UPSAD’s museum project likely to begin in January

The museum, to be set up at Kothi Roshan-ud-Daula, would house artifacts unearthed in excavations by archaeological dept

The Uttar Pradesh State Archaeological Department’s (UPSAD’s) much awaited museum project is likely to commence from January.

The one-of-its-kind museum, to be set up at Kothi Roshan-ud-Daula in Qaiserbagh, would house artifacts unearthed in excavations by UPSAD, said officials.

“The artifacts were never displayed for the public. It’s indeed going to be a different museum altogether,” said a senior official with UPSAD.

The museum will largely display the furnaces, arrow heads, cultural components and other iron artifacts (dated between 1800 and 1000 BCE) unearthed during UPSAD’s extensive excavations at various historical sites in UP.

The officer said stone and bone artifacts, painted incised potsherd, terracotta beads and many other important cultural components too would be placed in the museum. “It will be an opportunity for the people to peep into the world of their ancestors,” added the officer.

Officials said the museum would also have different chambers that would display the artifacts from separate excavation sites.

Artifacts from one of the biggest excavation sites – Dadupur (falling between Gomti and Sai River) would be on display.

The department had recovered iron artifacts during Dadupur excavation. These included arrow heads, red ware, black and red ware and several other relics. Carbon dating of the artifacts revealed that it is from Painted Grey Ware (PGW) and Northern Black Polish (NBP) ware, between eighteen and sixteen centuries.

Similarly, the artifacts from the famous Jajmau mound (Kanpur) would be another attraction at the museum. In this, relics of pre-Mauryan and Kushan period would be displayed. These would include copper coins, seals, terracotta beads, granaries, burnt bricks etc, added the officer.

The museum will also house artifacts recovered from sites like Hulaskhera, Soni, Raja Nal ka Tila, Malhar, Naidih, Rajdhani Tila and others.

Officials also said that Kothi Roshan-ud-Daula was perhaps the most suited place for the museum and it would be ready for the show by January.

“The kothi’s conservation work is on a war footing. It will take another few months for the entire work to get completed,” said PK Singh, deputy director, UPSAD.

However, those engaged in the conservation work said conservation within the stipulated period of time was no easy task.

“The building was in bad shape. At present, we are working on its roof that had developed cracks following poor maintenance. Once the roof is completed, we will start the beam and girder replacement work.

Though it’s tough, but we can expect it to get completed within time,” said Nitin Kohli, the contractor, who is carrying out the conservation work.