Re-constructing the ancient history
Surprisingly, in the main stream historiography, there are few such periods of ancient history which either have been forgotten or have been taken up casually. These include the historical periods of Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, Kidders and Huns - these almost cover a span of about one thousand year and have got strong first class evidences.
The traditional literary records which mostly consist of myths have given such long and interesting tales of rajas and maharajas of this period, which hardly get substantiated by other physical sources. In fact there is very little mention of the genuine tribes in the contemporary historical records. On the other hand if we look at the modern day numismatic and archaeological researches undertaken on scientific bases, the picture looks quite different. It reveals the evidences of genuine tribes which either had got any political authority or respectable presence in the sub continent.
In this context let us first talk about Indo-Scythians; their period of ancient history is almost missing in the major history works. These have been a nomadic tribe known to Indian history as Sakas. They are believed to be a group of nomadic tribe of the Scythian origin who migrated from Central Asia into South Asia from the middle of the 2nd century BC to the 4th century AD. The modern day numismatists and archaeologists have also come across certain archaeological and numismatic evidences from north western parts of India which included the divided lands of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Ancient Roman and Greek historians including Arrian and Claudius Ptolemy have mentioned that the ancient Sakas (‘Sakai’) were nomadic people. Italo Ronca, in his detailed study of Ptolemy’s chapter VI, states: “The land of the Sakai belongs to nomads, they have no towns but dwell in forests and caves” as spurious. The first Saka king in South Asia was identified as Maus, who is believed to have ascended the throne and established Saka power in Gandhara, and Indus Valley during 1st century BC.
The historical records of the sub continent suggest that the Indo-Scythians also spread over the Indo Greek empire, and extended from Kabul and annexed Pakistan, north western parts of India including Jammu and Kashmir.
The invasion of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent by Scythian tribes from Central Asia, often referred to as the Indo-Scythian invasion, played a significant part in the history of the subcontinent as well as in Jammu and Kashmir.
The viceroys of Indo-Scythian are believed to have moved up to Sindh and Muthura and continued to stay there for a very long time, till the rise of western satraps. Maus, Vonones, Azes, Azilises were the main rulers of this dynasty. The history and chronology of Indo-Scythians have also been explored mainly through archaeology and numismatic sources. In fact the main stream Kashmiri chronicles are also almost silent about these people. There is very little mention of these people even in modern historical records, although these people have left certain archaeological and numismatic evidences here. I have already attempted this period of our history and their coins in my earlier papers.
In fact hundreds of their silver and copper coins have been found in southern and northern parts of Kashmir. The excavations carried at Semthian, Bijbehara also revealed the coins of indo-Scythian princes. Their coins are recorded in the numismatics collections of Jammu and Kashmir. Several coins of Azes I, Azilises, and Azes II are recorded in the numismatic collections of SPS museum at Srinagar and in few private collections of the Jammu and Kashmir.
Obverse;- King holding spear, mounted on horse walking right; Greek legend, Basileos Basileon Megalou / Azou
Reverse;- Winged Nike standing right facing with head left, holding wreath and palm, legend; Maharajasa Rajarajasa Mahatakasa / Ayasa
Geographically speaking, there are several places in Kashmir which still carried the Scythian place names. In Bandipura area there is a village called Ajas, which clearly looks as the corrupt form of Azes I or Azes II, who has been identified as one of the famous princes of Scythian tribe.
Besides, scores of terracotta settlements were found in forest and distant abandoned places of Kashmir valley, where only trial digs have been given. The preliminary investigation carried out at these sites, speaks very little about these settlers. These terracotta settlements are believed to have been founded by those tribes which had lived a nomadic life, although the purpose of lying of such settlements in such abandoned places is yet to be ascertained, but one thing is very much clear that the tribes which have laid these settlements had been certainly a nomadic tribe. Usually the local scholars have been dating these terracotta sites to first century AD and attributing them to Kushan era, but the fact is that several of these settlements can be dated earlier to Kushans, provided the systematic excavations on scientific lines are resumed at these sites Such settlements have been encountered at the plateau of Zabervan hills of Harwan Srinagar. Dardakote, Hoinar, Donipather and Kotebal forest plateaus of Lidder valley and at Gurvieth in Budgam area of central Kashmir and at other several places. Several scholars claim to have identified Scythian motifs of horse riders on the tile pavements of Harwan and Kotebal terracotta settlements.
On the other hand if the above mentioned claim of ancient Roman historian is taken into consideration then one can easily say that the well advanced terracotta settlements on such a hilly and abandoned places has been the handy work of Indo-Scythians, which are believed to have built no cities, no towns, but lived a nomadic life in the forest areas. Almost all the terracotta settlements found so far in Kashmir are located on abandoned forest areas. The builders of these terracotta settlements have not been properly identified yet, although there is general view that the most of these terracotta settlements belong to Kushan era, but there is no such evidence available with scholars to know who actually had raised these pavements.
Since these terracotta pavements have been laid in forest areas, as such there is every possibility that Indo-Scythian tribes who used to dwell in forests may have founded these sites and later on these sites may have developed further during Kushans. Since these settlements have been excavated partly and if further excavations are resumed at such sites, it is hoped we may get clearer picture about its founders.
The writer is senior archaeologist and a published author.
