ASI unearths 8th century settlement in Coochbehar

Author: Dhiman Chattopadhyay and Amlan Chakraborty
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 15, 2001
 
Coochbehar / Kolkata: Thanks to the excavation carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Gosanimari hitherto an obscure place in Coochbehar has become an attraction for tourists and historians. The excavation, which started a few years ago, has revealed remnants of a settlement which dates back to more than 1,000 years to the heydays of Bengal’s best known dynasty, the Pala era. Though the onset of the monsoon has forced the ASI to suspend digging for the time being, more breakthroughs are expected when the work resumes.

Almost 30 km away from the town of Cooch Behar, the excavation site, called ‘Rajpaat’ by the local people, was declared a site of national importance in 1999 and two sessions of ASI excavation have revealed parts of what seems to be a palace complex.

Digging a mound, ASI officials have found two walls and more than 10 magnificent sculptures which have managed to weather the ravages of time. They have also revealed parts of the fortifying wall around the palace complex. Outside the wall relics of small chambers, perhaps guard rooms or granaries, have also been laid bare by the excavation. The bricks used in constructions look well burnt, thinner and almost square in shape.

Carbon dating traces its history back to the more than thousand-year-old Pala dynasty.

Huge sand deposits suggest that the palace was frequently flooded.

Today, Rajpaat draws tourists from both near and far. Though the roads are not in a very good shape and communicating still a hindrance, these have not deterred enthusiastic people from visiting the place. Cashing in on it, some local youths have erected two makeshift vehicle stands with the new tourism minister Dinesh Chandra Dakua who belongs to this district promising better facilities. Gosanimari Rajpaat is set to become one of the hottest eco-heritage sites of this region.

Speaking to TOINS, ASI zonal director S.B Ota confirmed that the team had indeed found remnants of the Pala period in Gosanimari. “Excavation has been going on for quite a few years. Earlier we had found traces of the 16th and 17th century settlements. But recently definite traces of earlier settlement, specifically dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries, have been found. Digging is still continuing,” he said.

“The Gosanimari site is destined to be a major attraction for both the archaeologist and the tourist in the near future. We are also planning to induce private parties to set up motels, hotels and restaurants nearby so that this can become a heritage tourist site,” said principal secretary of tourism Pranab Ray.
 

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