History of th Excavation Branch - III
The seeds of Excavation Branch III, Patna was sown in the year 1971 when Vikrashila Excavation Project was established with an objective to expose the remains buried in a vast area at Antichak in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, identified as Vikramshila Mahavihar, a premier teaching institution of early medieval India.
Initially the headquarter of this office was at Pain a but in view of convenience to carry-out the excavation work, its headquarter was shifted to Bhagalpur in November 1971. After successful completion of excavation work at Antichak, once again headquarter was shifted to Patna on 01.01.1978. In 1983 when major expansion took place in Archaeological Survey of India, Vikramshila Excavation Project had been given a status of Excavation Branch III; Since then this office has conducted several explorations and excavations in various states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Assam.
Excavated Sites
- Antichak, district-Bhagalpur, Bihar;
- Sravasti, district-Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh
- Kolhua, district-Muzaffarpur, Bihar
- Banarsiankalan, district-Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh
- Patna Dakbungalow, district-Patna, Bihar
- Surya Pahar, district -Goalpara, Assam
- Rajgir, Chandimau, Juaffardih, Begampur, Daman-khanda, Ghorakatora, Rukministhan all in district- Nalanda, Bihar
- Baror, district- Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan
- Bangarh, district-South Dinajpur, West Bengal
- Lathia & Sakradih, distriet-Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh
- Maner, district- Patna, Bihar
- Lauriya Areraj, district East Champaran, Bihar
- Papaur, district, Bihar
- Uren, Lakhisarai, Bihar.
