Erenda was one of the southernmost sites of Neolithic and Early farming culture located in the coastal region of the Indian state of West Bengal.[2] Construction of the settlement is believed to have started around 2000 BC.[1][3]
  Shown within West Bengal | |
| Location | Erenda, West Bengal, India |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 21°55′4.8″N 87°34′42.4″E / 21.918000°N 87.578444°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Area | 1 ha (2.5 acres)[1] |
| History | |
| Founded | Approximately 2000 BCE |
| Cultures | Neolithic and Early farming culture |
| Events | not known |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 2015–2017[1] |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Ownership | Public |
| Public access | Yes |
The prehistoric settlement at Erenda village was discovered in 2015 by the University of Calcutta's Department of Archeology. Excavations at Erenda were carried out in two field seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17.[1] According to the Department of Archaeology (University of Calcutta), people started living here after the sea move away due to geological reasons. Probably the inhabitants here came to Erenda from Rarh region of Bengal.[4]
Fish hook and weapons have been discovered during excavations, which were made of bone.[5] Also, ancient rice grains mixed with soil have been found, which providing evidence of agricultural activity.[4]
Archaeology
editA copperplate inscription of Gaur king Shashanka was found from this region. After that, University of Calcutta undertook a program of survey exploration and excavation. During this exploration and excavation, this settlement was discovered.[4] Erenda was excavated between 2016 and 2017, extending the Neolithic culture of Bengal to the sea coast.[1] The site is located 70 kilometers (43 mi) from the Copper Age port city of Tamralipta.
Peoples of Erenda village were aware of the presence of an ancient settlement. Farmers of the village had converted a part of the mound into agricultural land, and farmed the land.[1]
The size of the settlement was 1 ha (2.5 acres). Archaeologists claim that the settlement was a center of the Black and Red ware culture of West Bengal.[1] Erenda is the oldest of the ancient archaeological settlements discovered in West Bengal. A Neolithic culture (between 2000 and 1500 BC) also existed, which contemporary with the post-Harappan period.[6][2]
Excavated Erenda
editAccording to the plan, Erenda extended approximately 100 metres (330 feet) north-south and 100 metres (330 feet) east-west. However, the mound currently measures 30 metres (98 feet) in the north–south and 30 metres (98 feet) in the east–west, the rest of the mound's land having been partially destroyed by agricultural activities.[1] Here the houses were built of mud, basically Phragmites australis mixed with mud, this method still used in rural Bengal.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Gangopadhyay, Kaushik; Halder, Bidhan; Chowdhury, Saptarshi (2017). Chakraborty, Sharmi (ed.). "Chalcolithic Pottery from Erenda (West Bengal): A Preliminary Assessment". Pratna Samiksha. 8. Kolkata: Centre for Archaeological Studies & Training, Eastern India, Kolkata. ISSN 2229-7979. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ a b Ghosh, Ahana; Saha, Chandrima; Reza, Arshad (2020). Chakraborty, Sharmi (ed.). "Recently Discovered Intertidal Archaeological Sites Along the Shoreline of Bay of Bengal: East Medinipur District, West Bengal" (PDF). Pratna Samiksha. 11. Kolkata: Centre for Archaeological Studies & Training, Eastern India, Kolkata: 7. ISSN 2229-7979. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ Sarkar, Sebanti (6 May 2017). "An archaeological dig West Bengal's Erenda village unearthed a surprising find". www.thehindu.com. The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d Thakur, Shreya (4 July 2021). "সামুদ্রিক ঝড়েই কি ধ্বংস আদিম জনজীবন". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ Mukhopadhyay, Alakh (4 March 2016). "সাড়ে তিন হাজার বছর আগের সংসারের খোঁজ". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ Naskar, Nabanita; Gangopadhyay, Kaushik; Lahiri, Susanta; Ghosh, Ahana; Chaudhuri, Punarbasu; Sharma, Rajveer; Kumar, Pankaj; Ojha, S.; Chopra, S. (1 January 2018). "New Dates from The Site of Erenda, East Medinipur District, West Bengal: Implications for Indian Protohistory". Application of Radio-Tracers and Energetic beams in sciences. Retrieved 26 September 2023.