Jajmau ka tila is an ancient settlement in Jajmau, Kanpur dating back to 1300 BC
Jajmau ka tila is a huge mound situated on the banks of the Ganga (Ganges) river in a suburb of Kanpur. The site was discovered in 1956 during the construction of a bridge across the Ganges. Copper artifacts and Painted Grey Ware pot sherds were found on the surface at the site which had been used as a garbage tip and was occupied by squatters. Excavations were undertaken initially in two phases in 1956-58 and 1973-78. The latter turned up a clay seal inscribed in Brahmi.
2006 saw further excavations during the widening of the Ganges Bridge highway and finds from this excavation included Black and Red Ware pottery, a hoard of 700 silver punch-marked coins bearing images of the sun, crescents and trees on them. Also found were terracotta ware and both mud and baked bricks from the Mauryan and pre-Mauryan period. Charcoal finds have been radio carbon dated to 1300 – 1200 BC.
Some ruins have been left undisturbed to illustrate construction and layout. Interestingly, gaps between the houses would imply a drainage system whilst there is evidence of a water supply system too.
Artifacts recovered from the site are housed in Kanpur’s Sangrahalaya Museum.
Within a few metres of the site are the ruins of a Kushan Period settlement dated to 100 BC – 300 AD which was discovered in 2009.
