The well discovered beneath the debris of the demolished mosque on the Saharanpur Collectorate premises is estimated to be 200 to 250 years old, according to a preliminary assessment by Uttar Pradesh state archaeology department officials who inspected the structure and descended into it for a closer examination.
The nearly 20-foot-deep and three-foot-wide well was discovered on Sunday (September 6) during debris removal at the site. A team of archaeologists from Lucknow inspected it on Monday to examine its construction, bricks and other features and assess its possible age and historical significance.
The preliminary assessment is based largely on the Lakhori bricks and lime-surki used in its construction, as well as the manner in which the structure was built, he added. He examined the exposed external structure before descending into the well with the help of a ladder. Further examination needed
Yadav said the bricks measured approximately 20 cm in length, 10 cm in width and 5 cm in height. The archaeology official spent around 15 minutes inside the structure, examining its internal construction and the bricks before coming out.
Manoj Kumar Yadav, assistant archaeological officer, said the structure appeared at first sight to be an old well and that its construction characteristics suggested it could date back roughly two to two-and-a-half centuries.
‘1909’ marking on brick under scrutiny The discovery has also drawn attention to a brick allegedly recovered during the debris removal operation. For now, the assessment that the well could be 200 to 250 years old remains preliminary. Yadav, however, cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions about the well’s history based solely on the preliminary inspection. The structure remains partly filled with debris, limiting the extent of the examination. He also noted that Saharanpur has a long history of human settlement, with structures from different historical periods found across the region. The discovery has triggered speculation about whether the well could be linked to the Shahjahan period or whether it was associated with a temple or another religious structure at some point in the past. Officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), who also inspected the site, however, did not endorse any such theory and stressed that archaeological evidence would be necessary before establishing any historical association. It is not yet clear whether the marking represents a manufacturing year, a construction-related reference or has any other significance. Officials have not established a connection between the marked brick and the age of the well.
Further archaeological investigation would be required to establish its precise age, construction history and original purpose, he said. However, officials said any further excavation or archaeological work would depend on a decision by the district administration. Yadav said the structure appeared, at first sight, to have features associated with the medieval period in the North and Central Ganga Valley. A claim circulating on social media says the brick bears the marking “1909”. Its exact historical context is likely to depend on further examination of the structure and any material that may be recovered from within it, Yadav said.
