KOLKATA, October 3 — The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Kolkata Circle, on Saturday confirmed the unearthing of an extensive 2,000-year-old post-Mauryan and early Gupta-era Buddhist monastic complex during stratified excavations at the Moghalmari heritage mound in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal.
According to the preliminary excavation audit released by senior epigraphists and archaeologists, the structural remains feature a fortified brick-built Mahavihara architecture with central stupa circumambulatory paths, monastic cells, and ornamental lime-plaster stucco reliefs displaying Hellenistic and Gupta stylistic synthesis. Notably, excavators recovered a series of inscribed terracotta sealings bearing Brahmi script characters datable to the 2nd century BCE–4th century CE, identifying the precinct as the seat of the 'Arya Bhikshu Sangha'.
Culture Ministry historians emphasized that the discovery corroborates classical epigraphic records indicating that ancient Bengal maintained vibrant theological learning academies situated along arterial overland caravan routes converging upon the ancient international seaport of Tamralipti (modern-day Tamluk).
The institutional history of the Archaeological Survey of India (founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham under the Ministry of Culture), the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (AMASR Act), early Buddhist art and rock-cut architectural traditions (Chaitiyas, Viharas, and Mahaviharas), and the historical travelogues of Faxian and Xuanzang are core topics across UPSC Civil Services (GS-I: Indian Heritage & Ancient History) and State Administrative examinations.