According to the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India, Vasant Swarnkar, the recent finding of Painted Grey Ware (PWG) beneath a stepwell from the Mauryan era has raised the possibility of the site being associated with the Mahabharata era. Swarnkar's statement suggests that there may have been human activity at the site during the time period mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Delhi's Purana Qila, also known as the Old Fort, has yielded significant evidence indicating its bustling activities during the Mahabharata period (1100-1200 BC), as reported by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ASI's findings provide compelling indications of historical events and human presence at the site, shedding light on the rich antiquity of Purana Qila.

Archaeological Vasant Swarnkar said, “The different eras are denoted by different pottery styles. Painted Grey Ware, a unique type of grey-coloured well-fired pottery, has designs with black spots and strokes.”

Swarnkar further stated, "Back in the 1970s, India's noted Archaeologist BB Lal started digging at places mentioned in Mahabharata. He later concluded that the deepest cultural layer was of PGW."

"Since the above layers were already identified with their pottery styles, such as that of Mauryan, Gupta, Rajput, etc he associated PGW culture with Mahabharata. And now, it is a well-established fact amongst contemporary historians," he added.

Swarnkar highlighted that the excavation's significant finding of Painted Grey Ware pottery fragments beneath a stepwell dating back to the Mauryan era strongly indicates that the site itself would have witnessed notable activities during the Mahabharata era.

However, Swarnkar cautioned against prematurely designating the site as the ancient capital of Indraprastha. He stated that the excavation process involved vertical digging, and it would require approximately two years to complete horizontal exploration of the entire area. Only after this extensive excavation can any definitive assertions be made regarding the subject.

In addition, Swarnkar mentioned that the archaeologists unearthed statues of Ganesha from the Mughal period, Gaj Laxmi from the Gupta period, and Lord Vishnu from the Rajput period at the same site. These discoveries further contribute to the historical significance and diverse cultural layers present at the excavation site.

Commencing in January, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) initiated excavations at Delhi's Purana Qila with the aim of uncovering evidence related to the Mahabharata. The excavation is anticipated to persist until the arrival of the monsoon season. Following that, the trenches will be sealed, preparing for subsequent seasons of excavation and further exploration.

Image Source: India Today