Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a huge ancient Buddhist monastery believed to be around 1,200 years old in a village in Bihar’s Gaya district. The site has evidence of a thriving human settlement dating back to the 3rd century BC and has uncovered a wealth of ceramic remains, idols, votive stupas and other antiquities.
The site, located in Duba village, about 30 km southwest of Bodh Gaya and 140 km from Patna, is visibly spread over an area of about one square kilometer, but could expand with further exploration and excavation.
The discovery was made by a team from the Department of Ancient Indian and Asian Studies at Magadh University, which began digging at the site on May 9 after receiving an excavation license from the Central Advisory Board on Archaeology (CABA).
Excavated structures, small cells or spaces with niches in the walls, votive pillars made of bricks and stones, and idols made of stone are among the important finds. Two floors, one complete and the other damaged, made of ‘lime mortar’ with a smooth finish on a brick base, were also found in the cells.
Three stone statues of Buddhist deities were found placed in a niche in the wall of the cell. Additionally, a beautiful terracotta ‘stopper’ in the shape of a lotus bud, used for sealing bottles, as well as many terracotta beads, were discovered at the site.
The statues, made of black basalt, depict Buddhist deities, including the goddess Tara, as well as Lord Buddha in the famous ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’..
The construction of the excavation was preceded by a month-long surface survey, led by the excavation director and assistant professor at Magadh University, Shanker Sharma.
“These cells or small spaces resemble those found in other ancient monasteries discovered so far, including Nalanda Mahavihara (the ancient Nalanda University). It seems that the monks or scholars who stayed there used them for meditation and rest. The lime plaster floor has a flawless finish, indicating excellent construction activities,” said Shanker, who had long engagement with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), to ETV Bharat.
However, one of the main discoveries is a mound 35 feet high, in which a huge brick structure is buried. A small part of it has been uncovered, revealing a massive wall made of terracotta bricks. Several stone pillars were also found scattered around the site, indicating that they once supported large structures that could have been considered wonders in their time.
“As the uncovered brick wall shows, this particular mound looks very promising. We are confident that it will lead to the discovery of a large structure associated with a monastery or Buddhist temple. We will uncover it during the monsoon,” said Shanker.
Speaking about the age of the site, the excavation director pointed out that five layers of stratification or cultural sequence can be observed in the vertical sections of the trenches.
The lowest or earliest layer provides pottery associated with Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), including black slipped pottery, dating from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. The middle layers originate from the post-Gupta period, while the top two layers are from the Pala era, which flourished between the 8th and 12th centuries CE.
“The monastery may date back to the 8th century CE and certainly continued to exist for several centuries. We will seek opinions by leading experts in the field after the completion of the excavations and the discovery of more structures and antiquities,” added Shanker.
Alka Mishra, head of the Department of Ancient Indian and Asian Studies at Magadh University and co-director of the excavation, stated that the site could have been a significant center of the Mahayana (Great Vehicle) branch of Buddhism, which is characterized by its goal of enlightenment and the ideal of the compassionate Bodhisattva.
“We need to conduct further research on the importance of the Duba site. It is located near the Buddhist pilgrimage route, as well as Uttrapat, and it may be significantly connected to the Buddha or one of his well-known disciples,” said Alka.
The Rector of Magadh University, Shashi Pratap Shahi, expressed satisfaction with the discovery and called it a great achievement for the faculty members, researchers, and students.
“The discovery of a culture from the Buddhist era and the archaeological remains is wonderful. Our teachers and students have carried out monumental work of national significance. The findings, both those discovered now and those that will be discovered later, will shed new light on Buddhism,” said Shahi.
Pointing out that the findings have the potential to shake the archaeological world, the vice-chancellor stated that he is determined to provide full support for the excavations.
“We have already provided 5 million rupees for this purpose. The excavation reflects the growing academic excellence and the university’s commitment to quality research in archaeology and heritage studies,” added Shahi.
The team also includes faculty members from Magadh University: Janmejay Singh, Alok Ranjan, Anoop Kumar Bhardwaj, Chandra Prakash, and Vijayant Yadav. In addition, students and several workers are also involved in the excavation work.
