Archaeology dept wakes up late to artefacts in sleepy Manne

Excavation likely next year at village to unearth medieval-era settlement

A medieval era settlement which lies buried beneath the ground near Nelamangala is likely to be unearthed next year. The artefacts and monuments scattered all over the place in Manne village, around 20 km from Nelamangala here, reveal the glorious past of the western Ganga dynasty.

The Gangas ruled the region from 4h century AD to 8th century AD, till they were defeated by the Rashtrakutas. The place thrived till the 10th century AD, before slipping into oblivion.

R Gopal, director of the state Archaeology department, told DH that, in June, a survey was done and it was found that excavating the place would be beneficial. “Accordingly, we sent a proposal to the Archaeological Survey of India. The approval is likely to be given soon. We hope that the excavation will start next year,” said Gopal.

The department hopes that the excavation will unravel a treasure trove of historical artefacts. Already, there are many monuments in a dilapidated state in Manne. There are many temples of the medieval period such as Kapileshwara temple, Vijaya Parshwanatha temple known by the locals as ‘Soole Gudi’ and Chowdeshwari temple, which locals call Ooramma shrine.

The large number of Jain temples in the region is because the Gangas belonged to the Digambar Jain sect. “These ancient structures indicate that Manne must have been a very important centre. The excavation will reveal the reason behind the downfall of this town, its rulers and inhabitants. It will also throw light on what kind of civilisation Manne was,” said Gopal.

Noted historian H S Gopal Rao too played a significant role in discovering this ancient site. He said he had been advising the Archaeology department to take care of the monuments and artefacts for almost four decades. It is only recently that the department took note of his plea and surveyed the place.Rao said, prince Marasimha of the dynasty had built the Vijaya Temple. “Over a period of time, the temple turned into a haven for immoral activities. People remember the place as ‘Soole Gudi’ (brothel temple) even today.”

“In 802 AD, the Rashtrakutas invaded the place and after two centuries, the town lost its glory,” said Rao. In 1997, the head of the sculpture of a Jain Teerthankara was found here, which locals had started worshiping. Recently, during digging the trench for a drain, with an earthmover, the remaining portion of the idol was unearthed.