A team of researchers from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made astonishing discoveries in the village of Sinauli back in 2018. However, it is only now that scientists have completed their analysis of the artifacts and shared their findings.
Among the archaeological treasures uncovered in royal tombs are three battle chariots, swords, helmets, and ritual items dating back over 4,000 years. All of these belonged to individuals of high status and were buried alongside them.
The researchers emphasized that the most significant find is the battle chariots. This marks the first time such chariots have been discovered in the history of archaeological research on the Indian subcontinent. The beautifully decorated chariots are remarkably well-preserved, adorned with copper geometric motifs, including triangles on the wheel spokes. This suggests that the chariots served not only practical purposes but also symbolized power and prestige.
What Else Archaeologists Reported
Archaeological excavations in Sinauli, which began in 2005, have revealed the existence of a necropolis with more than 120 burials. Many of these belonged to high-ranking individuals, including military leaders and chieftains.
According to the scientists, Sinauli is the first archaeological site on the Indian subcontinent where royal tombs and chariots with elements of military equipment have been discovered. The artifacts indicate that the ancient inhabitants of Sinauli were involved in military activities, as reported by Arkeonews.
The study of the findings showed that the artifacts from Sinauli are linked to the ochre-colored pottery culture, which thrived between 2000 and 1500 BCE in the region where the Yamuna and Ganges rivers converge. This period corresponds to the late phase of the Indus Valley civilization.
The discovery of battle chariots is particularly noteworthy, as it places the culture of the ancient residents of this region alongside other contemporary civilizations where the use of chariots was common, such as Mesopotamia and Greece.
Interestingly, most of the wooden artifacts found in the tombs were covered with layers of copper sheathing, inlays, and wires, which prevented them from decaying for over four thousand years. The items discovered indicate a high level of craftsmanship and complexity in the working of wood and copper.
A significant achievement for the excavation team was the discovery of a royal burial. It contained a wooden coffin adorned with copper anthropomorphic figures wearing horned helmets and sacred fig leaves (Ficus religiosa). In this burial, alongside the chariots, two copper decorative staffs, a decorated whip, gold and steatite beads, as well as numerous ceramic items were found.
The age of the findings was determined through radiocarbon dating of the coffins, chariots, and other objects, as well as organic remains found in the burial vessels. The results of the analysis were published in the international journal of cosmogenic isotope research, Radiocarbon.