Uttar Pradesh: ASI excavates two decorated coffins with skeletons

Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 2 (ANI): The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Thursday excavated two decorated coffins with full legged skeletons from the Sanauli excavation site here.
Talking to ANI, Manjul Sharma, Director (ASI) said, "Sanauli is an important place from Archaeological perspective. It is about 80 km away from Delhi. The excavation found here is of international importance."
Sharma further said, "In 2005-06, Dr. DB Sharma with his team did excavation and recovered 116 burials. Last year, the ASI research wing and the Excavation branch, tried to find out what was the significance of excavation done in 2005-06. They found 8 burials last year."
He said, "This year we found two highly decorated coffins with copper plates and their lid had human prints with a crown. The two skeletons found inside the coffins were full legged."
"We also found three chariots, that must have been used during a war. The chariots found, have two wheels, its chassis, and its pole. There is a copper design decoration on the chariots," he added.
The ASI director, said, "We also found a helmet, shield, torch, and dagger. We also found pottery which had grains of rice and urad lentils."
He further said, "In last year's findings, we got burials in which full skeleton was recovered as well as half skeletons were recovered. In this year's excavation, which started in January, the two coffins discovered also had a copper mirror, a hairpin, a small pot and a vanity box in a decomposed state."
Besides this, we also discovered an underground sacred chamber which must have been used to perform rituals before burying the dead. It helps us understand the process of burying the dead," he added.
"We also found evidence of a habitation site. The scientific dates of the material excavated are believed to be between 1900 to 2100 BCE," he added. (ANI)