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Excited by the preliminary results from the excavation by the Patna University, and to undertake the work on a large scale, the Vikramshila Excavation Project was launched by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the leadership of Shri B. S. Verma in 1971-72, and in the first year itself thirty trenches were laid out. In some of the trenches, laid out on the south and the south-western sectors, a 3m wide boundary-wall was traced out, which at certain places was found to be robbed of its bricks right up to its foundation. An ashy layer, found inside the cells, again confirmed that the building was destroyed by some conflagration. In the course of clearance of the main stupa it was observed that it had been built over the ruins of an earlier brick structure, remains of which were traceable in the north-western corner.
As excavations continued, in 1972-73, along with the most outstanding discovery being the magnificent Northern gate and inner pillared hall (mandapa) having a wide passage with double flights of stone staircase, the excavation showed a well-defined layout of the monastic cells, of which 52 were discovered. By 1973-74, fairly large area had been exposed completely, and in 1974-75, trenches were laid out on the northern mound, outside the monastery complex, along with others in the vicinity. Excavation in the northern mound exposed structures of three phases with the third phase represented by shoddy walls constructed of stone rubble and bricks, probably robbed from the main monastery.
A number of sculptures both of the Brahmanical and Buddhist deities were recovered from the excavation, which included Hindu deities like Mahishasuramardini, Chamunda, Uma-Maheshwara, and goddess Tara, Avalokitesvara, intricately-carved in black basalt, comparable to the one found at Somapura mahavihara and bronze image of Buddha. Another interesting find was a corner-stone carved with two lions having one common head. Excavation in the north-eastern corner of the monastery exposed the main drain of the monastery, built of stone slabs, and running below the flooring of the monastic cells, which after 6-10m took an angular turn to prevent the erosion of the corner and emerged outside the boundary wall.
To he continued.....