2000-year-old Mauryan structure discovered in Meerut; could be the lead to find lost Ashoka Pillar site

Meerut, Sept 28: In a huge discovery, the recently created Meerut circle of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered a structure that has been identified as a 2000-year-old Mauryan-era brick platform.

 

 

The remains were lying unnoticed in the midst of the bustling city of Meerut. Apart from this, this structure reportedly also holds the key to the ‘lost’ site of Ashoka Pillar from 3rd century BCE.

 

 

“A large part of the structure is in the form of a 30m by 35m platform at Vikas Puri. The ancient site is undoubtedly one from the Mauryan period because the bricks are typical of the era,” Brajsundar Gadnayak, superintending archeologist of the Meerut circle of ASI, was quoted by the Times of India.

 

According to the reports, a section of the structure was destroyed due to construction of power plant. However, the ASI inspected it that has resulted in finding the lead into the significant period of ancient Indian history that dates back to the Mauryan empire, the largest South Asian empire in history and its Emperor Ashoka.

 

 

Specifically, Gadnayak said that the bricks used to construct the platform are unique to the Mauryan period and have a specific dimension. Their measurements are 42cm x 26cm x 8cm. He added that the department has also discovered pottery and ceramics from those times. An ancient canal path has also been uncovered, which most likely connects to the Kali river.

 

The Meerut Gazetteer mentioned by him stated, "The earliest historical connection which can be made with the (Meerut) district is the erection of an Asoka pillar near Meerut … On the ridge at Dehli (Delhi) now stands a pillar which, according to Shams-i-Siraj, was removed from near the town of Meerut and set up in the Kushak Shikar or hunting palace. The site occupied by the pillar has not been identified."

 

 

Ashoka pillar or the Delhi-Meerut pillar was carried to Delhi from Meerut by Firoz Shah and placed outside his hunting palace, between the Chauburji-Masjid and Hindu Rao Hospital, on the northern crest of Delhi. During the reign of Farrukshiar (1713–19), it was destroyed in an explosion, and five broken sections were eventually sent to the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Brought back in 1866 it was re-erected in 1887.