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As excavations continued in 1963-64, they again confirmed that the whole complex had been destroyed by fire. Overlying the debris was noticed a new building activity in which the original door was blocked by a brick wall and a new entrance, approached by brick staircase, was provided. This may have been the work of some devout who wanted to continue worship by some sort of building activity over the destroyed remains, but who had no resources for major repairs nor possibly had the circumstances in the favour, as the site was subsequently abandoned. Four terracotta sealings were recovered from a pit resting over the wall of Terrace, of which three read ‘Sri-Vataparata’ (probably hill of Bateshwarsthan), the fourth remaining undeciphered. Terracotta plaques representing various scenes such as Buddha in meditation, lady in toilet, riders, etc. were found fixed on the walls of terrace which also interestingly included the figure of a half-male and half-female, possibly representing Ardhanarisvara. In 1965-66, several other antiquities were found during the clearance-work of the north-western quadrant of the site, including a drain. The inner as well as outer walls of Terrace showed terracotta plaques representing various scenes such as Buddha in bhumi-sparsa-mudra, dharmachakra-pravartana-mudra, Dhyani-Buddhas, deities like Padmapani and warriors and ladies in various postures.
In 1966-67, the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Bihar, exposed the wall running along upper pradakshina-patha along with brick pillars and various terracotta plaques of the Buddha, Buddhist deities, animal figurines and an inscribed terracotta seal. In the same year, excavation at Oriup, about 2 km south-west of the Antichak stupa-site, excavation revealed four cultural periods of which the oldest marked by black-and-red ware, and next by the occurrence of the NBP ware and its associated fabrics, pointed towards the further antiquity of the site as earlier than 500 B.C. and contemporaneous with Champa. In 1968-69, the most significant discovery was a stone votive stupa, with an inscription on each of sides in 29 lines, bearing an account of Sahura, a local ruler who installed a Kirti (possible image or structure) after emerging victorious over the warrior Sondamna, sent with a large fleet by the King of Bengal. This was recovered from the debris overlying the floor of the lower pradakshina-patha in the south-eastern quadrant.
To be continued.....