The builders kept the length of second phase cell as it was in the first phase .i.e.,3.28 m, but slightly changed the breadth from 2.74 to 2.59 m. Here it is noticeable that the breadth of this phase cell could be determined in very small portions of the northern wing and south-east corner of the monastery where the regular face of back wall of this phase was evident. Regular inner face of the major portion of the back wall could not be traced due to damage caused by the brick-hunters. Thickness of the partition wall of the cell of this phase remained unchanged i.e.,1.85 m.
In the second phase cells we observed four brick paved floors succeeding layers (1),(2),(3) and (4), respectively. But at the levels of these floors, the walls of the cells were found entirely missing. Since the walls had been removed and the cell areas had been lift as isolated heaps of earth looking like stupas no doorway of the cell could be found. Each of the floors was about 40 cm thick. The brick paved floor exposed below layer (4) was well preserved. This was the first floor of the second phase building and was built over the deep filling of carried earth.
The verandah measuring 1.9 m wide with its 1.5 m thick retaining wall had been exposed in the middle of southern wing and in the south-east corner of the monastery. It is already mentioned that only four brick paved floors associated with layers (1),(2),(3) and (4) were encountered in the middle of the southern wing but seven floors (related to layers 1 to 7) were found in the south-east corner. In the former case the earliest floor was built over the deep filling of sandy soil as noticed in the cell areas. The floors in the latter area were made of brick-bust. But two brick-dust floors associated with layers (3) and (6) were supported by brick soling also.
In front of the middle of the southern wing a projection was accommodated. It consisted of two small room and a staircase. The staircase was 1.93 wide. The arms were 1.37 m side. Each of the two small rooms internally 1.8m E-W and 2.5 m N-S. Function of these two rooms is still uncertain. It is yet to be examined whether this projected staircase along with these rooms were also used in the first phase of the monastery.
Central
The excavation in the middle of the courtyard revealed the layout of a cruciforn shrine similar to the central shrine of the first period of Salban Vihara (Khan 1963, Alam A.K.M.S.1982:38) but larger in size. The outer face of the entire southern arm of the temple, a certain portion of its eastern arm and considerable portion of the western arm were unearthed. The southern arm was 56.00 m long and perhaps each arm of this temple was of the some length. Two projections, one in the middle of the southern arm and the other in the middle of the western arm. Were uncovered. Five terracotta plaques were found in situ on the outer face of the basement wall of the western projection The plaques depict a maned lion face, two warriors and two horse-riders2.Three courses of ornamental bricks survived. The exposed projected part of the western arm externally measured 7.92 x 3.35 m. A large broken image of Bohdisattva Avlokitesvara made of Dupitila Formation (Bakr:1976), locally known as soft stone, was recovered from the area of the western projection. The upper part of the wall had been removed by the brick-hunters and its foundation was traced at the depth of 1.22 m from its surviving top. As many as five brick-dust floors were encountered in the southern area of the temple. The floors were associated with layers (1), (2),(3),(4) and (5) respectively. The lowest floor (related to layer 5) was traced 30 cm below the foundation of the temple wall. It indicated that this floor was not associated with the exposed remains of the temple, rather it was associated with the earlier structure. Further investigation needs to ascertain it. It is most likely that like the monastery area this temple too might have two phase of building activity. If so, it can be inferred that the exposed portion of the temple belongs to the second phase and the lowest floor was associated with the first phases of the temple whose structural remains yet to be exposed. A 2.74 m wide brick paved floor had been unearthed around the temple to its southern, eastern and western sides about 3 m below the frieze of terracotta plaques mentioned above. The floor probably formed part of the circumambulatory passage of the temple. Since the excavation was restricted to a limited area the entire layout of the temple and its other feature could not be exposed.
Courtyard
Few trenches were sunk in the courtyard area between the southern wing and the central shrine on order to trace the probable existence of ant pathway in this area. Since the excavation was restricted to upper level it did not reveal any positive result. Except a few irregular fallen brick debrise no regular structural remains could be found
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphic record in extensive site like Ananda Vihara was not uniform throughout the area. The monastic cells and the central shrine showed some differences in the formation of cultural debrise particularly in the upper level. Since the site had been disturbed several times its stratigraphic sequence at the upper level has also been disturbed badly. Apart from these, unless the natural soil of the site is traced at several points it is difficult to establish the stratigraphic sequence of all the exposed part of the site satisfactorily and make a correlation amongst them.
However, deep digging in a restricted area at the central shrine revealed six strata and five occupation levels. Of these the lowest level (5th level) seemed to be related to the first phase of building activity while the upper four levels to the second phase. Digging in the monastic arms had revealed clearly the strata of two building Phase. In the first phase. Occupation levels (floors) had been unveiled in the verandah only. No floor was found in the cell due to very restricted area of excavation as already stated. In the second phase, occupation level had been cleared in the verandah as well as in the cell. The antiquities recovered were mostly from the upper layers particularly from the shrine area. Description of the strata exposed in the deep trench of the shrine area is given below.
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Layer (1) was characterized by 30 cm thick loose grey soil associated with brick-bats. A 5 cm thick brick-dust floor was unearthed below this layer.
Layer (2) was represented by 20 cm thick loose grey soil mixed with large quantities of fallen bricks. It was succeeded by a 5 cm thick brick-dust floor. Most of the antiquities including terracotta plaques and ornamental bricks were recovered from this layer.
Layer (3) consisted of 45 cm thick brown soil mixed with a large number of fallen bricks. A well preserved brick-dust floor ( 15 cm thick) was exposed below this layer. This layer yielded a number of objects like stone image, terracotta plaques and ornamental bricks.
Layer (4) consisted of 40 cm thick sandy soil with rare brick-bats. A thin (3 cm thick) floor built with brick-dust was unveiled below this layer.
Layer (5) also was characterized by sandy soil and measured 64 cm thick. Below this layer a thin (3 cm thick) brick-dust floor was noticed.
Layer (6) consisted of sandy soil. It was exposed down to 45 cm from its top. At this level digging was suspended.
Antiquities
More than five hundred antiquities of various types were salvaged in the operation including one large stone ( local soft stone) image of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, one inscribed ornamental brick, two bronze image, about two dozen of terracotta sealings, about half a dozen of clay and baked clay votive stupas, forty terracotta plaques, a fairly large number of ornamental bricks, fragments of bronze images, pedestals and bronze vessels, a beautiful bronze saucer, a few semi-precious stone beads, a number of terracotta beads, balls, disca and toys, a large number of iron nails, some complete and semi-complete earthen pots, oil lamps, stands, sprinkler’s tops and numerous potsherds.
