The excavations at Nagari: a Sunga-Kushan site in Chittorgarh

Nagari, near Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, preserves the remains of an ancient settlement identified with Madhyamika, an important centre in north-western India. Its archaeological record spans several centuries, with particularly valuable evidence from the Sunga and Kushan periods. Excavations have revealed buildings, coins, pottery, terracotta objects, inscriptions and sculptural fragments that illuminate changing patterns of trade, religion and urban life.

The site occupies a landscape shaped by the Berach River and the wider routes linking the Mewar region with Malwa, Gujarat and northern India. Its position helps explain why Nagari developed beyond a small rural settlement. Merchants, travellers, religious communities and political authorities could all use the surrounding network of roads and river valleys.

For visitors from Australia, Nagari offers a different kind of heritage experience from the clearly marked archaeological parks of Sydney or Melbourne. Much of its significance lies in buried layers, fragmentary artefacts and careful interpretation rather than in complete standing monuments. That makes the work of excavation, conservation and documentation especially important.

Nagari and the ancient city of Madhyamika

Ancient literary and archaeological evidence associates Nagari with Madhyamika, a settlement that became prominent in the early historic period. The city was probably protected by fortifications and supported by agricultural production, craft activity and long-distance exchange. Its location close to Chittorgarh placed it within a landscape that remained politically significant for centuries.

The Sunga period, generally dated from the second to the first century BCE, forms one of the key phases in the site’s history. Archaeological material from this era suggests organised construction and a culture connected to wider developments across northern and western India. Nagari should therefore be viewed as part of a regional urban network rather than as an isolated provincial outpost.

What the archaeological layers reveal

Excavations at Nagari have produced ceramic assemblages, terracotta figurines, beads, metal objects and coins. Each category provides a different line of evidence. Pottery can indicate technology and commercial connections, coins help establish chronology and authority, while figurines and small ritual objects offer clues about domestic and religious practices.

The evidence from the Kushan phase is particularly useful for understanding continuity and change after the Sunga period. Kushan influence reached many parts of the subcontinent through political expansion and commercial routes, although its expression varied from place to place. At Nagari, the material record helps archaeologists trace how local traditions interacted with wider economic and cultural currents.

The excavation work undertaken under the Archaeological Survey of India forms part of a broader programme of field research across Rajasthan. Trenches, stratigraphic recording and the study of recovered objects allow specialists to reconstruct occupation sequences without treating a single artefact as proof of an entire historical pattern.

Inscriptions, coins and historical interpretation

Inscriptions are among the most valuable sources for identifying people, institutions, religious affiliations and political relationships. At Nagari, epigraphic fragments must be read alongside architecture and portable finds. A short inscription can establish a name or donation, but its wider meaning depends on its archaeological context and comparison with other records.

This method connects Nagari with the wider epigraphical work of the Jaipur Circle. The epigraphical study of inscriptions at Ajmer, for example, demonstrates how scripts, languages, formulae and historical setting are examined together. The periods differ, yet the scholarly principle remains consistent: inscriptions are material objects as well as written texts.

Coins provide another important source of information. Their symbols, metal composition and circulation can suggest commercial links, political authority and changing economic conditions. When combined with pottery and settlement evidence, numismatic material helps establish a more reliable chronology for Nagari’s Sunga-Kushan occupation.

Conservation in Rajasthan’s dry landscape

Rajasthan’s arid climate can preserve some materials well, but it also creates serious conservation pressures. Windblown dust, intense sunlight, occasional heavy rain and salts in the soil can damage exposed brickwork, stone and plaster. Vegetation growth after the monsoon may also disturb archaeological deposits and weaken structural remains.

Conservation therefore involves more than repairing visible walls. Archaeologists and engineers must monitor drainage, stabilise fragile masonry, control vegetation and document every intervention. The approach resembles concerns familiar in Australia, where heritage places are managed under instruments such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and state legislation. Australian visitors may also recognise the values-based approach associated with the Burra Charter, which stresses understanding significance before making changes.

At Nagari, protection must balance research access with physical security. A site may attract local residents, school groups, heritage travellers and specialist researchers, particularly during the cooler months when weekend travel from Jaipur, Udaipur or Delhi is more comfortable. Clear paths, shade, water guidance and responsible visitor behaviour are practical parts of archaeological stewardship.

Why the site matters to Australian audiences

Australian travellers are accustomed to planning visits around long driving distances, public holidays and heat. The journey from Jaipur or Udaipur to the Chittorgarh region requires similar preparation: a reliable vehicle, sun protection, drinking water and time for a site where interpretation may be less immediate than at a major fort. These everyday habits can make a visit safer while reducing pressure on the monument.

Nagari also offers a useful comparison with Australia’s local heritage market. In cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, museum shops and cultural tourism businesses often turn archaeological themes into books, maps, replicas and educational products. Rajasthan’s heritage economy likewise links monuments, guides, transport, handicrafts and local markets, but archaeological artefacts must never be removed from a site or purchased through unverified channels.

For Australian schools and universities, the settlement provides a strong case study in evidence-based history. Students can compare South Asian archaeology with Indigenous heritage management in Australia, while recognising that each tradition has its own legal, cultural and scholarly frameworks. Such comparisons work best when they respect the distinct communities and histories connected to each place.

Continuing responsibilities at Nagari

The significance of Nagari depends on sustained documentation, research and public care. Excavated objects require cataloguing, conservation and secure storage, while unexcavated areas should be protected for future methods that may answer questions not yet possible to investigate. Digital photography, geographic recording and scientific analysis can add value without replacing the physical site.

The organisation’s Jaipur Circle’s role includes protecting centrally managed monuments, supporting archaeological research and communicating heritage values to the public. At Nagari, these responsibilities extend across excavation records, site maintenance, interpretation and coordination with local communities.

The remains of Madhyamika cannot be understood through a single dynasty or spectacular monument. Their importance lies in the accumulated evidence of settlement, exchange, belief and adaptation across the Sunga, Kushan and later periods. Careful stewardship ensures that this evidence remains available to researchers, residents and visitors from Rajasthan, Australia and beyond.