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The Chalcolithic Phase in the Bhirna Basin, Maharashtra: a Review Sonali Naik and Sheila Mishra Department of Archaeology Deccan College Pune411 006 Abstract This paper reports the recent discovery in Pune District, of two Chalcolithic sites belonging to the Late Jorwe phase at Talegaon (Dhamdhere) on the Vel river and Sheriwadi on the Bhima river; and reviews the Chalcolithic phase in the Bhima basin based on visits made to the known sites as well as a review of published literature. Introduction Sashtewadi. Dhavalikar (1970) has suggested that the Jorwe culture originated as a synthesis of lhe Malwa and The upper part of the Bhima river basin largely coincides Southern Neolithic cultures. From Songaon and Inamgaon, with the boundaries of Pune District and it is this region to radiocarbon dates from the lowest occupations go back to which this review is confined. Several sites have been 3500 b.p. (uncalibrated) which is contemporary with the reported by Sundara (1968) in the lower reaches of the dates for the SavaldaJRamtirth levels at Apcgaon and Bhima, but these have not been examined here. This is one Daimabad (Possehl 1988). Therefore, the initial occupation of the best studied regions for the Chalcolithic phase in by agricultural communities dates to the same time period India. Eleven sites are known from this region of which in both the Godavari and Bhima basins. However, the first eight have been excavated (Fig. 1). The most important site two cultural phases of Savalda and Late Harappan present is Inamgaon where 12 seasons of excavation over the years in the Godavari valley are not present in thc Bhima valley. 1968-1983 pioneered Chalcolithic studies (Dhavalikar et The Malwa phase in the Bhima valley therefore is a/. 1988) and generated an ongoing debate about the nature equavalent in time to the Savalda, Late Harappan and of Chalcolithic adaptations (Dhavalikar 1973, 1984, 1989 a Malwa in the Godavari and probably includes more diverse and b, 1990 a and b, 1992; Dhavalikar and Possehl 1974; elements than have been so far recognized. While Shinde 1989; Paddayya 1994). Recently two Ph.D. theses Dhavalikar (1973) and Shinde (1990) discuss the clear have been completed interpreting the Inamgaon evidence differences between the central Indian Malwa and the anew (Panja 1996; Pawankar 1996). The site of Inamgaon, Deccan Malwa, the distinctions between the Deccan being the only large-scale, well published,site has domi- Malwa and Jorwe are less clearly defined. The Early Jorwe nated the debate. In this paper, we would like to take a phase is seen at most sites, while the Late Jorwe phase is regional approach and place the Inamgaon evidence in the only known in any detail from Inamgaon. It appears, context of the other known sites. To accomplish this we however, that this phase is also present at Songaon and have reviewed the published literature and revisited most Theur. Naik, has recently discovered two new Late Jorwe of the known sites. Limited exploration by the first author sites at Sheriwadi and Talegaon, which are reported here. A has also led to the discovery of two additional sites, Talegaon and Sheriwadi which are reported here. short description of each of the Chalcolithic sites is given in the Appendix. Shinde (1 994), elaborating and modifying the cultural sequence proposed by Sali (1986) for Daimabad, has The Malwa Phase in the Bhima Basin suggested that the Deccan Chalcolithic be divided into 5 The Malwa phase is known from Chandoli, Songaon, phases of which the first is Savalda, the second Late Sashtewadi (Table 1) and Inamgaon. The earliest dates Harappan, the third Malwa, the fourth Early Jorwe and the fifth Late Jorwe. In the Bhima basin, neither the Savalda from Songaon and Inamgaon are contemporary with the dates for the SavalddRamtirth phase in the Godavari nor Late Harappan phases are present. The Malwa phase is valley (Possehl 1988). This implies that agricultural reported from Chandoli, Songaon, Inamgaon and settlements might have begun at the same time in both the Man and Environment XXII (1)- 1997 Fig. 1: Location of Chalcolithic sites in Pune District: 1. Chandoli; 2. Inamgaon and Pimpalsuti; 3. Khed; 4. Walki; 5. Talegaon Dhamdhere; 6. Sheriwadi; 7. Koregaon; 8. Sashtewadi; 9. Theur and 10. Songaon regions. At Songaon, the earliest phase is characterized by Preceding the Malwa phase in the Godavari and Tapi Grey ware and a number of pits, both for dwellings and valleys, there are two phases of the Chalcolithic - the storage (Deo and Mujumdar 1969). At Sashtewadi the Savalda and the Late Harappan. In the adjoining Bhima Malwa phase has circular structures (ZAR 72-73: 35). At valley, the earliest dates from two sites (Inamgaon and Inamgaon the Malwa phase has a variety of structures, Songaon) are contemporary with the Savalda in the including round huts with sunken floors and rectangular Godavari, but no distinct pre-Malwa phase of the Chal- huts. The pottery associated with the Malwa phase is more colithic can be identified. It is possible that the pre-Malwa varied than that of the Jorwe phase (Sankalia et al. 1975). Chalcolithic phase is represented at the sites by less At Chandoli, Cream Slipped ware, Black and Red ware, intensive occupation, so that the two centuries preceding Burnished Black ware and Lustrous Red ware are reported the Malwa have not been separated from the main Malwa by Deo and Ansari (1965). phase. There is a suggestion from the evidence at Songaon (Deo and Mujumdar 1969) and Sashtewadi (IAR 72-73: 35- In our surface collections from Chandoli (Fig. 3 a and 36) that there is a phase similar to the Southern Neolithic b: Nos. 1,2,4-6and Fig. 4: Nos. 3 and 5) and Sashtewadi prior to the Malwa phase in the Bhima basin. Both the (Fig. 3 a and b: No. 3 and Fig. 4: Nos. 1 and 2), we also Chocolate Slipped ware with violet paintings and the noticed a Red ware with chocolate slip and violet painting. Burnished Red ware with black paintings are obviously A few sherds of Black and Red ware, like those from related to the Malwa and Jorwe tradition, and may belong Apegaon were collected from Sashtewadi (Fig. 3: No. 12) to this early phase. The Black and Red ware from and Khed (Fig. 3 a and b: Nos. 13 and 14). Some of the Chandoli, Sashtewadi and Khed has affinities with the Jorwe pottery has black painting on a burnished surface Black and Red ware from Apegaon, but is found in very (Fig. 4: Nos. 12-13) or is unpainted (Fig. 4: Nos. 10-11). small quantities at the sites in the Bhima basin. Chalcolithic Phase in the Bhima Basin Table 1 : Chalcolithic sites in Pune District Site name River Size of site Thickness of Phases Main reference habitational deposit Chandoli Ghod 1n, IV Deo and Ansari (1969) Khed Bhima III?, IV Panja (1995). This paper Koregaon Bhima IV Khatri (1962) Inamgaon I Ghod 11I V Dhavalikar et ul. 1988. Inamgaon I1 Ghod I11 Inamgaon 111 Ghod 111, IV, v Inamgaon IV Ghod - Inamgaon V Ghod I1 Pimpalsuti Ghod stone circles Megalithic Ansari and Dhavalikar (1976) Sashtewadi Mula 250 x 100 m 111, IV IAR 1972-73: 35-6. This paper Sheriwadi Bhima 5Ox50m V This paper Songaon Karha 111 I V Deo and Mujumdar (1969) Talegaon Vel V This paper Theur stone circles V MR 1969-70: 27-29 Walki Bhima V Dhavalikar et al. (1990) , The Earls Jorwe Phase in the Bhima Basin The Chalcolithic phase has been viewed up to now from the perspective of the historical period, when all sites The sites of Chandoli, Khed, Inamgaon, Sashtewadi, are 'mounds' or accumulations of habitational deposit as a Songaon and Walki were occupied during the Early Jorwe result of which the absence of habitational deposit is taken phase. This phase has the most abundant evidence for as the absence of humans. Considered from the prehistoric human settlements. At Inamgaon, where all three phases of perspective, however, Chalcolithic sites with habitational the Chalcolithic are present the Early Jorwe is the most prosperous of the three. Evidence for craft specialization is deposits are new and startling. Man had been living in the Bhima basin for several lakhs of years prior to the found during this phase at Inamgaon (Dhavalikar et al. Chalcolithic (Mishra et al. 1995). During this period his 1988; Shinde 1991), when settlements accumulating activities had not produced 'habitational deposits.' The habitational deposit become common. The major sites vary traces of human activity are confined to the stone artefacts in size from Songaon (80 x 50 m), to Sashtewadi (250 x incorporated into natural deposits. The sites with 100 m) and Inamgaon I (215 x 175 m) (Table 1). A major habitational deposit during the Chalcolithic still represent finding of this review was the fact that the sites of only a part of the human activities of that period while the Sashtewadi and Khed are almost as large as Inamgaon I (Table 1). Both these sites were excavated, but unfortu- older activities (hunting and gathering) continue for a nately unpublished. While Inamgaon is still the largest site, period along with the new component of domesticated if the combined area of the five mounds is taken, it is clear plants and animals. Occupation of a particular spot over that the entire area was never occupied simultaneously as months alone does not usually accumulate a habitational two of the mounds were occupied only during one phase of deposit. This can be seen by casual observation of the the Chalcolithic (Table 1). The sites of Chandoli, Songaon many tent settlements of modern nomads.

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