- In 1926, the discovery of archaeological riches in the valley of Nagarjunakonda (Nagarjuna’s Hill, named after the celebrated Buddhist philosopher) was reported by AR Saraswati, an assistant to the Archaeological Superintendent for Epigraphy, Archaeological Survey of India. Nagarjunakonda, located in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
- Excavations led by Albert Henry Longhurst from 1927 to 1931 yielded a number of Buddhist monasteries and other monuments besides numerous limestone sculptures. Later, apart from secular structures, the valley also constituted many Brahmanical temples situated around the citadel.
- Nagarjunakonda during the ancient period came to the limelight when Vasishthiputra Chamtamula, the founder of Ikshvaku dynasty snatched it from the Satavahana dynasty in 2nd quarter of 3rd c. C.E. The illustrated expanse of Ikshvaku was evident in the excavations that unearthed Vijayapuri on the right bank of the Krishna River. In the 1950s, the construction of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam threatened to submerge the site.
- This led to a major salvage operation, marking the first large-scale rescue archaeology project in India. Monuments and relics were meticulously excavated, documented, and relocated to an open-air museum on an island in the reservoir, preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of Nagarjunakonda.
- Note: Salvage archaeology often involves the transplantation of ancient monuments to a safer area. It ensures that cultural resources that are likely to be impacted by constructions are properly documented and excavated before they are destroyed.
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