Excavations at Kasrawad
By D. B. Diskalkar
Summary
At the start of the article, the authors describe the location of Kasrawad, a mound of bricks known locally as Itbardi on the southern bank of the Narmada River. Situated on a rocky plateau measuring roughly 500 ft long and 450 ft wide, the site lies near the modern town of Kasrawad. Early excavations were initiated in 1936 by V. L. Karandikar of the Narmada Valley Research Board, but his death prevented completion. Subsequent seasons in 1937-39, led by V. N. Singh and D. P. Gupta under the Indore Museum, uncovered the remains of a significant Buddhist establishment. The article gives a detailed account of the architecture discovered, dividing the finds into categories. Eleven brick stupas are described in the first section; one large central stupa measured 35 ft in diameter and was paved with plaster and concrete. Ten smaller stupas clustered around it, ranging from 13 to 25 ft across. Their basements, some built of undressed stones, were largely intact, revealing hemispherical drums and internal pavements that are rare at other Mauryan sites. Associated with the stupas were residential structures containing brick walls, rooms, and a large hall. The report notes evidence of a series of brick steps leading to higher terraces, brick paving, fragments of stone basins and troughs, and a flight of steps suggesting ritual circulation. A significant number of pottery fragments, beads, terracotta figures and coins were recovered. Many of the coins bore the Ujjain symbol and caduceus, linking the site to other contemporaneous centres like Ujjain and Maheshwar. The pottery, consisting of glazed ware, red polished ware, and rouletted ware, suggests occupation around the 2nd century B.C. Analysis of the basements indicated that superstructures were destroyed by time, and the site appears to have been abandoned soon after construction. The article compares the findings with other archaeological sites in central India, noting similar stupa layouts and coinage but also distinctive features such as the unique pavements and arrangement of stupas. The conclusion emphasises that the antiquities belong solely to the 2nd century B.C. and that no traces of later occupation were found. The excavators therefore infer that the settlement was a short-lived Buddhist monastic complex.
Conclusion
The excavations at Kasrawad uncovered a compact Buddhist monastic complex dating to the 2nd century B.C., composed of a large central stupa surrounded by smaller stupas, residential buildings, and paved terraces. Pottery and coin evidence suggest cultural connections with sites like Maheshwar and Ujjain, but there is no evidence of later occupation. The researchers conclude that the site was quickly deserted, perhaps because its inhospitable location made long-term habitation difficult. All recoverable artefacts were removed to the Indore State Museum for preservation.