Excavation At Rairh - During Samvat Years 1995 & 1996 (1938-39 & 1939-40 A.D.)

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During Samvat 1995 and 1996 (1938-39 and 1939-40 AD.)

The book is long awaited reprint of the report by Dr. K.N. Puri, Supdt. of Archaeology, Jaipur State, of the excavations at Rairh during 1938-40 A.D. The Report is now out of print for a long time and is considered a precious possession by the scholars and libraries who are still having a copy of it.

This report, the third of the series, was published by the Archaeological Department of the former Jaipur State, and embodies the results of two successive field seasons' work at Rairh, a village about 15m. south-east of Niwai Station on the railway line from Jaipur to Sawai Madhopur. The operations during 1938-39 were conducted by Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni, and after his sudden demise, the work was continued by Dr K.N. Puri. A chance discovery of 326 silver punch-marked coins by a peasant boy on the edge of an ancient mound near the village led to the discovery of this important site. The excavations brought to light 4000 antiquities in addition to 3075 silver punch-marked coins, and a large number of copper coins, which are the earliest known Indian currency. The total expenditure on the excavations which embraced an area of 26,500 sq.yards, and involved employment of more than 400 labourers during the period came to Rs.6000 or $143 or £ 85 at the present exchange rates.

The excavations reveal that Rairh was a flourishing industrial centre, specially in metallurgy and manufacture of iron tools, lead, bronze, silver and gold. The numismatic evidence suggests that the town must have been founded in about the 3rd century B.C. and continued to flourish till about the end of 2nd century A.D. though traces of partial occupation of the site as late as early Gupta period have also been brought to light. Deep digging over a part of the area showed that the site was in occupation twice before, besides the period represented by the remains on the surface of the mound.

The Malaya coins, the lead seal of Malaya Republic and the punch-marked silver coins prove that Rairh, like Nagar (in Uniara Thikana of the former Jaipur State) was an important centre of the Malaya tribe, under the suzerainty of Maurya and Sunga kings. In a lengthy Appendix, the Report gives tabulation of Ring-wells, of coins including Senapati, Mitra and miscellaneous coins, tabulation of Seals, a nicely drawn site-plan of Rairh (Plate I), photographs bf excavations showing set of paralled walls, layer of iron slag, Ring Pits, a map showing the trenches during the excavation of eastern area of Rairh and sketches of a vast variety of pottery, stone vessels, iron, shell and pottery objects, photographs of Terracotta plaques and figures, Terracotta models of animals and birds, iron implements, beads, photographs of coins and a complete list of the silver punch-marked coins with marks on each coin both on obverse and reverse side excavated from Rairh. The excavation report of this important centre of Malaya tribe marks a truly fascinating reading as much for the professional archaeologist as for the laymen.

Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni, M.A., C.I.E., Director of Archaeology and Historical Research, Jaipur State conducted the excavations at Rairh during 1938-39 The excavations at Bairat and Sambhar had already earned him international acclaim. Six month after his sudden demise on 7th March 1939, the excavation work was restarted by Dr. K.N. Puri, Superintendent of Archaeology, Jaipur State, under the patronage of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. The Report of the excavations is by Dr. K.N. Puri D.Litt; (Paris). Later Dr Puri rose to the position of Director General, Archaeological Survey of India.