Ancient Buddhist site found in Amaravati

Archaeologists have found an ancient Buddhist site at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.

What has been found?

·    Three mounds studded with brickbats and pottery in red colour. The mounds were formed on huge boulders on which a brick-built stupa was raised.   

·       Huge fragments of terracotta and brick tiles used to cover chaityas and viharas.

·       Few years ago, a relic casket with a gold leaf was also found at the same site.

Other details:

·       The bricks, used in the construction of stupas and viharas measuring 60x30x8 cm and 58x28x7 cm, invariably belonged to the Satavahana era (1st Century B.C.).

·       Excavations also revealed that the Buddhist monks relied for drinking water mainly on two tanks spread in an extent of half-an-acre and two rock-cut cisterns.

The Buddhist remains like stupas, chaityas and viharas show that Buddhism existed from 1st Century B.C. to the 5th Century AD, but later the region came under the influence of Saivism in the Vishnukundin era, and under Vaishnavites between the 13th and 17th centuries AD.