Cultural sequence of Sarnath identified: ASI

Fresh excavation works to ascertain the actual age of Sarnath, the site where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, has identified the tentative cultural sequence of the site from 4th Century BC to 6th Century A.D.
The earlier known history of Sarnath dates back to 3rd Century BC to 12th Century AD and the excavation was aimed at finding the cultural sequence.
Sarnath, located about 12 km from the ancient temple town of Varanasi, is the place where Gautam Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.
"ASI makes a conservation programme every year and we give first preference to the sites which are in danger. In the Sarnath circle, excavation work has been done six-seven times," as ASI official told PTI.

The last excavation works at Sarnath began on February 19, 2014 under the direction of B R Mani, Additional Director General of ASI, New Delhi, and under the supervision of Ajay Srivastava, Superintending Archaeologist of Sarnath Circle, Varanasi.
According to a recent report by the ASI, there were two main objectives of carrying out the excavation. Firstly, to ascertain the cultural sequence of the site prior to Mauryan Period, if any.

The second objective was to conduct horizontal excavation to trace out the structural remains, antiquities, potteries and other archaeological remains belonging to Buddha's time or before, if any.
On the basis of the excavation, the tentative cultural sequence of the site has been identified, and can be divided into four periods.

On the basis of excavation done at a particular location
at Sarnath, the ASI found a black ware dish of medium size, and in the interior of the dish there was a stamped design, similar to marks found in Pre-Mauryan punch-marked coins. Besides this, an earthen hearth of Pre-Mauryan Period was found.
To corroborate the existence of Mauryan Period, the ASI found remains of architectural activities and ruins of burnt bricks and brickbats, suggesting that during this period the houses were made by burnt bricks by using mud as mortar.
Also, in the trenches laid on the North-Western side of the Ashokan Pillar and almost 30 meters towards Malgandh Kuti shrine, the surface level appeared as the remains of Sanga-Kushana Period. The potteries of this period are dominant and are mostly Red Ware, Dull Red Ware and a few of Black Ware.

Period IV at Sarnath excavation represents the Gupta period, mainly with Red Ware and Red Slipped Ware as the common potteries found. At one place, six images of Buddha made in typical Gupta style were found. In these, the figures of Buddha are shown slender with a swaying body, representing the main features of Sarnath School of Art.
In addition to this, many bricks with molded and chiseled decoration belonging to the Gupta period, were recovered.
According to official records, the archaeological significance of the place was first brought to notice in 1798 by J Duncan, who gave an account of the casket of green marble inside a stone box exposed by the workmen of Jagat Singh, the Dewan of King Chet Singh of Benaras while dismantling the Dharmarajika stupa to exploit building materials.

The antiquities recovered from Sarnath have been preserved in the adjoining site museum maintained by the ASI.