Saunkh, often spelled as Sonkh, is a town and a Nagar Panchayat in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India.[1]

Saunkh
Town
Saunkh
Saunkh is located in Uttar Pradesh
Saunkh
Saunkh
Saunkh is located in India
Saunkh
Saunkh
Coordinates: 27°23′42″N 77°29′38″E / 27.395°N 77.494°E / 27.395; 77.494
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictMathura
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
9,556
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Websitenpsonkh.in

Archaeology

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The site is well-known for archaeological excavations led by Herbert Härtel in 1969-70.[2] Numerous artefacts recovered from Sonkh are visible in the Mathura Museum.[3] Stratigraphical analysis at Sonkh and other sites has shown that the area of Mathura was almost undeveloped and Mathura was mostly a hamlet before the Mauyra era.[4]

Coins of the Mitra dynasty were found in Sonkh, corresponding to layers dated to about 150-50 BCE, at a time when the Indo-Greeks ruled over the region.[5] The earliest Mitra coins are those of Gomitra (150-50 BCE).[5]

 
Naga Court, Sonkh, Mathura, 100 CE

References

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  1. ^ "Saunkh". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  2. ^ Härtel, Herbert (1970). Excavations at Sonkh (Mathura District): 1969-70.
  3. ^ Sharma, Ramesh Chandra (1994). The Splendour of Mathurā Art and Museum. D.K. Printworld. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-246-0015-3.
  4. ^ Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura, ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. p. 1. ISBN 978-90-474-1930-3.
  5. ^ a b Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura, ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-90-474-1930-3.
  6. ^ Harle, James C. (1994). The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent. Yale University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-300-06217-5.