Excavations at Rajpat (1998-2000): The Ancient Capital of the Kåmatåpur Kingdom in Northeast India S.B. Ota INTRODUCTION Cultural contact between India and Southeast Asia during historical times through sea routes has been understood to a great extent, whereas cultural con- tact with Central Asia and Southeast Asia through land routes and cultural movement in northeast India have not yet been properly understood. Keep- ing this in mind it was imperative to tap a site which is strategically located and a major settle- ment in the area that could throw light in under- standing these issues. The site presently called Rajpat is located very strategically by connecting the northeast with the rest of the Indian subcontinent. In fact it serves as a corridor for the northeast. To its east is the site of Ambari identified as ancient Pragjyotishpur, to the west are the settlements of Rajgir, Nalanda etc. in Bihar, to the south the settlement of Paharpur in Bangladesh, and to the north are the passes through the Himalayas that connect Central Asia. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The present name Rajpat for the mound is possibly derived from the word Råjapråsåda that denotes a palace complex meant for the royal family. The site Rajpat forms the central citadel of the fortified ca- pital of ancient Kåmatåpur. Kåmatåpur is supposed to have been the capital of the Kåmatå kingdom that was covering a large territory comprising ancient Kåmar÷pa and Va¼ga. The remains of ancient Kåmatåpur can still be seen in the form of a large fortified city with de- fence system and settlement planning. Dr. F. Buchanan Hamilton who was the first to survey the area from an archaeological angle be- lieved that this site of gigantic nature was once the capital of a country called Komotapoor, i.e. Kåma- tåpur, as identified by him. Dr. Hamilton describes the ancient city as follows: “Komotapoor was situ- ated on the west bank of the Dhorla, which formed the defence of one side. The river has now shifted its course farther east, but the old channel, which now occupies the east side of the old city, shows, that formerly it was of great magnitude. The town was intersected by a small river, the Singgimari, which has destroyed a considerable portion of the works ...” (MARTIN 1838: 426). This area of Koch Bihar formed a part of the ancient Kåmar÷pa kingdom as mentioned in the an- cient literature such as the Purå½as and the Tantra- ¸åstras (KHAN CHOWDHURI 1936). In fact, from various other accounts it is proved that this area played a major role in polito-socio-economic life between the Kåmar÷pa kingdom and the surround- ing area. It is generally believed that this area came into prominence when an independent kingdom named Kåmatå emerged comprising the western part of Kåmar÷pa under the Khen rulers, the fore- runners of the Koch kings in the 14th-15th century AD, and later on the Koch kingdom had its be- ginning from this place. Between the 13th and 15th century this area witnessed several powerful rulers and repeated invasions by the Muhammedan rulers. The last king of the Khen dynasty was Nïlåmbara (1460-1498 AD), also known as Kånte¸var (Kåma- te¸var), a historical figure whose kingdom and fort (Kåmatåpur) was conquered by Alauddin Hossain Shah in 1498 AD (MAJUMDAR 1977: 209). Subse- quently, taking advantage of the situation and weakness of the Kåmar÷pa kings, king Vi¸vasiºha of the Koch dynasty established again an indepen- dent kingdom between 1510-1530 AD. The generic relationship between the Khen and Koch rulers is not definitely known. But the fact that the Khen rulers and the early Koch rulers assumed the title of ‘Kåmate¸var’ conclusively proves that Kåmatåpur was the centre of power for both dynasties. PREVIOUS OBSERVATIONS The earliest account on Rajpat that is available to us today is by Dr. F. Buchanan Hamilton (MARTIN