Study of Ceramics from Ancient Port Site Khalkattapatna of Coast

Rudra Prasad Behera1

1. Department of History, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, (Email: [email protected])

Received: 16August 2016; Accepted: 22 September 2016; Revised: 24 October 2016 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 4 (2016): 806-815

Abstract: Pottery is the usual finding for an archaeologist during exploration and excavation. This provides data for reconstructing history of human past in scientific way. Khalkattapatna was a port site of Odisha along the Kushabhadra estuary. The site is bearing different types of ceramics of foreign and native origin. Pottery from Khalkattapatna includes red ware, black ware, grey ware, egg white glazed, glazed chocolate ware, stamped ware, porcelain and celadon ware. The main types are bowls, dish, handi, storage jars, jars and basin of red ware and dull red ware. The porcelain and celadon potsherds are foreign origin which is distinguished by bowls and plates. The ceramics of Khalkattapatna are comparable in form, size, design and texture with Kottapatanam, Motupalli, Periyapatinam as well as south East Asian countries. Apart from the potsherds, terracotta beads, figurines, bangle pieces and Chinese coins were also recovered from the site. The stamped ware pottery and other findings of Khalkattapatna port are dated to early medieval period. The overseas trade network of Odisha was dealing with Persian Gulf, China and south East Asian countries. The pottery typology, stratigraphy and associated findings are suggesting distribution of materials through maritime trade earlier than medieval period or dated to early historic period.

Keywords: Khalkattapatna, Odisha, Porcelain, Stamped Pottery, Coin, Port town, Maritime Trade

Introduction The beginnings of interactions of Odisha with outside countries are known from epigraphical records and archaeological findings. Traditional texts, biopic, traveller’s accounts, geographer’s description and cartographer already mentioned several port town trade centres, cities along the coast of India as well as Odisha. Moreover, Ptolemy‘s Geography of Ancient India, Pliny’s Natural History, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Kalidas’s Raghuvamsa and excavation findings of Sisupalagarh, Manikapatna, Radhanagar, Khalkattapatna (Fig. 1) and Manikpatna provide information on maritime activities. Sources about maritime history of Odisha are very limited, as evidenced in various texts, folklore, tradition, festivals, language, custom, rituals, sculptural representations, monumental creations, craft products, import and export items Behra 2016: 806-815 records are found from Odisha as well as abroad. The discovery of Roman artefacts in Odisha suggests trade relations with Roman Empire (Behera 1977).

Figure 1: Map showing location of Khalkattapatna and nearby archaeological sites

The history of maritime Odisha goes back to fifth century BC if not earlier. The Buddhist text Mahavansa mentioned about relation of Kalinga and Ceylon. During third century BC Ashok sent his daughter Sanghmitra to Ceylon to propagate Buddhism (Tripati 2002; Mofarhus et. al. 2010; Roy 2010). Sisupalgarh, the ancient fortified city of Odisha is dated to fifth century BC to third century AD (Lal 1949; Mohanty 2009). Arthasastra mentions Kalinga as one of the countries which produced the best type of cotton cloth. The author of the Periplus mentions the ivory of Odisha (Schoff 1912). The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela speaks about healthy social economic condition of Kalinga. Ptolemy, the Greek geographer of the second century AD mentioned about ports of Kalinga (McCrindle 1885). Fa-hien has mentioned in his account about his journey to Ceylon with sea voyages from the port of Kalinga during fifth century AD. Inscription of Java mentioned that two thousand people of Kalinga migrated to Java and settled there during fifth century AD. The representations of Buddhist iconography at Java and Ratnagiri are similar in nature (Pradhan 2005). Xuanzang came to Odisha during seventh century AD and sailed to China from the

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port of Kalinga. The Arab and Persian geographers signify about the ruler of Bhaumakar dynasty and glory of Odisha during eighth / ninth century AD (Panigrahi 1981). Later Somavamsi succeeded the Bhaumakar. During tenth century AD Cholas captured ten thousand island of Kalinga during his expedition (Patra 2013). Again Odisha came to power during Ganga period after reducing of Cholas’ power. The seaborne trade of Odisha was a continuing tradition which started from early historical period. Among the port towns Khalkataptana is one of them. On the basis of the geographical setting the site is a dronimukha type port (Roy 1994), nomenclature defines itself as a port town or trade centre. Kushabhadra estuary was used as mooring point during that period.

Pottery is the first artificial object ever created by humans for storing purpose of liquid as well as others. The introduction of pottery coincidently started by the people of agrarian community of Neolithic culture and developed through the ages till date due to uniqueness, reliability and durability. The earliest signature of potteries in Indian subcontinent is dated to the handmade pottery of Mehrgarh. Later the ceramics flourished all over India and abroad. Potsherds are remarkable during proto history as well as historical period. Ceramics have the equal importance as wealth to set up urbanisation and trading activities. Khalkattapatna is a site along the coast of which shows imported ceramic objects where, the inhabitants of the site were involved in trade with other regions (Figs. 2 - 4). Khalkattapatna was a port site of Odisha situated in bank of the Kushabhadra River in district of Odisha. Variety of ceramics and other materials was first noticed during the construction of Puri – Konark marine drive road in 1984. In the same year, ASI excavated and recovered ceramics and noticed terracotta ring well along the river bank (IAR 1984-85). Further, Khalkattaptana was again excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the year 1994-95. These works drew the conclusion that it was a seasonal maritime trading hub. The excavations traced the contacts with Arab countries and China. The findings from the mound describe its maritime affairs of these two regions only. During the excavations, brick jelly floor and number of terracotta ring wells were found. Apart from these, ceramics of Chinese and Arabian origin were noticed. Porcelain, celadon ware, egg white glazed and glazed chocolate wares, terracotta objects (Fig. 5), and coins with legends have been recovered (Sinha 1992; Sinha 1999; Nigam 2000; IAR 1994-95). Except ceramic objects and a few Chinese coins (Fig. 6) no such concrete evidences found. Ceramics from Khalkattapatna were distinguished in the form of potsherds of indigenous and overseas origin.

Present Aspects To understand the history and culture of Khalkattapatna site require further study extensively. Pottery has been collected from onshore exploration at Khalkattapatna as well as intertidal zone of Kushabhadra estuary. Most of the pottery was found due to erosion of mound by the river. The site is bearing different types of ceramics like foreign and native origin. The ceramics are distinguished in various ways such as materially, technologically and chronologically. Khalkattapatna site yielded pottery

808 Behra 2016: 806-815 represented by red ware, black ware, grey ware, egg white glazed, glazed chocolate ware, stamped ware, porcelain and celadon ware. Red ware potteries are well fired and made of well levigated clay. But in case of storage jars, they are made of coarse clay. Red ware is distinguished in dull red (brown), black, burnished red, buff red colours. The stamped wares are well fired marked with horizontal, vertical line and rectangle jali pattern. Such groove marks or irregular lines are known as paddle impressed pottery.

Figure 2: Ceramics from Khalkattapatna

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Figure 3: Ceramics from Khalkattapatna

Figure 4: Similar Ceramics from Khalkattapatna and Other Sites

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Figure 5: Ceramics and Terracotta Beads from Khalkattapatna

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Figure 6: Chinese Coins from Khalkattapatna

The black ware is found in coarse and fine clay variety. The fine varieties are decorated in rim portion liner line and diamond cut designs. These ceramics are highly fired and light weight in nature. The grey wares are heavy duty potsherds having coarse clay, over fired and represented by large size with short mouth. Such wares are ill fired or underwent reduced firing and with both coarse and fine clay used. Very few shreds of red polished ware were also found as residuals during exploration. All the potteries are wheel made. Pots having large body with small mouth are first wheel turned later during leather hard beaten by the dabber for appropriate shape and for avoiding the voids in clay. There are also two shreds of porcelain (Blue and white) encountered in the form of bowl. Both the shreds are having flower designs both in the inner and outer side. A few shreds of celadon ware were found which dominates utilitarian varieties. These shreds are lipped bowls and light green in colour with fine texture.

The sherds recovered from the river bank and intertidal region are having eroded surface. Few shreds lost its surface treatment, only its traces are found. Potteries collected from the site are decorated in rim, shoulder and belly portion. Appliqué

812 Behra 2016: 806-815 design, stamped decoration and groove marks, triangle or diamond cutting mark, concentrated circles, vertical, horizontal, irregular line marks were also found. Blue and white porcelain bearing floral design in both sides of the sherds were found. Such ceramics are similar to other parts of the globe in context of site, period, shape, colour, texture, decoration and usage.

The ceramics are categorized on the basis of typology, usage and manufacturing technology. The pottery types are glazed ware, Celadon ware, porcelain, stamped ware and chocolate red ware. Red ware potteries are fine and coarse in texture; some of them are made of well levigated clay and are well fired. The shapes of Red ware are handi, dish, etc. Stamped potteries are different from other pottery of Khalkattapatna in the case of design and manufacturing technology. Apart from the potsherds, terracotta beads, figurines and bangle pieces were also recovered from the site.

A comparative study of the ceramics from Khalkattapatna with Kottapatanam, Motupalli, Manikpatana, Barabati fort and Periyapattinam is attempted here. A brief description of the ceramics of those sites is also given here. Celadon ware, porcelain, stamped ware and chocolate red ware are assignable to the fourteenth-fifteenth century AD. But the paddle impressed potteries belong to earlier date and having South East Asian origin (Selvakumar 2011).

Porcelain and celadon ware have been recovered from port site Manikpatna (near ) and from Barabati fort at Cuttack through excavations (IAR 1994-95: 60; IAR 1992-93: 81; IAR 1989-90: 77). Both the site and findings are also contemporary to Khalkattapatna period. The date of other findings of Manikapatna goes back to early historical period (3rd century AD/ 4th century AD). During excavation at Barabati fort skeleton of horse was found buried inside the fort. The presence of horse might be indication to royal insignia or probably some horse from Arab countries. Muslim traders who associate with horse and diamond trading were settled at Cuttack of Odisha from medieval period (Yamin 2011).

The present findings from Khalkattapatna are signifying the maritime trade of Odisha during early medieval period. This is flourished along the coastal area of Odisha as well as hinterland of Odisha. No doubt during that period Odisha was prosperous and economically sound. But so far no clear picture is found about Odisha’s connection with the Arab countries. Chinese porcelain from Periyapattinam is having the same Lama-style lotus petal design of Yuan period of fourteenth century (Karasimha 2009). Similar evidence from Khalkattapatna might be belonged to the same. The stamped ware sherds found from Kottapatanam and Motupalli belong to the same period (Rao 2001; Reddy 2003; Karasimha 2004) (Fig. 3). Paddle impressed pottery identified from Khalkattapatna are also comparable with other sites of India as well as abroad. This type pottery was reported from early medieval level of Periyapatinam of Tamil Nadu, Kottapatnam of Andhra Pradesh, Manapattu of Puducherry, Cheramanparambu, Taikal, Kottappuram, and Pattanam of Kerala (Selvakumar 2011).

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Discussion When Roman trade flourished in early historic period in India the economic condition of Odisha was in good condition to continuing the overseas trade. Evidences like stamped pottery, rouletted ware, caltrop and discovering of jetty at moat describe the contacts of Roman world with Sisupalgarh (ancient Kalinga Nagar). The moat was watered by (tributary of ). But imitation of Roman antiquity shows the indirect influence via country traders. Khalkattapatna was a reliable port town linked to Sisupalgarh through Kushabhadra River which branches off and flows away from a main stream to the site. Similarly the port site, Manikpatna was also connected with Sisupalgarh through river Daya which is fallen in Chilika lake. The findings of Manikpatna, Sisupalgarh and Khalkattapatna indicate that these places had triangular relation in early historical period and well planned maritime activities. The presence of Chinese coin (Manikpatna and Khalkattapatna), ceramics such as porcelain, celadon ware (Manikpatna and Khalkattapatna) and stamped ware (Manikpatna, Sisupalgarh and Khalkattapatna) from different sites of eastern littoral proves the long distance trading contacts of Khalkattapatna.

In this short paper, the author emphasizes that the unique stamped ware should be widely known among archaeologists. Much more comparable findings and much more information must be gathered. Khalkattapana is an important region in connecting the Southeast Asia and the Roman Empire. On the basis of ceramics and other findings from contemporary sites showing maritime networks, the evidences from Khalkattapatna also represent the same context. Earlier scholars and excavated materials assigned the date to be early medieval period, but the present investigation throws light on activities at Khalkattapatna during early historical period or early centuries of Christian era. However, the state of our information on this region is still limited for understanding its significance in the history in spite of important excavations at several sites. The author expects that the ceramics discussed in this paper may contribute to better understanding the early historical transoceanic contacts of ancient Odisha.

Acknowledgment I would like to thank my teachers and friends for inspiring and encouraging me to write a paper on this topic. I not only enjoyed preparing this paper, but also learned a lot of new things. References Indian Archaeology – A Review, 1984-85. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi: 59. Indian Archaeology – A Review, 1989-90. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi: 72. Indian Archaeology – A Review, 1992-93. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi: 81. Indian Archaeology – A Review, 1994-95. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi: 61- 62. Indian Archaeology – A Review, 1994-95. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi: 60.

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