An Archaeological Site Discovered under a Playground in Bangladesh
An archaeological site called Manter Mura:
An archaeological site called Manter Mura is located in a playground of Italla village of Panchthubi union of Adarsh Sadar upazila under Comilla district. Munsi Bazar is about five kilometers north of Comilla district town center on a curving road. About two hundred and thirty meters east from this Bazar is the location of Manter Mura archeological site in Italla village.
As a result of archaeological excavations and investigations conducted by the Department of Archaeology in Bangladesh, ruins of various types of archaeological structures have been uncovered at the Manter Mura archaeological site. Based on the exposed architectural structures and stratification, approximately four periods have been identified. These are –
First period: First settlement and construction of architecture;
Second period: Architectural construction, expansion and enlargement;
Third period: Expansion, change and amplification; And
The fourth period: is abandonment, resettlement and architectural construction.
Apart from this, excavations at Manter Mura archaeological site have yielded artefacts such as decorated terracotta bricks, terracotta lamps, Buddhist and Hindu religious cultural artefacts including parts of various icons.
By reviewing various published books, data and records, it is known that five mounds or stupas existed till some time ago in an ancient village called Panchthubi, on the outskirts of Comilla town and just a few kilometers north-east. The nearby mounds contained many ancient bricks. From the existence of these five mounds or stupas, the village was later named Panchthubi. which is the evolved form of Panchastupi < Panchstup < Panchastupa in Bengali form. Most likely these were Buddhist stupas. Stupas do not exist at present.
There were ruins of many other ancient buildings at this place. Among them, the decorous building is identified as the house of a Maharaja (that means king). Most likely it was the ruins of a Buddhist monastery built fortified.
Along with this many other ancient objects of this place have disappeared. But many ancient brick and pottery fragments are found underground. It was probably a significant center of Buddhism and culture.
According to locals, Manter Mura is the home of the unconfirmed Mahanta Raja. No one has been able to provide any information about this Mahanta king or when he ruled.
As recorded in RS of Land, the Manter Mura is the deity property of the Narasingha Vigraha temple. Narasingha is the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is mentioned in the Puranas, and other ancient Hindu scriptures. According to this information, this site can be a center of Hindu religion and culture (?).
The Manter Mura archeological site is currently located in the village of Italla. It is very likely that the village was named Italla because of the existence of high mounds with Ita (bricks) or because a large number of Ita (bricks) could be found when digging the soil.
According to locals, Manter Mura is the home of the unconfirmed Mahanta Raja. Most probably the name ‘Mahanta’ is contracted from ‘Manta’. The literal meaning of Mura is tip or edge. And locally the word ‘mura’ is used to mean the high place. Hence Manta, er, and Mura together are now named ‘Manter Mura’. [Md. Shahin Alam]
Reference Books
- Ahmed, Dr. Nazimuddin, Mahasthan Mainamati Paharpur, 1979, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Dhaka.
- Bangladesh Folk Culture Bibliography Comilla, 2017, Bangla Academy, Dhaka.
- Zakaria, Abul Kalam Mohammad, Antiquities of Bangladesh, 2010, Divya Prakash, Dhaka.
- Qasem, Abul, History of Comilla Adi Parba, 2008, Gatidhara, Dhaka.
- Zakaria, Abul Kalam Mohammad, History of Comilla District, 1984, Zilla Parishad, Comilla.
Acknowledgment: Directorate of Archaeology, Office of the Regional Director, Chittagong and Sylhet Division, Comilla.
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