Horizontal Excavations of Pre NBPW and NBPW Levels at Agiabir, District Mirzapur and Explorations in the Adjoining Areas

Abstract

The archaeological excavations at Agiabir, District- Mirzapur was conducted in the year 2015, 2016 and 2018 by the permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India, New Delhi under the Major Research Project grant approved by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. The main objective of the project was as follows: i) To know the cultural sequence and detailed material remains of Agiabir, Dist. Mirzapur. ii) To trace the other satellite settlements around Agiabir through vigorous explorations. iii) To know the importance of Agiabir in the archaeology of middle Ganga plain. The horizontal excavation was conducted on the Mound-1 and 2 at Agiabir to obtain a complete culture-sequence of the site in different localities and to trace the pre-Chalcolithic deposit. It was confined in two localities of the mound to know the material remains of Pre NBPW and NBPW levels. Mention may be made that a few cord impressed pottery along with two polished stone celts have been recovered from the surface of Mound -1 during exploration of the site in 2014 which indicates the pre-Chalcolithic affinity on this site.