Syllabus: GS-I & V: Indian Heritage and Culture
Why in the News?

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has announced the discovery of a major ancient township and religious centre dating back to the 2nd century BCE at Vadagokugiri, located in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.

More About the News

  • The site, excavated earlier (1991–92) by ASI’s Pre-History Branch, has recently been re-evaluated and officially recognized as one of the earliest fortified urban settlements in Northeast India.
  • The discovery includes the first known stupa in Meghalaya, multiple temples, fortifications, and rich material culture showing a fusion of Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

About Vadagokugiri Site

  • Location: Vadagokugiri, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya — on hilltops made of red loam and lateritic soil, east of the Brahmaputra River.
  • Cultural phase: Dates back to 2nd century BCE, placing it in the early historical period of Indian archaeology.
  • Nature of site: A well-fortified urban centre — possibly an ancient township and religious hub in the Garo–Brahmaputra cultural zone.

Key Archaeological Findings

1. Fortified Urban Settlement

  • Site enclosed by massive defensive walls, bastions, gateways, and a moat.
  • Three phases of wall construction:
    • Early mud ramparts,
    • Later burnt-brick reinforcements,
    • Continuous upgradation showing prolonged occupation.
  • Indicates urban planning, defence architecture, and administrative control.

2. First Stupa in Meghalaya

  • A three-tiered brick stupa — first of its kind in Meghalaya.
  • Features:
    • 26 elaborately designed brick steps,
    • Decorative motifs and terracotta detailing.
  • Habitational layers beneath the stupa yielded pottery, animal bones, and charcoal, confirming habitation since 2nd century BCE.
  • Suggests strong Buddhist influence and religious coexistence.
  1. Brick Temples and Hindu Influence
  • Around 20 burnt-brick temples discovered, featuring classical elements:
    • Garbhagriha (sanctum),
      Antarala (vestibule),
    • Mandapa (hall).
  • Temples richly adorned with terracotta depictions of Hindu deities like Ganesha, Durga, Sarasvati, and Kali.
  • Presence of an octagonal Shiva temple — unique to the region, showing local architectural innovation.

4. Multi-Religious and Multi-Cultural Evidence

  • Coexistence of Buddhist stupa and Hindu temples suggests:
    • Syncretic culture — Buddhism and Hinduism flourished side by side.
    • Possible linkages with ancient trade and cultural networks across the Brahmaputra valley and Bengal.

Archaeological Significance

  • Marks Meghalaya’s earliest urban and religious site.
  • Provides new insight into the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism into Northeast India long before the medieval period.
  • Establishes Vadagokugiri as a major centre of art, architecture, and faith during the early historic era (2nd century BCE–early CE).
  • Enriches the archaeological map of the Northeast, previously dominated by prehistoric and megalithic sites.

Broader Context

  • Comparative significance:
    • Contemporary to early urban sites in Eastern India, such as Sisupalgarh (Odisha) and Mahasthangarh (Bangladesh).
    • Indicates cross-regional cultural exchange between the Gangetic plains and the Brahmaputra valley.
  • Reflects the early urbanisation wave spreading eastward from the Indian heartland during the Mauryan–Post-Mauryan era.
Earliest Urban Settlements in India – In Brief

1. Harappan Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE) – The First Urban Phase

  • Region: Indus Valley (modern-day Pakistan and NW India).
  • Major Sites:

    • Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan)
    • Dholavira (Gujarat) – UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Rakhigarhi (Haryana) – largest Harappan site in India
    • Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Lothal (Gujarat) – port city.
  • Features:

    • Planned cities with grid patterns, drainage systems, citadel–lower town division.
    • Trade links with Mesopotamia, standardized weights and measures.
    • Represent the first urban revolution in India.

2. Second Urbanisation (c. 600–300 BCE) – Ganga Valley

  • After Harappan decline (~1900 BCE), urban life re-emerged around 600 BCE.
  • Region: Ganga plains, Magadha region.
  • Major Sites: Rajgir, Pataliputra, Vaishali, Ujjain, Kausambi, Sravasti.
  • Features:

    • Growth of Mahajanapadas and trade guilds (shrenis).
    • Use of iron tools, improved agriculture and craft production.
    • Buddhist & Jain centres flourished (e.g., Nalanda, Sarnath).
      3. Early Historic Urban Centres (Post-Mauryan to Gupta Period, 3rd Century BCE–6th CE)
  • Expansion of urban life to eastern and southern India.
  • Examples:

    • Sisupalgarh (Odisha) – fortified urban centre, 3rd BCE–3rd CE.
    • Mahasthangarh (Bangladesh), Chandraketugarh (WB) – trade hubs.
    • Vadagokugiri (Meghalaya) – 2nd century BCE fortified township showing early urbanisation in Northeast India.
    • Arikamedu (Tamil Nadu) – Indo-Roman trade port.
  • Significance: Marks the spread of urbanisation beyond the Gangetic heartland through trade, religion, and administration.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

“The discovery of the 2nd century BCE township at Vadagokugiri in Meghalaya challenges the traditional notion that early urbanisation and religious synthesis were confined to the Gangetic plains.”

Discuss the archaeological significance of this finding in understanding the cultural and historical evolution of Northeast India. (250 words)

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