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Activities of I&CA Department | Genealogy of I&CA Department | News Bureau |

The Directorate of Archaeology in the State of West Bengal was established on 1-8-1958 in order to administer the 'West Bengal Preservation of Historical Monuments and Objects and Excavation of Archaeological Sites Act, 1957'. It was only after 1977 that the Directorate was integrated within the Information & Cultural Affairs Department and was also re-designated as the Directorate of Archaeology & Museums.

a) Excavation and Exploration of Archaeological Sites,
b) Conservation of State Protected Monuments,
c) Looking after the State Archaeological Museum and other Local Museums in the State,
d) Implementation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and
e) Research and Publication.

There is in addition Centre for Archaeological Studies and Training, Eastern India which started functioning as a research scheme under the Directorate and is now an autonomous research institution.

Excavation and Exploration

Over the last 40 years the Directorate has conducted extensive exploration of archaeological sites of far reaching consequence in almost all the districts of West Bengal. Some of its major projects include discovery and survey of stone age site in the Gandeswari valley around Susunia, district Bankura, in the Kangshabati valley in Bankura and Purulia district and in the Subarnarekha valley in Midnapur district. The Directorate also brought to the light extremely significant chalcolithic sites in the district of Birbhum, Burdwan, Midnapur and Bankura. The most significant achievement in this sphere is the excavation at Pandu Rajar Dhibi under the direction of Late P.C. Dasgupta. This excavation pushed back the history of Bengal to the second millennium B.C. Among other important excavated sites are Baneswardanga in Burdwan district, Nalrajar Garh - a medieval fort in Jalpaiguri district and Goswamikhand in Burdwan district. The Directorate also undertook systematic exploration in the eastern Himalaya (Kalimpong areas) which resulted in the discovery of stone age artifacts.

In recent times the Directorate is conducting a major excavation at Jagjibanpur, district Malda. The excavation has brought to light a huge Buddhist monastery datable to the 9th Century A.D. Besides, the Directorate has also excavated Tilda - an early history site in Midnapur district. It has also conducted an intensive exploratory survey of the medieval cities of Gaur and Pandua in the collaboration with the Department of Islamic History and Culture, University of Kolkata.

The Directorate has identified more than 100 monuments (temple, mosque, mound cemetery etc.) as State-protected monuments. In the past, the conservation of the monuments were done through the Public Works Department. In the recent times, however the Directorate is depending increasingly upon the engineering outfit of different Zilla Parishad. Some of the recent conservation work include Kamtesvari temple, district Coochbehar, Nadadulal Jew temple, district Hooghly, Raghabeswar Shiba temple at Dignagar, district Nadia. The Directorate has also commissioned Archaeological Survey of India for conservation of Brick temples at Boram, district Purulia - one of the earliest group of temple in the State. Besides, the Directorate has also enlisted the assistance of organisation like INTACH for this purpose.

The State Archaeological Museum originally begun as the State Archeology Gallery and was shifted to an impressive building at 1,Satyen Roy Road, Kolkata - 34 in 1980. The museum was conceived as a repository of the materials collected in course of exploration and excavation but over the years it was emerged as a second largest museum in the eastern India. It has in its collection, artifacts representing of the historical periods of Bengal's past. Some of its outstanding collections include chalcolithic artifacts from Pandu Rajar Dhibi, exquisite terracotta plaques from Jagjibanpur, stone and bronze sculptures details between 9th and 12th century AD, early historic terracotta, coins, paintings, stone age artifacts and pottery. The collection has been enriched the gift of some individuals like Late Kalidas Dutta and Shri Prabir Goswami. A new building equipped with proper facilities is coming up at 1, Satyen Roy Road, Kolkata - 34 to accommodate the growing collection of material of the museum. Besides the State Archaeological Museum there are a number of important local museums in different districts of West Bengal are supported by the Directorate through annual grants and special grants. The Directorate has also maintaining a district museum at Malda. Some of important local museums to be supported by the Directorate are- Bishnupur Sahitya Parishad Museum, district Bankura, Tamluk Museum, district Midnapur, Ananda Niketan Kirtisala, district Howrah, Haripada Sahitya Mandir, district Purulia etc.

The Directorate is in-charge of the implementation of this Central Act. The purpose of this Act is to record the ancient art objects like sculptures, terracotta, wood carvings, bronze, ivory and painting lying in the custody of individual and organisations. It is mandatory for the individuals and organisations possessing of such objects to apply for registration of their holdings. The Registering Officers of the Directorate examine the application and issued certificate in favour of the rightful owner.

The Directorate has published a number of books, albums, excavation reports and journals embodying the research of their staff member and other scholars. So far the Directorate has brought out 33 titles. It also publishes a popular series on the Archaeological materials from different districts of West Bengal. The Directorate has also brought out a centenary volume in honour of Late N.G. Majumdar - one of the pioneers of Harappan archaeology. The Directorate is currently publishing an annual journal in English and in Bengali.

Besides it organises lectures, seminar and workshop highlighting recent in Indian archaeology. The Directorate also organises exhibition, awareness campaign and other extra-mural activities in Kolkata and other towns of West Bengal

Centre for Archaeological Studies & Training, Eastern India was set up in 1995 to develop multi-disciplinary research in archaeology, create a date base on the archaeology of the region and to extend support to young scholars as well as researcher outside the institutional framework. Over the last five years the Centre has emerged as important research organisation. It has taken up a number of major research project and published 14 research monographs, two of its lead projects are

(a) An annotated archaeology of West Bengal
(b) A computerised data base on Archaeology of Bengal.

The centre has developed academic and technological collaboration with a number of institutions. It is currently located at 43, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata - 17.(Tel:2281-6029)

List of Publications are available from

• Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, 33 Chitta Ranjan Avenue (4th Floor) Kolkata - 700 012.Phone 2236-6636
• Distribution Centre, Information and Cultural Affairs Department, 6 Council House Street, Kolkata - 700 001.Phone 2243-6295
• Paschimbanga Bangla Academi, Nandan-Rabindra Sadan Complex, Kolkata - 700 017
• District Information & Cultural Officer's Office.