The Chalcolithic Phase in the Bhirna Basin, : a Review

Sonali Naik and Sheila Mishra Department of Archaeology Deccan College Pune411 006

Abstract This paper reports the recent discovery in District, of two Chalcolithic sites belonging to the Late phase at Talegaon (Dhamdhere) on the Vel river and Sheriwadi on the ; 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 originated as a synthesis of lhe Malwa and The upper part of the Bhima river basin largely coincides Southern Neolithic cultures. From Songaon and , with the boundaries of 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 . 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 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. It is only when and Walki are all about the same size and smaller than mud is used as a building material that real accumulation InamgaodKhedJSashtewadi. It has been suggested that of a habitational deposit becomes at all common. Perhaps Walki is a satellite settlement of Inamgaon (Dhavalikar et smearing of animal dung on the mud floors and walls is al. 1990), but neither Chandoli nor Songaon are near any also a factor to be considered. During the Chalcolithic larger Chalcolithic site and so cannot be considered these deposits accumulate for the first time ever in the 'satellites.' region. We know from the studies of the botanical and faunal material from these sites that subsistence during the Man and Environment XXII (I)- 1997

Fig. 2: Location map of some Chalcolithic sites in Pune District

Chalcolithic depended on both domesticated and as well as Bhima basin, such sites represent only the more wild species of plants and animals (Dhavalikar et al. 1988). archaeologically visible components of the Chalcolithic. The known sites are all quite far apart from each other. Rather than considering the peak phase of the Jorwe as the This shows that during the Chalcolithic, especially in the norm and the archaeologically less visible phases of Malwa Chalcolithic Phase in the Bhima Basin

a b Fig. 3: Chocolate Slipped and Black and Red ware: I and 3 Chocolate slipped ware from Sashtewadi; 2, 4 and 5 Chocolate slipped ware from Chandoli; 6 Thick ware with burnished red slip on the interior and burnished black slip on the exterior from Chandoli; 7 Burnished black ware from Chandoli; 8 Jorwe like sherd with black slip on the interior from Khed; 9 Jorwe with painting on both surfaces from Khed; 10 Thick maroon slipped ware with red interior from Chandoli; 11 Thin maroon slipped ware with burnished red interior slip from Chandoli; 12 Black and Red ware from Sashtewadi; 13 and 14 Black and Red ware from Khed

and Late Jorwe as anomalous, it is the Jorwe which appears as Grey/Red ware similar to the Grey ware of the Southern the special period. It is only during this phase, which has a Neolithic is also conspicuous. The Black and Red ware in duration of a few centuries, that permanent sedentary settlements the collections from Talegaon and Sheri wadi are mostly become at all common. It is during this phase that there is the deep bowls. From Talegaon a single sherd comes from a most uniformity of the pottery styles throughout western small Iota (Fig. 6 No. 14) and has incised line decoration Maharashtra. It is likely that even during this phase there is a on the upper portion. This sherd has part of the 'comb' component of the Jorwe that we are not 'seeing.' graffiti. Almost every bowl has graffiti marks on the inside. The shapes of the Jorwe ware are mainly large jars with high necks and narrow mouths. The carinated/concave bowls so The Late Jorwe Phase in the Bhima Basin common in the Early Jorwe are completely absent. Although The most important finding reported here is the discovery this ware is coarse compared to the Early Jorwe ware it still of two new Late Jorwe sites (see Appendix). The pottery produces a ringing sound when struck. There are two shades assemblages from both Sheri wadi and Talegaon are very of slip. Some sherds have a pale pink slip, while in others it similar. They are characterized by the presence of Black and is light orange. The paintil}gs over both appear as violet Red ware similar to that of the Megalithic Black and Red ware rather than black. The lines in the paintings are mostly thick (Wheeler 1948) along with a coarse variety of Jorwe ware and and couJd have been applied a Red Slipped ware. The absence of the with the fingers. Some narrower strokes are present in some of the paintings, but the very fine brush strokes so I 49 Man and Environment XXII (1) -1997

Fig. 4: Chocolate Slipped ware and Burnished Red ware: 1,2 and 4 Fig. 5: Khed: Pottery Chocolate slipped ware from Sashtewadi; 3 and 5-9 Chocolate slipped ware from Chandoli; 10 and 11 Burnished red slipped ware from Sashtewadi; 12 and 13 Burnished red slipped ware from many graffiti marks on the pots from Songaon (Deo and Khed with black paintings Mujumdar 1969). At Theur, Black and Red ware with graffiti marks have been illustrated and these are associated with Jorwe ware. The Jorwe ware of both the fine and coarse varieties is present. The Grey/Red ware is present, but not in common on the Early Jorwe sherds are absent. The third large quantities while the Red Slipped ware is type is a Red Slipped ware. This is similar to that described not mentioned (fAR 69-70: 27-29). At Inamgaon, the Late by Dhavalikar (1973) as associated with the Late Jorwe at Jorwe phase is associated with Grey/Red ware. Dhavalikar Inamgaon. This ware has a temper of sand and makes a (1973) implies that the introduction of Black and Red ware wooden sound when struck. All the pots from Sheriwadi and precedes the appearance of the Red Slipped ware. The Jorwe Talegaon in this ware are medium sized wide mouthed ware includes the bowls, and the small and medium sized globular pots. The interior of the pot is unslipped. The rim jars seen in the Early Jorwe. Based on this evidence it would and shoulder portion has a thick red burnished slip. The appear that the Late Jorwe at Inamgaon belongs to an earlier surface of this slip often shows pitting or fine cracks phase of the Late Jorwe than that seen at Songaon, producing a 'blotchy' surface. One sherd of this ware from Talegaon, Sheri wadi. At Theur several phases of Late Jorwe Sheri wadi has a graffiti mark on the exterior (Fig. 7 No. are present. The disappearance of the Grey/Red ware and 17). Groups of grooves around the shoulder are also present some typical Jorwe shapes in the later phase of the Late as a decoration on some sherds, while other sherds from the Jorwe is surely significant. The presence of a large number base of the pot show soot marks suggesting that these were of graffiti marks also distinguishes the later phase of Late cooking pots. Jorwe from the earlier phase of Late Jorwe. In that case The assemblage from Period ill at Songaon is quite Songaon might be earlier than Sheriwadiffalegaon/ Theur. similar to that from Sheriwadi and Talegaon. Black and Red The site of Pimpalsuti has been interpreted by Ansari and ware bowls, the Red Slipped ware and a coarse Jorwe ware Dhavalikar (1976) as a Megalithic burjal site. The Black and are the main fabrics from this phase. Grey/Red ware is not Red ware here is not associated with any Jorwe mentioned. It does not, however, seem that there are

50 Chalco lithic Phase in the Bhima Basin

a b Fig. 6: Pottery from Talegaon: .7 Jorwe sherds; 8-15 Black and Red ware; 16-18 Red Slipped War(

component, although the coarse Red ware illustrated might and this is inspite of the clear evidence of fairly significant be a development from the coarse Jorwe ware. The presence changes in subsistence and settlement and perhaps technol- of an iron arrowhead at Pimpalsuti also implies that here one ogy as well. is in the post-Chalcolithic phase. We have however, suggested that the stone circles at Pimpalsuti (Appendix) The Late Jorwe Phase: Changing Subsistence and might have enclose.d habitations rather than burials, based Settlement on the finding of enhanced phosphate levels from the stone There are many indications of a change in the subsistence circles (Joshi and Deotarel983: 51). and settlement pattern during the Late Jorwe Phase at The 'gap' between the Late Jorwe and the Early Inamgaon. These include a change in house patterns from Historical period therefore is almost bridged by the late rectangular to round, an increased component of wild plants phase of the Late Jorwe at Inamgaon and the Megalithic at in the palaeobotanical sample and indications of more Pimpalsuti. The presence of iron at Pimpalsuti shows that it animal products in the diet from the chemistry of the human might not be very far in time from the Early Historical bones (Dhavalikar et at. 1988). Pawankar (1996) recently period. A continuous evolution of the pottery traditions is re-analyzed the faunal material from Inamgaon and has seen. In the beginning, the Grey ware of the Southern found that many of the bones previously identified as Neolithic tradition is associated, first with Malwa, and then sheep/goat actually belong to the black buck. This means with the Early Jorwe pottery. The Jorwe pottery is in turn that during the Late Jorwe phase at Inamgaon the faunal associated with the Megalithic type of Black and Red assemblage changes from one dominated by domestic cattle pottery, with the gradual disappearance of the Neolithic to wild deer. The horse has been identified from the late Grey ware and introduction of the Red Slipped ware that Jorwe phase at Inamgaon (Pawankar 1996) and from Walki continues into the Early Historic period, as does the Black (Joglekar and Thomas 1993). Chemical analysis of the and Red ware. Many continuities are seen in the cultures, human bones shows an increased compo-

51 Man and Environment XXII (I)- 1997 nent of animals in the Late Jorwe diet as compared with ship, and in that sense the various marks do represent the Early Jorwe phase (Dhavalikar et al. 1988). All these different family groups. At Talegaon two symbols are components imply a decreased dependence on domesti- repeated on several pots, one is a 'comb' (Fig. 6a: No. 1) cated plants and animals with increasing dependence on and the other a 'checkerboard,' while at Sheriwadi the wild fauna. Along with this we would expect an increase in circle with radiating lines (Fig. 7b: No. 1) appears on more mobility. Dhavalikar (1973) has explained this change in than one pot. If the graffiti marks are related to identifying settlement and subsistence as a response to a climatic shift owners, then they are important evidence for an important towards aridity. change in ideas relating to property and the relationships between people which developed during this period. The shift in settlement patterns during the Late Jorwe is even more striking when a regional approach is em- The introduction of the horse during the Late Jorwe ployed. While a few sites such as Inamgaon and Songaon, period (Pawankar 1996; Joglekar and Thomas 1993) could continue to be occupied during the Late Jorwe, the other have been a factor in the increased mobility seen during sites were abandoned during the Early Jorwe phase itself. this period. The site of Theur, belonging to the Late Jorwe phase, shows that completely different factors were important in Conclusions site location during this phase compared with the Early This review was undertaken to widen the scope of the Jorwe phase seen at Sashtewadi (Fig. 2). The latter is a numerous debates on the Deccan Chalcolithic. It is hoped large habitational mound located on the bank of the Mula that the intense focus on a very few excavated sites will be river, close to arable land and on a fording point on the broadened. The excavated sites are the most important river. The Late Jorwe site of Theur, however, is located source of information, but only if they are viewed in the about I km away from any reliable water source. It is context of the region they belong to. We have argued that however on the present road and affords a view of the during the Chalcolithic the mounds represent only a part of entire Mula valley, looking over the divide between the the Chalcolithic settlement and subsistence. The other Mula and Bhima. The large stone enclosures around the components are presently 'invisible.' There are two ways clusters of huts are also a new feature. This site does not of taking these invisible components into account. The first have the thick accumulation of habitational debris seen in is to look for them. It is possible that traces of the activities the Early Jorwe sites. The site was conspicuous because of not associated with permanent settlements do survive. the stone circles. The recent ploughing of land and planting These could be the 'site furniture,' like boulder circles or of trees has destroyed any trace of the site. Similar sites, in other modifications of the land surface. Stone tools could areas where boulders are less plentiful, might have had also be found on the surface. Pottery on thc surface would enclosures of bamboo or bush and these would not have probably survive but might be quite abraded and weath- left such durable evidence as the boulders at Theur. The ered. It is however possible that these traces might not be location of the site away from a water source suggests that found even after quite intensive search as they are liable to this was not a village, occupied for the entire year, but a destruction especially once intensive agriculture is repeatedly occupied seasonal site. adopted, as is more and more the case in Pune District. In Talegaon (Fig. 2), like Theur and Sheriwadi, again any case the discovery of such s~tes1s always bound to be shows the presence of very small sites, where occupation partly a matter of chance, and of special circumstances of has not produced any 'habitational deposit'. The implica- preservation. The second approach is to look for the tions of these sites are that the Late Jorwe sites could be evidence for the activities that occurred away from the located in different places from sites during the Early main site in the main site itself. Thus the wild fauna Jorwe phase and traces of such sites might be difficult to consumed at the site is the evidence for the hunting find. activities that may have occurred at some distance away from the site. The small number of sites again implies that The presence of many graffiti marks on the pottery of a component that did not produce such sites was present. the later phase of the Late Jorwe is noticable. These marks are made after the pot is finished and so represent some- The Late Jorwe phase, secn from the perspective of the thing related to the user of the pot, rather than the maker of site of Inamgaon, had led to the hypothesis that there was a the pots, as would be the case with potters' marks. The change in settlement and subsistence during this period and graffiti marks appear to comprise a group of stereotyped that there is a 'gap' between the Chalcolithic and Early symbols. Yazdani had suggested as early as 1917 that these Historical periods in thc Bhima basin (Dhavalikar 1973). marks are a proto-script. The repetition of certain symbols, From a regional perspectivk, the change in settlement and their lack of clear decorative value, their execution after subsistence during the Late Jorwe appears even more the pot was made, does lead to the suspicion that these dramatic than it does from the single site of Inamgaon, marks are not just decorative motifs. It could be that they while the 'gap' between the Chalcolithic and Early Historic originated as marks branded on cattle to identify owner- almost disappears. A different set of constraints governed ite Man and Environment XXII (I) -1997

';Of

Fig. 8: Coarse Ware: I and 4 Grey ware from Sashtewadi; 2 Lamp from Sashtewadi; 3 Doughplate in Coarse Red ware from Talegaon

the location of sites in the Late and Early Jorwe phases. Late Jorwe Period as compared to the Early Jorwe, when This is seen most obviously in the contrasting locations of some food might have been cooked but without using pots. Sashtewadi and Theur. The locations of Inamgaon and The Late Jorwe phase appears to be a period during Pimpalsuti form a similar contrast. Sashtewadi is located which important changes were occurring. These changes on the bank of the river near a convenient fording point, were not only in the direction of 'deterioration,' seen in while Theur is at a viewpoint along a route of movement. increased mobility and exploitation of wild flora and fauna, Pimpalsuti is also located nearer a road, rather than the but also in the possible emergence of ideas of ownership river, although here the site is at the only point where road suggested by the presence of 'ownership marks' (graffiti), and river almost coincide. and the use of horses which would have made raids more The Late Jorwe sites are much more ephemeral and rewarding. Shinde (1994) has suggested that there is liable to destruction. Thus, in 1995 no trace of the stone evidence for conflicts from the Late Jorwe levels at circles that once indicated habitation at either Theur or Inamgaon based on the human skeletal remains from which Pimpalsuti survive. Lukacs and Walimbe (1986) identify evidence of death due to trauma. These features are a hint that an important shift There may be a change in the technology of cooking from the egalitarian Chalcolithic societies to the more during this period. In the Early Jorwe sooted pots, although stratified societies of the Early Historic period was reported are not very common. The Grey ware has a large underway. number of open basins, which appear to be related to food preparation (soaking grains?). In the small sites of In our review of the available evidence we have found Talegaon and Sheri wadi, the Red Slipped ware has a some evidence that the period between the Chalcolithic and number of sooted sherds and the Grey ware is absent. This Early Historic is a transition rather than a gap. However, appears to imply greater reliance on cooking in pots in the we have become even more aware of the enormous gaps in

54 Chalcolithic Phase in the Bhima Basin our knowledge. These gaps can be only partially filled by strokes. The site presently becomes surrounded with water further analysis of available data. New data, more data are from the backwaters of the . essential. Koregaon Appendix: Site Descriptions This site was reported by Khatri (1962) who illustrates typical Jorwe sherds collected from the base of the present Chandoli habitation. Koregaon is on the left bank of the Bhima river This site is on the right bank of the about 3 km where the Pune Ahmednagar highway crosses it. This from . It was excavated by Deo and Ansari in appears to be an ancient fording point. No trace of Jorwe 1961. An interesting feature of this site is the large variety pottery can be found at the site now, and in recent years of pottery types found. Besides the typical Jorwe and Koregaon has expanded tremendously, covering the Malwa, Black and Red ware, a variety of Cream Slipped previous habitation mound. ware and few sherds of Lustrous Red ware, and Burnished Black ware were also present. The Cream slipped ware is Inarngaon also known from Daimabad where it stratigraphically The Chalcolithic mound at Inamgaon is some kilometres follows the Savalda horizon. Black and Red ware is also upstream of the present Inamgaon village and is on the left common at Apegaon where it is associated with the side of the river Ghod. A cluster of five mounds, measuring SavaldaIRamtirth wares. A few sherds of Jorwe fabric have in total 550 x 430 m, is found. The largest mound, called a chocolate slip and violet paintings on the exterior surface Inamgaon I was excavated extensively over a period of 12 (Fig. 3 a and b: Nos. 1,24-6 and Fig. 4: Nos. 3 and 5). field seasons (Dhavalikar et al. 1988; Lukacs and Walimbe Deo and Ansari (1965) mention some 'overfired' Jorwe 1986; Dhavalikar 1979, 1990b). This excavation has sherds which might be the same type of potsherds. We, yielded the most complete data available about the however, do not think these are overfired sherds as the Chalcolithic and is one 01the best examples of interdisci- interior of some of the sherds remains bright red, with only plinary work to date in India. Three phases of the . the exterior having a chocolate colour (Fig. 3 a and b: No. Chalcolithic are found at Inamgaon, which was occupied 2). Associated with the Malwa horizon therefore, at from about 3500 b.p. to perhaps 2900 b.p. (uncalibrated) or Chandoli, are several other wares that have similarities to (3800-3200 B.P.) with calibration. The most interesting the pre-Malwa phase in the Godavari valley. The radiocar- finding at Inamgaon has been the evidence for a change in bon dates from Chandoli can be bracketed between 2900 the subsistence and settlement system through this period. and 3200 b.p., but appear to date the Jorwe phase only. This evidence is in a change in the types of houses, the associated evidence for plant and animal exploitation. This Khed change moreover is not, as one would expect towards more This site is located on the left bank of the river Bhima in intensive exploitation of plants and animals through time the Karjat Taluka of Ahmednagar District (Fig. 3). The and reduction of mobility, but exactly the reverse. This has thickness of the habilational deposit is 5 m and it is spread led the main excavator of the site, Dhavalikar to suggest over an area of about 200 x 105 m. This makes it similar in that the Chalcolithic societies at Inamgaon were adapting size to Inamgaon I. This site has two radiocarbon dates to a progressive aridity. While the archaeological evidence published in IAR. There is no other mention of it in the for the change in subsistence and settlement is strong, there IAR, nor have we been able to track down any other is so far not a great deal of geological evidence for aridity reference to it. This site however has been excavated, as and so some researchers have been reluctant to accept the the outlines of the trenches can be seen. Panja (1995) role of climate in cultural change. visited the site and describes it in her thesis. She made a surface collection of pottery seen by us, and we also made Pimpalsuti a collection (Fig. 5). The typical Chalcolithic Grey ware, This is the only site that we have not visited. The site was comprising globular jars with flaring rims, basins of studied by Ansari and Dhavalikar (1976) and the site is various sizes and rimless dishes are well represented. also mentioned by Panja (1995). Ansari and Dhavalikar These are decorated with finger pinches and impressions, (1976) report 9 stone circles just outside Pimpalsuti village and sometimes with incised designs. The Jorwe ware has on the north side of the road. One of these circles had mostly carinated bowls and globular pots with high necks already been disturbed by the villagers who were in the and narrow mouths. A pottery stopper that exactly fits these process of removing stones for building material. This necks was also found. A few sherds of Black and Red ware circle was probed and Black and Red ware sherds and Red like that from Apegaon was also found (Fig. 3 a and b: ware sherds and one iron arrowhead were recovered. The Nos. 13 and 14). Most of the Jorwe ware has a fine fabric excavated circle was 13.5 m in diameter. Ansari and and is well fired and the designs are executed with fine Dhavalikar (1976) interpret this site as a megalithic burial. Man and Environment XXII (I)- 1997

However, no evidence for a burial was actually found. The Sheriwadi pottery sherds appear to be from pots broken during the This site is located on the left bank of the river Bhima Chalcolithic period and not the complete vessels associated about 6 km downstream of the site of Koregaon (Fig. 2). with a burial. Deotare (Joshi and Deotare 1983), analyzed The site is about 100 m away from the river and lies on a 2 the soil from the megalith for phosphorous content and m thick black soil. The habitational deposit has recently found that the level of phosphorous within the megalith been removed for use in the fields and only a thin veneer of was greater than that of the surrounding soil, although less habitational deposit remains. Chalcolithic pottery is present than from the lnamgaon habitational deposit. Normally in some nearby fields where this mud has been applied. Megalithic burial sites have no increase in phosphate The information of the local people is that the mound was levels. For these reasons, we would like to suggest that, as originally about 2 m thick. Pottery collected was similar to at Theur, the stone circles at Pimpalsuti, might have that from Talegaon. Black and Red ware with graffiti enclosed a habitational area, rather than a megalithic marks are present (Fig. 7: Nos. 1-8 and 13). Some of these burial. The iron object from Pimpalsuti, would imply that it bowls also have white paintings consisting of groups of was later in age than the Theur circles, where no iron was wavy lines (Fig. 7b: No. 8). Red Slipped ware is also found. present (Fig. 7: Nos. 16-20). The Jorwe ware is of the Panja (1995), has reported an area of 115 x 35 m near coarse variety (Fig. 7: Nos. 9-12, 15). The GreyIRed ware Pimpalsuti from which she found scattered pottery de- is absent. scribed as incised ware of the Chalcolithic period along with medieval pottery. She has interpreted this as a leveled mound. It is possible that this site is the same as the one The site of Songaon is at the confluence of the Karha and reported by Ansari and Dhavalikar (1974) and that the Nira rivers. It is on the right bank of the Karha and left boulders have been removed. bank of the Nira and the two rivers surround the site from Ansari and Dhavalikar (1974) also report a cyclopean three sides. This site was excavated by Deo and Mujumdar structure near Inamgaon village where one Jorwe pot was in 1965. At Songaon the early levels had an assemblage found. dominated by the GreyIRed wares. Period I1 has Jorwe with a component of Malwa and associated pottery. The final period at the site sees the introduction of Black and Red ware along with Red Slipped and Burnished Red ware. This site is located on the left bank of the river Mula- The Jorwe ware is of a coarse variety. Mutha opposite Theur (Table 1). The site was excavated by S.R. Rao and reported in IAR. In the IAR report the lowest Talegaon (Dlzamdhere) levels are characterized by Grey ware and some Malwa pottery, while in the upper levels Jorwe ware is found The site at Talegaon lies on the right bank of the river Vel along with the Grey ware. In our surface collection, Jorwe and is located about 1.5 km downstream from Talegaon ware, associated GreyIRed ware, a single sherd of Black village (Fig. 2). This site comprises Chalcolithic pottery in and Red ware and some Coarse Red ware is present. The a 20 cm colluvial gravel sandwiched between silty soil. Jorwe ware has carinated bowls with concave and convex This is exposed at the margins of the zone affected by the sides, globular pots with a high neck and narrow mouth. A Vel river in flood. The path skirting the cultivated fields is few sherds of a ware with a fabric similar to Jorwe have a only about 2 m from the exposure. A large number of chocolate slip and violet paintings, like that found at potsherds were collected from this gravel, which mainly Chandoli (Fig. 3: No. 1). The GreyRed ware is very thick comprises the pottery along with some basalt and calcrete with coarse fabric and comprises mostly basins with a pebbles. A small pit dug in the field immediately behind flattened rim decorated with an applique band impressed this exposure showed about 20 cm of ploughzone above with fingertips and globular jars with flaring mouth. A part Pleistocene alluvium, with no trace of Chalcolithic pottery. of an oblong lamp, with a flat base and a shallow wick- The Chalcolithic pottery has become incorporated into a channel was found, similar to those reported from colluvial deposit, probably shortly after the abandonment Chandoli (Fig. 8: No. 2). The mound has some Maratha of the site. This colluviation implies an unstable land period stone structures that have disturbed the upper part of surface, probably denuded of vegetation. The total extent the Chalcolithic levels. Most of the mound has been of this site is less than 3 x 3 m, and so is quite unlike any removed and even the underlying soil has been removed other Chalcolithic site so far reported. and transported to rocky areas where new land is being The pottery assemblage comprises coarse Jorwe ware, brought under cultivation. A small shrine of the Maratha Black and Red ware and Coarse Red Slipped ware. The period on part of the mound has not been disturbed. GreyIRed ware is absent from our collection. A large dough plate, hand made in a coarse red ware was also Clzalcolitlzic Phase in the Bhinza Basin

collected (Fig. 8: No. 3). The pottery shows signs of References abrasion. Some sherd surfaces show pitting and chipping Ansari, Z.D. and M.K. Dhavalikar 1974. Cyclopean of the slip and the paintings on the Jorwe ware have Structure near Poona, Bulletin of the Deccan become dull. Some sherds might have lost their paintings. College Research Institute 34: 1-6. The slip of the Jorwe ware is dull red and the paintings are in a purple to brown colour. The fabric is coarse (Fig. 6: Ansari, Z.D. and M.K. Dhavalikar 1976. Megalithic Nos. 1-7). The Black and Red ware is similar to that at Burials at Pimpalsuti, Bulletin of the Deccan Sheriwadi, with some minor differences in shape (Fig. 6: College Research Institute 36: 84-89. Nos. 8-1 5). Most of the sherds at Talegaon have graffiti Deo, S.B. and Z.D. Ansari 1965. Chalcolithic Chandoli. marks but the white painting is absent. Some graffiti marks Poona: Deccan College. are repeated in several bowls, especially one like a comb (Fig. 6: Nos. 1l and 14) and checkerboard. Deo, S.B. and G.G. Mujumdar 1969. Songaon Excava- tions: 1965. Poona: Deccan College. Theur Dhavalikar, M.K. 1970. Genesis of Jorwe Culture. lndian Theur is located on the right bank of the river Mula about 1 Antiquary 4: 32-41. km from Theur village along the TheurINaigaon road (Fig. Dhavalikar, M.K. 1973. Development and Decline of the 2). The site is 1 km away from the and there is Deccan Chalcolithic, in Radiocarbon and Indian no stream nearby. The site was excavated by S.R. Rao and Archaeology (A. Ghosh and D.P. Agrawal Eds.), reported in IAR (1969-70: 27-29). Five excellent photo- pp. 138-147. Bombay: Tata Institute of Funda- graphs of the site (Plates XL to XLIV), are published in the mental Research. same volume. Kosambi (1962) also mentions this site and Dhavalikar, M.K. 1979. Early Farming Cultures of the reports petroglyphs on the boulders making up the circles. Deccan. in Essays in lndian Protohistory, (D.P. The photograph of the site shows the Theur sugar factory , Agrawal and D.K. Chakrabarti Eds.), pp. 247-265. in the background and the hills to the north on the divide New Delhi: B.R. Publishing Corporation.. between the Mula and Bhima rivers. The site had five stone circles of which two were excavated. The circles were Dhavalikar, M.K. 1984. Towards an Ecological Model for made up of boulders, which are abundantly available at the Chalcolithic Cultures of Central and Western site. The circles enclosed huts of the Chalcolithic period. India, Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 3: The photo published in IAR allows us to be sure of the 133-158. location of the site, of which not a trace remains. It has Dhavalikar, M.K. 1989a. Human Ecology in Western India been converted into an orchard. The IAR report indicates in the Second Millennium B.C., Man and Envi- that there were three levels of occupation, the first two ronment 14(1): 83-90. levels had a predominance of Jorwe pottery while the last level had more of the Black and Red ware. The Black and Dhavalikar, M.K. 1989b. Farming to Pastoralism: Effects Red ware is mainly bowls and is similar to that from of Climatic Change in the Deccan, in The Walking Sheriwadi and Talegaon. Graffiti marks are common on the Larder: Patterns of Domestication, Pastoralism Black and Red ware and a number are illustrated. and Predation (J. Clutton-Brock Ed.), pp. 156-68. London: Unwin Hyman. Walki Dhavalikar, M.K. 1990a. Drought in India, Current The site of Walki was excavated by Dhavalikar and a Archaeology 10: 430. lengthy article has been published (Dhavalikar et al. 1990). Dhavalikar, M.K. 1990b. First Farmers of the Deccan. The fauna has also been studied (Joglekar 199 1) and an Pune: Ravish Publishers. article published by Joglekar and Thomas (1993). The site was interpreted as a 'small site' forming a satellite settle- Dhavalikar, M.K. 1992. Culture-Environment Interface: a ment to the larger site of Inamgaon. Only the Early Jorwe Historical Perspective. Presidential Address: phase is present at Walki and the thickness of the Archaeology, Numismatics and Epigraphy habitational deposit is only 60 cm. Section, Indian History Congress, New Delhi, 1992. Acknowledgements Dhavalikar, M.K. and G.L. Possehl. 1974. Subsistence Sonali Naik would like to acknowledge her valuable Pattern of an Early Farming Community of interaction with Sheena Panja during an earlier stage of Western India, Purattava 7: 39-46. this work. The field-work was funded by the DST, New Dhavalikar, M.K., H.D. Sankalia and Z.D. Ansari 1988. Delhi - under the project ESSlCAlA3-13/94, which we Excavations at Inanzgaon, I (Parts i and ii). Pune: gratefully acknowledge. Deccan College. Man and Environment XXII (1)- 1997

Dhavalikar, M.K., V.S. Shinde and S. Atre 1990. Small Site Middle Bhima Valley with Special Reference to Archaeology: Excavations at Walki, Bulletin of Inamgaon. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation. Pune: the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research University of Poona. Institute 50: 197-228. Pawankar, S. 1996. Man andAnima1 Relationship in the IAR: Indian Archaeology 1969-70 A Review 1972-73. New Early Farming Communities of Western India, Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. with Special Reference to Inamgaon. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation. Pune: University of Poona. Joglekar, P.P. 1991. A Biometric Approach to the Faunal Remains of Western India with Special Reference Possehl, G. 1988. Radiocarbon Dates from South Asia. to Kaothe and Walki. Unpublished Ph.D. Disserta- Man and Environment 12: 169. tion. Pune: University of Poona Sankalia, H.D., Z.D. Ansari and M.K. Dhavalikar 1975. An Joglekar, P.P. and P.K. Thomas 1993. Faunal Diversity at Early Farmers Village in Central India, Expedition Walki - a Small Chalcolithic Site in Western 17(2): 2-11. India, Bulletin of the Deccan College Post- Sali, S.A. 1986. Daimabad 1976-1979 (MAS1 83). New Graduate and Research Institute 53: 75-94. Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. Joshi, R.V. and B.C. Deotare 1983. Chemical Analysis of Shinde, V. 1989. New Light on the origin, Settlement Archaeological Deposits from India. Pune: System and Decline of the Jorwe Culture of the Deccan College. Deccan, India, South Asian Studies 5: 60-72. Khatri, A.P. 1962. Koregaon, the Middle Palaeolithic cum Shinde, V. 1990. The Malwa Culture in Maharashtra: a Chalcolithic Site on the River Bhima, Maharash- Study of Settlement and Subsistence Patterns, tra, The Anthropologist 4: 14-19. Man and Environment 15(2): 53-60. Kosambi, D.D. 1962. Myth and Reality. Bombay: Popular Shinde, V. 1991. Craft Specialization and Social Organiza- Prakasan. tion in the Chalcolithic Deccan, India, Antiquity Lukacs, J.R. and S.R. Walimbe. 1986. Physical Anthropol- 65: 796-807. ogy of Human Skeletal Remains from Prehistoric Shinde, V.S. 1994. The Deccan Chalcolithic: a Recent Inamgaon: Osteobiographic Analysis. Pune: Perspective, Man and Environment 19: 169-178. Deccan College. Sundara, A. 1968. Protohistoric Sites in Bijapur District, Mishra, S., T.R. Venkatesan, S.N. Rajaguru and B.L.K. Journal of University (Social Sciences) Somayajulu. 1995. Earliest Acheulian Industry 4: 186-203. from Peninsular India, Current Anthropology 36: 847-85 1 Wheeler, R.E.M. 1948. Brahmagiri and Chandravalli 1947: Megalithic and other Cultures in Chataldurg Paddayya, K. 1994. Investigations of Man-Environment District, Mysore State, Ancient India 4: 180-310. Relationships in Indian Archaeology: Some Theoretical Considerations, Man and Environ- Yazdani, G, 1917. Megalithic Remains of the Deccan: a ment 19: 1-28. New Feature of Them, Journal of the Hyderabad Archaeological Society 55-79. Panja, S. 1995. Mobility Strategies, Site Structure and Settlement Organization: a Case Study in the