A Geospatial Study of Archaeological Remains at Halebidu: An Integrative Approach to Identify Unexplored Features

Abstract

The site Halebidu in Karnataka, India, is famous for its ornately carved Hoysala style temples. This fortified city was the capital of Hoysala dynasty in the twelfth century AD and possessed unique and exquisite examples of temple architecture that was typical of Hoysala style, only a few of which have survived. The site of Halebidu features as one of the two sites in the "Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala" in the tentative list of WHC (World Heritage Convention) since 2014 [ https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5898/ (accessed on 1 January 2020).]. The other site being Belur, which was the old capital of the dynasty. The next and most important step towards attaining WH (World Heritage) status is for the State party [States Parties are countries which have adhered to the World Heritage Convention: https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ (accessed 24 Oct 2020)] to prepare a nomination file. INTACH, Bengaluru, has recently prepared the nomination dossier for the "Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala" and has submitted to Archaeological Survey of India in Sept 2020. [ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/somanathapura-temple-included-for-world-heritage-site-nomination/article32709882.ece (accessed 24 Oct 2020).]. The description of the salient feature of Halebidu available on UNESCO’s WH web page lists several temples, tanks and mantap (pavilion). In addition to the ornate temples and tanks, the city was surrounded by a fort wall whose perimeter is approx. 7.3 km enclosing an area of 2.9 sq. km. surrounded by a deep and wide moat. The moat connected a series of tanks which indicates the planning of water management of the settlement. On ground, parts of the fort wall can still be seen. In accordance with the WHC criteria for geospatially identifying core and buffer zones, the property should include: (1) areas which are a direct tangible expression of the Outstanding Universal Value and (2) areas which in the light of future research possibilities offer potential to contribute to and enhance such understanding. Therefore, it is important for the nomination dossier to recognise the context of the temples in the larger landscape. Towards this agenda the present study has conducted geospatial analysis using old survey maps and remote sensing imagery and has found the extent of fort wall and demarcated several other archaeological features (unprotected and unexcavated mounds, archaeological islands in the largest tank, old settlement, and buried temples) that are worth including in the area identified for protection. The findings of this study can help the State Party in delineating the core and buffer zones in a rational and appropriate manner; hence, these have been conveyed to INTACH, Bengaluru, who prepared the nomination dossier for WH inscription.