Fatehpur Sikri Archaeological Museum – Sikri Before Akbar’s Capital

Fatehpur Sikri

By kevinstandagehotography on May 28, 2019 • ( 8 Comments )

Today most visitors to Fatehpur Sikri take advantage of the frequent shuttle bus, which runs continuously throughout the day ferrying passengers between the palace entrance and car park which lies about a kilometer away. It’s an excellent system, and ensures energy levels are conserved as much as possible, as there is much to see in the palace complex and its environs.

One disadvantage however is the lack of footfall this introduces near to the Archaeological Museum which lies a short distance from the palace entrance back down the easterly road. Almost all visitors will either be too excited to explore the palace, or having done so, far too tired to explore any further. As a result, I fear this compact little museum does not get the attention it deserves, and thus I thought I would at the very least document it’s existence and perhaps this may encourage a few more people to take a look.

Archaeological Museum – Fatehpur Sikri

The Archaeological Museum is known as the Treasury Building. It was built during Akbar’s reign but was in a dilapidated condition until it was restored by the ASI between 2002 and 2004. The main driving force behind this renovation was to showcase artifacts that have been unearthed during excavations that ran from 1976-1977 and 1999-2000.

The archaeological site is known as Bir Chhabili Tila, and is a small mound near to Sikri village to the north of the ridge. These excavations produced cultural material belonging to five separate periods, the majority belonging to a period prior to Sikri becoming Akbar’s capital in the early 1570s.

Period 0 – Circa 2nd Century B.C. – 2nd Century A.D.

Almost nothing was uncovered encompassing this period, except for this somewhat crudely made monkey figure, which is attributed to the Sungra-Kushan Period.

Monkey figure (2nd century B.C. – 2nd century A.D.) – Fatehpur Sikri Archaeological Museum

Period 1 – Circa 6th – 8th Century A.D.

These earliest deposits were in a relatively small area and the finds were not many, although a few brick walls, pots and beads were found along with a wonderful sculpture of Yakshini Amika.

Ambika (7th – 8th century A.D.) – Fatehpur Sikri Archaeological Museum

Period 2 – Circa 9th – 12th Century A.D.

In terms of material culture, these deposits yielded the most significant finds. Several outstanding Jain images were discovered before the foundations and platform of a Jain temple measuring 18m x 9m, constructed with massive undressed stone up to 3m in height. A few architectural elements from the temple were also discovered.

The star find from the excavations of this period and the showpiece of the museum has to be the Jain image of Sruti Devi Saraswati (Goddess of learning).

Sruti Devi Jaina Saraswati (1010 A.D.) – Fatehpur Sikri Archaeological Museum

An inscription in the pedestal tells us a lot about this creation. It was installed by merchants of Sanchmara and Bhallika in the ‘house’ of Santi Vimalacarya, at Sekrikya (Sikri), in the reign of Vajram (Vajradaman of Kachchapaghata) on the Suddha Navami of Vaisaka VS 1067 (which equates to April – May 1010 A.D.). The inscription closes with mentioning that Ahilena also contributed, who was possibly the sculptor.

A sculpture of Tirthankara Adinatha was also recovered, again with an inscription.

Tirthankara Adinathai (982 A.D.) – Fatehpur Sikri Archaeological Museum

This one tells us that the image of Rishabhadeva was installed by Devaraja and his wife Dhanapati, disciples of Sri Vimalacarya, on Sunday, Suklapaksha Ekadashi of Jyestha in the Swati nakshatra during VS 1039 (which equates to May – June 982 A.D.).

Incomplete fragments of other Jain sculptures were also found, some of which are on display in the museum.

Fragmentary sculpture (10th – 11th century A.D.) – Fatehpur Archaeological Museum

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Fragmentary sculpture (10th – 11th century A.D.) – Fatehpur Archaeological Museum

Period 3 – Circa 12th – 16th Century A.D. and Period 4 – Circa 16th – 18th Century

These latter two periods did not uncover any artifacts of great significance, but included fragments of sculpture, terracotta figurines, beads, jewellery moulds, small pots, metal objects and household objects.

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In another gallery was an excellent drawing of the Diwan-i-Khas central pillar, done by E.W.Smith in 1891.

Diwan-i-Khas central pillar drawn by E.W.Smith in 1891 – Fatehpur Sikri Archaeological Museum

Whilst we knew the small village of Sikri existed prior to the arrival of Akbar, the excavations at Bir Chhabili Tila have pushed back our knowledge of occupation much earlier.

It does also lead one to wonder what might exist under the Mughal structures at Fatehpur Sikri, and whilst further excavations could be undertaken in pockets of land where no visible structures currently exist, there could be much that will be forever sealed (or destroyed) by the later construction of Akbar’s great palace complex and capital.

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Categories: Fatehpur Sikri, Fatehpur Sikri Archaeological Museum, India, Uttar Pradesh

Tagged as: Museums