PATNA: Archaeologists have discovered dancing terracotta figurines, including one which might be of Amrapali, copper coins and a wall during a recent excavation in Vaishali.
The excavation, conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), covered a radius of 40 metres. The ASI team was led by its superintendent (Bihar and eastern UP) S K Manjul.
"We are not sure but our hunch is that the dancing lady could be Amrapali as its features are similar to those described about the ancient Vaishali's 'nagarvadhu' in history books," Manjul told TOI.
If it is indeed so, it would be Amrapali's first figurine to have been discovered, Manjul said and added though many depictions of dancing women were found during other excavations, the posture, beauty and features of the latest six-inch find are different from those of the other finds.
According to Manjul, they found 21 copper coins of the Kushan period (2nd century BC to 3rd century AD) besides punch-marked coins which belong to the 2nd century BC. The punch-marked coins have symbols of animals on them.
The team also found a brick wall leading to a gateway on the western side of the excavation site. "The wall has been constructed of large reddish brown bricks," Manjul said.
Meaning of terracotta :
Clay that has been molded in shape and then treated in a kiln at a high temperature; typically reddish-brown in color when unglazed; when glazed, usually colored and used for ornamental work, such as architectural terra-cotta, and for floor tile and roof tile.
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