Excavations at Charda

Contents: I. Introduction: 1. Location of the site. 2. Site and it's environment. 3. Geomorphology of the area. 4. Previous work done. II. Cuttings and stratigraphy. III. Floor and structures: 1. Chronology. 2. Radiocarbon dates. IV. Pottery. V. Other finds: 1. Terracotta beads. 2. Terracotta spindle-whorls. 3. Terracotta bangles. 4. Terracotta marbles. 5. Terracotta sling balls. 6. Terracotta discs. 7. Pottery hopscotches. 8. Terracotta wheels and toycart frame. 9. Terracotta stamps and sealings. 10. Terracotta dabbers. 11. Terracotta ear-studs and gamesmen. 12. Terracotta human figurines. 13. Terracotta mould. 14. Terracotta animal figurines. 15. Bone and ivory objects. 16. Miscellaneous objects. 17. Copper coins. VI. Faunal remains. VII. Botanical remains. VIII. Conclusion.  

From the preface: "During the village to village explorations in Bahraich district 70 sites of archaeological importance were found. These were settlements of different periods ranging from Pre NBPW times to Medieval Period. Gudrun Corvinus extensively explored the region of Nepal specially the Districts of Dang and Deokhuri and reported a number of sites from Dun valley and Siwalik foothills of Nepal. These belong to later Pleistocene to the later Holocene Period. There was a possibility to exist the next step of this chain in the terai region. While completing the field work in the Saryupara area specially in Gonda, Balrampur, Sravasti and Bahraich it was observed that almost the settlements were as earlier as NBPW or Pre NBPW period. The mound of Charda has an attractive remains of ancient settlement for excavation in the terai region to understand the chronological sequence of the area as well as the nature of expansion of cultures in the terai region. Total ten trenches were laid and excavated up to the natural deposit for this purpose. The upper portion of deposit was found disturbed due to robbing of ancient bricks from the mound. However cultural evidences of Pre NBPW, NBPW, Sunga-Kusana, Gupta-post Gupta, Early medieval and even medieval periods were recorded from the site. A bone tool industry was also found in this seasons work. The details of the findings and scientific reports are being given in this book."