The Sculptures of Ambari in Assam–A Discussion on Their Stylistic Features and Assessing Their Local Idioms

The region of Guwahati that has been identified with the ancient city of Pragjyotishapura has a rich cultural heritage primarily in the form of material remains. The city, being adorned with a large number of temples provides testimony of the role of patronage in facilitating the establishment of these religious establishments. The temples are adorned with sculptures that throw valuable light on the nature of prevalent religious beliefs. In analysing the significance of the material culture towards understanding the history of the region, mostly it is associated with accidental discoveries. The Ambari archaeological site, located in the heart of Guwahati provides rich evidence of finds in the form of terracotta objects, pottery and sculptures. The significance of the site was the outcome an accidental discovery while the construction of the building of the Reserve bank of India was being undertaken. This paper is an attempt to highlight the sculptures recovered from the Ambari archaeological site, followed by a discussion on the style and iconographic aspects of the sculptures as well as tracing their local characteristics.