Sources of Ancient History | BPSC Preparation: All subjects - BPSC (Bihar) PDF Download

Sources of Ancient History of Bihar

The ancient history of Bihar has been pieced together through various means, including archaeological evidence, literary sources, and accounts from foreign travelers.

Archaeological Evidence

•  Nalanda, Saran, Munger, and Vaishali are significant archaeological sites for the prehistoric phase in Bihar. 
•  The archaeological remains from the Mauryan period (321-185 BC), including the ruins of the eighty-pillared hall, are located at Kumhrar in Patna. This site was excavated by David Brainard Spooner in 1912-13. 
•  Polished pillars from the time of Ashoka were discovered at sites such as Vaishali, Lauriya Areraj, Lauriya Nandangarh, and Rampurva. 
•  Remains of monumental buildings from the Kushana period were found at Chirand, while terracotta human figurines were discovered at Buxar and Patna. 
•  Excavations at Nalanda and Vikramshila revealed impressive examples of Buddhist architecture, including shrines, stupas, and viharas from the Gupta and Pala periods. 
•  The Pala-Sena School of Art thrived in Bihar, particularly in areas like Gaya, Nalanda, and Nawada. 

Inscriptions

•  Inscriptions are important archaeological sources for Bihar, with the earliest deciphered inscriptions dating back to the time of Asoka. 
•  Inscriptions on pillars, found in Lauriya Areraj, Lauriya Nandangarh, and Rampurva, were written in Brahmi script and Prakrit language during Emperor Asoka's period. 
•  The Barabar Caves inscription near Gaya is a significant historical landmark for Bihar. 
•  A later inscription on the Nagarjuni hills, attributed to Mauryan King Dasaratha, provides insights into the patronage of Ajivikas during that period. 
•  Copper plate inscriptions from Gaya and Nalanda, along with seals found in Vaishali and Nalanda, belong to the Gupta period. 
•  Inscriptions from Bodhgaya associated with Sri Lankan Monk Mahamana II, and copper plate inscriptions from Nalanda, Munger, and Bhagalpur, provide information about the Pala reign in Bihar. 
•  Inscriptions belonging to the Pratiharas and Gahadavalas, such as the Gahadavala plate of Maner, describe the revenue system of Patna in the 12th century AD. 
•  Other important inscriptions, like the Panchobha copper plate inscription of Samudra Gupta and various regional inscriptions, help reconstruct the political and administrative history of Bihar during the Gupta age. 

Coins

•  Punch-marked silver coins were discovered in Golakpur, Patna, and Purnea. 
•  Coins from Buxar and Chirand, dating to the Kushana Empire, indicate the extent of Kushana influence. 
•  Gupta period coins were found in Hajipur, contributing to the understanding of this historical period. 

Ancient Archaeological Sites in Bihar