Epigraphist excited over discovery of potsherds, polished ware
MUKKOLLU (KRISHNA): Black and red ware, northern black polished ware potsherds discovered in a trench dug recently point to the glorious past of Mukkollu village near Machilipatnam.
As many as four black and red ware potsherds and six northern black polished ware were found in the trench dug on a mound abutting the Janardhanaswami temple. “The potsherds are arguably hard evidence of Mukkolu village’s existence in the 2nd BC period,” epigraphist B. Ramesh Chandra told The Hindu. Mr. Ramesh Chandra, accompanied by locals, including K. Subrahmanyam, dug the three-foot-deep-trench in March, expecting Buddhist remains. However, to the team’s surprise, a brick measuring of 16 x 11 x 3 inches was also found in the village.
Megalithic burial sites
Black and red ware potsherds were earlier found in several Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh such as Kalingapatnam, Dantapuri, Guntupalli, Ghantasala, and Amaravati. “The black and red ware is normally found in megalithic burial sites,” opined Mr. Ramesh Chandra.
“Northern black polished ware was introduced during the Mauryan period. It was found during excavations at the Dantapuri site in Srikakulam district,” said Mr. Ramesh Chandra.
Earlier, locals found many Buddhist remains in the village and many Buddhist and Jain sculptures could be found on the Visweswara temple here.
“Excavation at Mukkollu will help unearth many Buddhist remains, given various sources of evidences found in the village in recent years,” said Mr. Ramesh Chandra. Further excavations are being planned to explore the village’s history.
