SAMBHAR - EXCAVATED SITE

The extensive mound on the bank of a dried up lake represents ancient Sakambhari, capital of the imperial Chahamanas of the medieval period. The mound 600 m north to south with an average width of about 550 m was first excavated by Hendley in 1884 and then by D. R. Sahni in 1936-38. The excavation yielded 45 separate small dwellings at six levels ranging in date from the third-second century B.C. to the tenth century A.D. The small finds are numerous and varied. The recovered coins, nearly 200 in number, include six silver punch-marked coins, one of the Indo-Greek King Antiochos Nikephoros and a few of the Kushanas, Yaudheyas and late Indo-Sassanians. Beads and pieces of gold have also been found. Copper and iron objects were recovered in large number. Dicing was a favourite amusement. The numerical marks on ivory dice are enclosed in concentric circles. Terracotta figurines seem to be of the Sunga, Kushana and Gupta dates. The glazing of pottery was practised in this ancient town from very early times.