Digging into history: Excavation restarts at Agroha after 4 decades

After more than four decades, excavation work at the historic Agroha archaeological site in Hisar district restarted today, with former minister Aseem Goyal inaugurating the event. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was scheduled to attend but could not due to official commitments.

Banani Bhattacharya, Deputy Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, highlighted the historical importance of Agroha, which is believed to have been the capital of Maharaja Agrasen, a legendary ruler.

"Agroha was a major commercial and political centre, strategically positioned on the trade route between ancient cities of Taxila and Mathura. It remained significant until the establishment of Hisar-e-Firoza by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1354 CE," she said.

According to Bhattacharya, previous excavations at Agroha yielded four Indo-Greek coins, one punch-marked coin, and 51 coins of Agroha (Agrodaka). References in ancient texts, including the Mahabharata, suggest that Agroha was once the headquarters of a republican state (Janapada) called Agrodaka.

Excavation work at Agroha dates back to 1888-89, when CJ Rogers conducted the first recorded dig. HL Srivastava of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out another excavation in 1938-39, reaching a depth of 3.65 metres. Between 1978 and 1984, PK Sharan and JS Khatri from Haryana’s Department of Archaeology and Museums led the last excavation.

Findings from these digs indicate that Agroha was a fortified settlement that remained continuously inhabited from the 4th century BCE to the 14th century CE. Unearthed artefacts include coins, terracotta objects, seals, stone sculptures, toys and jewellery from various periods.

The renewed excavation aims to uncover deeper insights into Agroha’s historical, cultural and economic significance, further cementing its place in India’s rich archaeological heritage.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Haryana Archaeology and Museum Department signed an MoU last year to develop Agroha into a prominent heritage site. The state government plans to transform Agroha into a tourism hub, featuring a Tourist Welcome Centre, Site Museum, Planetarium, and Knowledge Park to educate visitors about its historical importance.

A Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey by IIT Kanpur has identified potential excavation sites, raising expectations of further significant discoveries.