Massive mound worshipped by locals identified as 2,500-year-old Buddhist stupa from an ancient civilization

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been at the forefront of opening the layers of India’s ancient history. Through difficult excavations and field research, each research gives a breakthrough into the lives, beliefs, and technologies of early Indian societies. Many times, these excavations reveal forgotten temples and trade routes, ancient tools and inscriptions. Their discoveries help us to further our understanding of the subcontinent’s cultural and historical evolution. Each dig site becomes a silent storyteller, giving a fresh look into India’s varied heritage and lost civilisations.

One such discovery from Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district has unearthed a civilisation believed to be 2,500 to 3,000 years old. This is spread across several villages and has opened up a new chapter in India’s archaeological stories, which is rich in spiritual landmarks, ancient art, and cultural complexity.

In the Chouparan block, Jharkhand, archaeologists have found evidence of a long-lost civilisation. Teams from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted excavations across several villages, including Daihar, Sohra, Mangarh, and Hathindar. Among the most important discoveries were samples of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), a black-glazed pottery that dates back to the period between 300 to 100 BC. This particular pottery type is related to ancient civilisations, telling about the area’s role as a center of culture. Moreover, the discovery of a large mound in Mangarh village has been identified as the site of an ancient Buddhist stupa.

Another important find in the excavation is the identification of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Mangarh village. Local villagers have long prayed to this massive mound, but its true historical significance has recently been discovered by archaeologists. The stupa, which dates back roughly 2,500 to 3,000 years, tells about the region’s role as an important site for Buddhist practice in ancient India. As excavations continue, archaeologists hope to learn more about the stupa’s construction, its role in religious rituals, and its potential connections to the Buddhist heritage in the past.

Over the past many decades, several statues and stone slabs have been found during routine agricultural activities like pond digging and well construction. Among these are statues of important deities, such as Gautam Buddha, Tara, and Avalokiteshvara, that could tell about the area’s deep connection to Buddhist traditions. Additionally, statues of other Hindu deities, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Ganesha, could be a sign of the coexistence of multiple religious practices in the area.

In Hathindar village, archaeologists have found an ancient Sati stone, which was used to commemorate the practice of a woman self-immolating upon her husband's death. In addition to the Sati stone, a terracotta ring well has also been discovered, likely used for water storage or ritual purposes. These artefacts provide important evidence of the daily lives, societal practices, and spiritual beliefs of the people who lived in the area thousands of years ago.

Meanwhile, archaeological excavations in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district, particularly in Nachna village, have unearthed a stone-built Shiv temple and a residential structure that gives information about the architecture of the time. The temple, constructed from stone and using mud as mortar, shows the advanced building techniques of ancient Indian civilisations. Nearby, archaeologists also found a brick structure believed to date back to the Kushana period.

The recent discoveries in the Chouparan block reveal that this region was once home to a thriving ancient civilisation. From rare pottery to a possible Buddhist stupa, these findings highlight Jharkhand’s rich cultural and historical significance.