A major archaeological excavation at Purunagarh revealed an uninterrupted record of human habitation spanning from prehistoric times to the early medieval period. It is located in Sambalpur‘s Rairakhol subdivision on the banks of the Kerandi river, a tributary of the Mahanadi. 

Undertaken by the School of History at Gangadhar Meher University (GMU), the project uncovered evidence of a thriving early civilisation and an ancient urban centre closely tied to traditional metallurgical practices, as reported by The New Indian Express.

Industrial Discoveries and Structural Aims

The primary objective of the excavation, which commenced on May 10 under excavation director and GMU History department head Atul Kumar Pradhan, is to establish the cultural sequence of the long-unexplored Rairakhol region. 

Researchers are focused on studying the area’s traditional metallurgical knowledge, tracing the origins of regional urbanisation, and exploring an enormous, newly discovered industrial complex.

Iron Smelting: Thousands of scattered iron slag fragments indicate a large-scale iron-production industry.

Craft Workshops: Pottery kilns and buried ceramic vessels point to organised habitation and specialised crafts.

Artefact Diversity: Unearthing prehistoric stone tools, chalcolithic stone axes, beads, pottery fragments, grinding stones, stone celts, and sharpening stones confirms sustained historical activity.

Reconstructing Regional History

GMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Byomakesh Tripathy noted that these significant discoveries open fresh avenues for understanding the socio-economic and cultural history of western Odisha. 

According to archaeologists, the findings will be instrumental in reconstructing the lost history of the Upper and Middle Mahanadi Valley region, an area widely celebrated for its rich archaeological remains, ranging from rock art to ancient temple architecture.