Photo story: Archaeological excavation at Vadli kicks off

By Japan K Pathak, Vadli/Patan 8 March 2012

Archaeological department of Gujarat government has started excavating a new site in north Gujarat.

The site is located in Vadli village, few kilometers away from district headquarter Patan in western direction.

Patan remained as capital city of Gujarat for longer time compare to Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar.

Solanki period of Gurjar desh (Gurjar country) – whose Patan was the capital city – has been narrated as the golden era of Gujarat by noted historians.

Mukundbhai Bhramhkshatriya, a Patan based historian who has authored several books on local history believes that old Patan was extended in western direction upto Anawada(originally Anhilwad) and Vadli. He believes that Patan’s ghee kanto was located in Vadli.

Mukundbhai points out that all the idols of present Panchasara jain mandir were discovered from under the ground in Vadli village in last century. He also points out how villagers don’t have to buy bricks while building their house in Vadli village, because plenty of medieval era bricks are found from under the ground in Vadli even today.

In Vadli, there are several families who possess coins of medieval era. They claim they have discovered such coins from surface of ground in the village without applying any effort.

Excavation of Vadli was approved in Gujarat govt’s 2001 budget. After receiving permission from central government, the archaeological department has started excavation.

The photographs with this article are showing the ground breaking ceremony that was held before the excavation began in Vadli under the leadership of Archaeologist Hiteshbhai Shah.

Hopes are high that many clues and artifacts of medieval era of Gujarat will be found here.

Related post:Vadli excavation will reveal the story of golden era of Gujarat