Report on the Excavations at Hampi 1991-2010 (Set of 2 Volumes)

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The excavation at Hampi (Vijayanagara) was initially conceived as a National Project way back in the mid 1970 by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. The National Project was jointly implemented under the direction of archaeologists from both the institutions. Scientific clearance and excavation work was commenced during the year 1975-76 in front of the Mahanavami platform and the king's audience and continued till 1979. In the same year the excavation work was confined to one particular area which was called the Mint, an enclosed area. This area was designated as the Sacred Centre and the Royal Centre by the two Directorates. In the Sacred Centre, a few places including the Virupaksha Bazaar, Nagareshvara temple and Siva temple areas were subjected to excavation by the State Department. In the Royal centre, the Archaeological Survey of India carried out excavation near Mahanavami platform which is supposed to be close by the Mint. This Mint area was enclosed by a massive wall of cyclopean masonry. Within this area many structures were exposed.

The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums carried out excavation in the area of lying opposite the Mint area. This area is located to the north-east of Underground temple and north of Danaik's enclosure in an area enclosed by granite boulder formation which is an open ground with the remains of several structures. This area has been described in the book Vijayanagara Progress of Research 1979-83 as "The area is about 122 acres in extent and is within the Revenue Survey Nos. 1, 6, 11 and 135 B. From the large number of remains of structures and their character, this appears to be an area occupied by noblemen or royal personalities, and therefore, the buildings excavated can appropriately be called palaces. The State Directorate took up two structures for exposition during 1982-83, and has completed the excavation and restoration of one of the buildings and the work is in progress in the other. It is proposed to expose all the structures in this area, so that a clear pattern will emerge of the residential complex of the noblemen of Vijayanagara." With this aim since 1982 onwards many structures designated as Noblemen Palace is being excavated. Till 1991, more than 20 structures named as Noblemen Palaces No. 1 to 20 were laid bare and reported.

This work was exposing the area was continued till 2010. Altogether 11 sites in this locality namely NMQ-17, NMQ-15A, NMQ-18, NMQ-1A, NMQ-11A, HNG-4, TMP-4, NMQ-22, NMQ-22N, NMQ-22A and NMQ-22B were excavated by many Officers of the Department. The details of the structures and antiquities of these sites are provided in this Report.

The present Report contains a detailed account of all the antiquities running to about 9000 in number recovered from these sites. The details like the site, length, breadth, weight, material, depth, description and date of find are recorded. Important antiquities are illustrated and photo documentation of all the antiquities is completed.

The scientific study of all the antiquities are initiated and the Technical Reports on floral and faunal assemblage, Epigraphic reports, Conservation reports of antiquities and other Technical Guidance Reports are due from concerned Experts. However a Preliminary scientific data is provided in the Report. In order to manage the antiquities a Software was developed and the details of antiquities are provided through the Software developed for this specific purpose. More than 1500 antiquities were drawn to scale and about 400 photographs are provided in the Report in a short span of time. There may be a few shortcomings in the Report. There is a need for further detailed scientific study of all the excavated materials.

Considering the structures and the antiquities found in the sites and correlation with each other has given a fair picture of the site. Now almost a clear picture of the locality can be visualized. Hence it may not be wrong to presume that the structures found here may not be the Palaces of Noblemen, as was thought in the initial days, but the structures and antiquities found in relation to the structures point to the fact that this area was a Production or Industrial Area where many Technical Units existed. In these Technical Units important and secured materials were produced like coins, jewelry, beads, etc. This area in all probability could be the Mint of Vijayanagara. In the Technical Units fresh coins were minted along with recycling of gold, silver and copper coins. As a testimony to this, mint fresh silver coins numbering more than 4,500 were found. Further excavation in this area would, no doubt will strengthen the assumption. Hence this area may have to be identified as the Mint area rather than Noblemen Palaces. Future excavations in this area will no doubt throw further light on the structures as well as medieval town planning.

The excavation at Hampi (Vijayanagara) was initially conceived as a National Project way back in the mid 1970's by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums and the Archaeological Survey of India. The National Project was jointly implemented under the direction of archaeologists from both the institutions. Scientific clearance and excavation work was commenced during the year 1975-76 in front of the Mahanavami platform and the king's audience and continued till 1979. In the same year the excavation work was confined to the Mint area. A few places including the Virupaksha Bazaar, Nagareshvara temple and Siva temple areas, that was designated as Sacred area, were subjected to excavation by the State Department.

The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums carried out excavation in the area lying opposite the Mint area, which is located to the north-east of Underground temple and north of Danaik's enclosure. This open area is enclosed by granite boulder formation with the remains of several structures. This area has been described in Vijayanagara Progress of Research 1979-83 as "The area is about 122 acres in extent and is within the Revenue Survey Nos. 1, 6, 11 and 135 B. From the large number of remains of structures and their character, this appears to be an area occupied by noblemen or royal personalities, and therefore, the buildings excavated can appropriately be called palaces. The State Directorate took up two structures for exposure during 1982-83, and has completed the excavation and restoration of one of the buildings and the work is in progress in the other. It is proposed to expose all the structures in this area, so that a clear pattern will emerge of the residential complex of the noblemen of Vijayanagara." With this aim since 1982 onwards many structures designated as Noblemen Palace is being excavated. Till 1991, more than 20 structures named as Noblemen Palaces No. 1 to 20 were laid bare and reported.

This work of exposing the area was continued till 2010. Altogether 11 sites in this locality namely NMQ-17, NMQ-15A, NMQ-18, NMQ-1A, NMQ-11A, HNG-4, TMP-4, NMQ-22, NMQ-22N, NMQ-22A and NMQ-22B were excavated by many Officers of the Department. The details of the structures and antiquities of these sites are provided in this Report.

The present Report contains a detailed account of all the antiquities running to about 9000 in number recovered from these sites. The details like the site, length, breadth, weight, material, depth, description and date of find are recorded. Important antiquities are illustrated and photo documentation of all the antiquities is completed.