4 
A. M. Markham— Archaeological Excavations in Bijnor. [No. 1, 
use to-day, with a hole in the centre of the top in which to fasten the 
cord. In the debris in the old well. 
The core of the mound, that is to say, the original stupa was 
revealed by the clearing away of the debris from the above lines, and 
proved to be conical in general elevation, with a truncated top ; the 
superficies being found to be in a series of deep steps all round, the 
bottom step, i. e., the plinth, being much wider on top than the others, 
thus forming the usual ceremonial promenade ( parikarma ) surrounding 
the stupa. The foundation of the structure is 7 feet below present 
ground level, but the latter is, to the depth of at least an average of 3 
feet, composed of debris. There was no trace of a railing, nor were any 
pieces of a railing found. The surrounding earth might repay digging, 
I then commenced to sink a shaft down the exact centre of the 
stupa. Two and a half feet below the platform-like top, the relic 
chamber was found. It was completely full of terra-cotta objects, in 
loose mould, huddled in without care or arrangement, and much broken, 
thus showing, I think, that the chamber had already been opened, and 
no doubt rifled of its casket and of anything supposed to be valuable. 
These terra-cotta objects found in the relic chamber, consisted of 
the following :— 
First. At least one thousand small tablets 3'' x 2," from •§" to J" 
thick at the base, and from §" to §‘" at top. They are all stamped 
from the same die, or cast in the same mould, and bear a seated figure 
similar to those of Buddha the Ascetic, in the usual position of medita¬ 
tion, with the feet impossibly folded, soles uppermost, and the hands 
joined in the lap, palms upwards, the right hand being on top. The 
figure is, however, naked, and Buddha is seldom so represented. It is 
seated upon an ornamented circular pedestal, and is in mezzo relievo. 
The hair is arranged in a knot on the top of the head, aud from that 
knot appears to rise a high plume-like ornament with a spreading top, 
possibly representing peacocks’ feathers. This might, however, be in¬ 
tended to represent the top of the ornamental back of the seat, but I 
take it to be a head ornament. There is a halo or ‘ glory ’ round the 
head. There are two diminutive naked male figures as supporters, one 
on either side ; holding in their inward hands ( i. e., one in the right 
hand and the other in the left) objects which may be wands of office or 
long bows. These tablets bear no inscription. There is nothing on the 
reverse. They were no doubt votive tablets. Several hundreds of these 
tablets were broken to pieces. Each tablet was separate, and none 
were enclosed in clay or in model stupas. A collection has been deposit¬ 
ed in the Lucknow Museum, two were submitted to the Government 
N. W. P., and about six hundred have been left with my successor in 
Bijnor. 
