Archaeologists Gear Up to Uncover Mauryan Stupa at Vaishya Tekri, Ujjain

The Archaeological Survey of India has announced a new excavation at Vaishya Tekri, a hillock near Ujjain, to uncover the remains of a large stupa dating back to the Mauryan era. The dig follows the 2013 discovery of 42 diverse skeletons at the nearby Kumhar Tekri, which sparked interest in the region’s ancient burial customs. Using advanced ground‑penetrating radar and 3D imaging, the team plans to map the stupa’s structure before careful removal of layers. Researchers anticipate that DNA, isotopic and material analyses will reveal dietary habits, migration patterns and social stratification of the people buried there. The findings could fill gaps in the history of the Malwa region during the first centuries BCE and offer a clearer picture of Mauryan funerary architecture.