Hastinapura

Hastinapura 

a multilevel settlement dating from the 19th century B.C. to the 15th century A.D., located on the right bank of the Ganges in the vicinity of Meerut, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Hastinapura was excavated from 1950 to 1952 by B. B. Lai. The finds of phase I (19th through 13th centuries B.C.) belong to the Copper Hoard culture. Phase II (11th to fifth centuries B.C.) coincides with the appearance of bronze objects, painted gray ware, and dwellings of branches and clay. The population, possibly Aryans of the time that the Vedas were composed, engaged in hunting, land cultivation, and stock raising. Phase III (sixth to second centuries B.C.) is characterized by what is now called northern black polished ware, the use of iron, and houses made of both mud brick and fired brick. Phase IV (second century B.C. to the third century A.D.) is characterized by painted red pottery with stamped ornamentation and by numerous finds of coins. Phase V (11th to 15th centuries A.D.) is represented by medieval glazed pottery.

REFERENCES

Shchetenko, A. Ia. Drevneishie zemledel’cheskie kul’tury Dekana. Leningrad, 1968.
Lai, B. B. “Excavations at Hastinapura and Other Explorations in the Upper Ganga and Sutlej Basins, 1950–1952.” Ancient India, 1954–55, nos. 10–11.