In the Kanwari archaeological mound,
Painted Gray Ware (PGW) and later historic artifacts were found. The PGW Culture corresponds to the middle and late
Vedic period, i.e., the
Kuru-
Panchala kingdom, the first large state in the Indian subcontinent after the decline of the
Indus Valley Civilisation.
Archaeological Survey of India's explorations, as reported in the
"Indian Archaeological Review 1978-79" (page 8), found
early historical and late medieval artifacts at Kanwari. Late medieval artifacts included 9th and 10th century temple [of
Kaumari in
Nagara architecture from the times of
Tomara dynasty rule who were vassals of
Pratiharas until 10th century]. The earliest extant historical reference to the Tomaras rule in Haryana occurs in the
Pehowa inscription issued during the reign of the
Pratihara king
Mahendrapala I (r. c. 885-910 CE). Inscription states that Jaula of the Tomara family became prosperous by serving an unnamed king; and his descendants were Vajrata, Jajjuka and Gogga; Gogga was a vassal of Mahendrapala I; Gogga and his step-brothers Purna-raja and Deva-raja constructed three
Vishnu temples at
Prithudaka (Pehowa) on the banks of the
Sarasvati River (
Ghaggar River).
F. Kielhorn suggested that this Tomara family actually resided in Delhi: they may have visited Pehowa on pilgrimage, and built a temple there. In 2022, while ploughing his sandy field with the tractor, on Kanwari-
Badya Jattan Road on the western side of Kanwari, a farmer found a 70-80 kg heavy 2ft x 2 ft buff sandstone ancient statue of
Vishnu accompanied by depiction of 14 other
Hindu deities around it, including
Shiva and
Ganesha, in the same style as 9th-13th century
Khajuraho Group of Monuments. Slim and small ancient bricks were also found. An in-situ temple has been built. In 1986 also a buried ancient statue was accidentally discovered in the village and in-situ Chuganwali Mata temple was built for it too on the west of village. A well preserved ancient buff sandstone panel showing
Revanta, youngest son of the sun-god
Surya and his wife
Saranyu, is now fixed in the wall of the Brāhmaņa dharmaśālā in the middle of the village of Kanwari. The medieval temple of
dhok of village ancestor deity at Kanwari explored by
ASI in 1978-79 is called the
Bua Kanwari Dham , where newlyweds go for blessings before entering the village.
Dhok is also called Bhaiyan and Jathera. Dhok (
Haryanvi: धोक
worship) comes from the word दहक, which means
the sacred fire.
Bhaiyan (
Haryanvi: भईयाँ) from भूमिया means
from the earth.
Jathera means
the elder or ancestor. A modern temple has been built on top of the earlier temple and medieval sculptures have been preserved in the temple complex. People of several nearby village, including Kanwari,
Sultanpur,
Muzadpur,
Nalwa,
Umra,
Ratera, and few other villages also consider Bua Kanwari as their
kuldevi, ie. ancestral tutelary deity. The village was established by the
Garhwal Kingdom ancestors with likely connections with
tomar kingdom of Garhwal Kingdom. The foundation temple put by Garhwal kingdom was name
Dada kheda is of
Garhwal Gotra. Kanwari also has an old
Baba Shri Giri Shiva temple with a
monastic akhara for the
sadhus (Hindu mystics). A Gurjara‐Pratihara period 13x10x8.5 cm buff-colored statute of standing
Jina in
kayotsarga yoga pose in a pillared niche, with
makaramukha on its right side, was found. This is a fragment of a big sculpture, which was likely destroyed by islamic invaders. After
Independence of India in 1947, Kanwari became part of
Punjab. Once
Haryana was formed as a separate state in 1966, Kanwari became part of the
Hisar district. ==Demographics==