed of the Son river. The final products in the collection are stone discs in long, cylindrical and triangular shapes.[7]
Pendants, ear-rings, bangles, discs and combs from the Neolithic period were found.[9] 400 bone tools, mostly used for hunting, made from antler and long bones of deer and cattle were found in Chirand and atBurzahom from Period II and Period III. Terracotta figurines included humped bulls, birds, snakes, and human female figurines. The snake figures are indicative of existence ofNaga cult among the Neolithic people.[7][21] The human female figurines possibly relate to either a mother goddess, a goddess of fertility, or both. Ornaments made from tortoise and ivory were also found.[7] A painted motif of the sacred peepal leaf (Ficus religiosa) was found. A foot stand of largesarcophagus indicates mortuary rites of the Neolithic people.[22]
An annual fair is held in Chirand during the last day of the month ofKartik (October–November) at a location known as Chyavana-asrama.[citation needed]
The state government proposed an annual festival titled 'Chirand Mahotsava' with the support of Chirand Vikas Parishad.[23]
A theme park depicting the different civilizations of Chirand is currently being planned.[24]