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Ratnagiri Excavation 2024
Context:
On December 1, 2024, a team of archaeologists, students, and labourers resumed excavations at the Ratnagiri Buddhist heritage site in Jajpur district, Odisha, after six decades.
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- The team discovered a massive Buddha head (1.4 meters tall), the largest ever found in Odisha and possibly India.
- In addition to the Buddha’s head, two other Buddha heads and stone-carved parts (palms and fingers) were found, indicating the existence of a larger Buddha sculpture in a meditative posture.
- The Buddha head, made of Khondalite stone, was remarkably detailed, with intricate features like wrinkles on the neck.
Historical and Archaeological Significance
- Ratnagiri, part of the Diamond Triangle (Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri), was strategically chosen for Buddhist establishments due to its secluded nature.
- Ratnagiri was an important Buddhist site from the 5th century AD until the 13th century, with continued Buddhist activity until the 16th century.
- It was identified based on seals bearing the name “Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihara Arya Bhikshu Sangha”.
- The site was identified based on inscriptions and historical records, confirming it as a centre for Vajrayana Buddhism (Tantric Buddhism).
- Excavations from 1958 to 1961 revealed Buddhist relics and recent excavations have uncovered votive stupas, sculptures, and inscriptions, with some notable figures like Amoghasiddhi, Ratnasambhava, and Padmapani among the discovered deities.
Findings from Recent Excavations
- Monolithic elephant sculpture, votive stupas of varying sizes, stone tablets inscribed in Sanskrit using the Kutila script, and ceramic assemblages have been found.
- The site also contains two monasteries, a stupa, and evidence of intricate stone-carved sculptures and building techniques.
- Votive stupas arranged in a sequence suggest the existence of a shrine complex, though the discovery of a specific chaitya griha (shrine) like in neighbouring sites has not yet been confirmed.
Challenges in Preservation
- Many Buddhist monuments in Ratnagiri have been repurposed for domestic use, such as votive stupas being used as bases for Tulsi plants, and Buddha sculptures integrated into houses.
- Villagers are urged to return these artefacts for preservation, though some resist due to concerns about land encroachment and compensation.
- Some villagers, like Basanti Mallick, highlight the need for viable alternatives before moving out, as living conditions in the area are challenging.
Further Research
- Catchment analysis is being conducted to explore the surrounding areas for evidence of support systems, such as water, food, and construction materials, that sustained the ancient Buddhist community.
- Soil samples from within 1.5 km of Ratnagiri are being analysed to match with bricks used at the site.
- Studies are planned on the temperature, provenance of pottery, building techniques, and the interpretation of scriptures.
