After a long wait, the District Archaeology Museum of the Department of Archaeology and Museums at Visakha Museum building on Beach Road has been thrown open to the public during the International Fleet Review.
Hectic work was taken up in the days prior to the IFR getting it ready for the big event. Some of the foreign visitors to the maritime block also visited the newly opened archaeological museum.
The museum comprises three galleries. One is a huge display with dioramas of pre-historic life. They depict the manner in which pre-historic people lived. Their making of stone-tools, hunting, cave dwellings, pottery making, burying the dead have been depicted. Besides, stone tools of lower, middle and upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic ages brought from Prakasam and Kadapa districts are on display.
The next gallery contains pottery from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. Besides limestone plaques from Addanki in Prakasam district, they comprise Stucco figurines unearthed from Buddhist sites Bavikonda and Thotlakonda, close to Visakhapatnam.
Coins
The gallery also has gold, silver, lead and copper coins belonging to Satavahanas, Romans, the Ikshwakus, the Eastern Chalukyas, Kakatiyas and Mughals and Vijayanagara periods.
The stone sculpture gallery has a number of impressive pieces of various gods and goddesses and The Buddha from 1st century AD to 16th century AD brought from Warangal, Kurnool, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
Bronze and panchaloha idols from 14th century to 19th century, arms, the Nizam’s dress and miniature paintings also form part of the third gallery, according to K S B Kesava, Deputy Director (museums).
A total of Rs.48 lakh from the 13th Finance Commission and State budget was spent on getting the museum ready with showcases, lighting etc.
The museum will also bring out a brochure detailing the artefacts, says Mr. Kesava.
