2. Archaeological Findings and Mapping

In Pitalkhora we actually notice a very thick layer of Tacheletic Basalt at the lower proximity of the hill, which have restricted the scope of excavation as per projected plans because you know this is about this Basalt which actually sometimes it becomes a very soft material when keeps making an excavation it breaks into the pieces you know, that is how there is a chance that we will be losing some evidence.

The Pitalkhora region has a thick layer of Tacheletic Basalt, a specific type of volcanic rock, at its base. This basalt layer can become soft during excavation, leading to the risk of losing valuable archaeological evidence because the rock shatters into pieces if improperly excavated. Understanding this geological characteristic is vital for planning excavation work.

Think of it like trying to dig in wet sand. If you don't carefully excavate, the sand can collapse and bury what you're trying to uncover. Similarly, the way the basalt reacts during excavation requires careful techniques to preserve the historical items hidden within.

Like now what you see here is a kind of lava where we talk about the ‘Aa’ which is the basaltic lava which is characterized by a rough or a rubbly surface and these lava blocks also we actually extract the clinker from this kind of rough and rubbly surface lava is called ‘Aa’. This is a very smooth surface which is unbroken lava is also a basaltic lava that has a very smooth, billowy, undulating or a ropy surface and this is called a Pahoehoe.

There are two main types of basaltic lava identified: ‘Aa’ and ‘Pahoehoe’. ‘Aa’ lava has a rough and jagged surface, while ‘Pahoehoe’ has a smooth surface, akin to a rope. These differences are crucial in understanding volcanic activity and how it shapes the landscape, influencing both the formation of caves and the archaeological findings within them.

If you think of lava like frosting on a cake, ‘Aa’ is like the thick, chunky frosting that doesn't spread well, while ‘Pahoehoe’ is like a smooth, glossy frosting that spreads effortlessly. The texture of the lava shows how the environment and conditions at the time of flow were different.

When these kind of molten lava gets cooled up that is where it develops the structural forms whether structural joints are developed and some hollow spaces are also developed and this is where the hollow spaces become eventually man have made his shelters.

As molten lava cools, it can form structural features such as joints and hollow spaces. These characteristics are significant because they provide potential shelter spaces that ancient peoples could have utilized for living or as refuge, demonstrating the interaction between geological processes and human history.

Imagine a drying sponge that creates holes as it solidifies. Just like early humans used the holes in a sponge for various purposes, they used natural cavities formed in cooled lava as shelter.

Now, what they did was the archaeologists team they have actually mapped down, they have actually documented the whole set of caves including the analysis of the cracks this is where they talk about a geological mapping of the ceiling of the caves and this is one of the Chaitya where they have documented where are the cracks coming into it, what are the categories, they have classified the categories of the risk.

Archaeologists performed detailed mapping of the cave systems, recording the locations and types of cracks in the ceilings. They categorized these cracks based on their stability, creating a risk profile which helps in assessing structural integrity and planning preservation efforts effectively.

It's similar to an engineer reviewing a bridge for safety. If the engineer sees cracks, they must assess whether it's safe, what repairs are needed, and how to prevent further damage. The cave mapping serves a similar purpose in preserving ancient structures.

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