767

SUBSISTENCE BASED ON AN/MALS IN THE HARAPPAN CULTURE OF ,

Pappy K. THOMAS*, Pramod P. JOGLEKAR*, Yoshiyuki MATSUSHIMA*, Seema J. PAWANKAR* and Arati DESHPANDE*

Summary Résumé Zusammenfassung Based on the composition of animais Subsistance animale dans la culture Die auf Tieren basierende Subsistenz identified at a couple of Harappan sites harappéenne de Gujarat, Inde. in der -Kultur von Gujarat, excavated recently in Gujarat and also À partir du spectre faunique de deux Indien. considering the earlier faunal studies of sites harappéens fouillés récemment dans Ausgehend von der Artenzusammen­ other Harappan sites, here is an attempt le Gujarat, et en tenant compte des pré­ setzung in einigen neu gegrabenen Sied­ to build up a hypothesis for the cédentes études de faunes d'autres sites lungen der Harappa-Kultur in Gujarat Harappan subsistence pattern. harappéens, nous nous proposons ici de wird unter Berücksichtigung früherer However, an ambiguity is unavoidable présenter une hypothèse sur le modèle de Studien versucht, ein Subsistenzmodell due to the comparison of earlier studies subsistance harappéenne. Cependant, on der Harappa-Kultur zu erstellen. Ver­ with the recent ones, pertaining to ne peut éviter une certaine ambiguïté due gleiche mit iilteren Ergebnissen konnen species, stratigraphy and quantification. à la comparaison d'études anciennes bezüglich Artbestimmmung, Mengenan­ Faunal assemblage from Shikarpur and avec les études récentes, en particulier gaben und der Stratigraphie nur mit Kuntasi has brought to light interesting en ce qui concerne les espèces, la strati­ Vorsicht vorgenommen werden. perspective on ancient subsistence graphie et la quantification. Les assem­ Faunenzusammensetzungen in Shi­ based on animais and to a certain extent blages fauniques de Shikarpur et Kuntasi karpur und Kuntasi haben einige inter­ the environment (}f the region during ont mis en lumière une perspective inté­ essante Aspekte bezüglich der auf Tie­ Harappan times. ln spite of the limited ressante sur la subsistance animale dans ren basierenden Subsistenz und bis zu nature of some of the excavations, an le passé, et, jusqu'à un certain point, sur einem gewissen Grade der Umwelt zur astounding number of animal species l'environnement de la région à l'époque Zeit der Harappa-Kultur ergeben. Trotz are reported and a majority of them harappéenne. En dépit de la nature limi­ der geringen Fliichenausdehnung eini­ have contributed tu the food economy of tée de certaines fàuilles, un nombre ger Grabungen konnte eine erstaunliche the people. The bones of rhinoceros, incroyable d'espèces animales a été Anzahl von Arten festgestellt werden. wild biiffalo and probabl,v the wild cat­ identifié, dont une majorité a contribué à Ein Groj3teil kann mit der Emiihrung tle suggest that conditions were more l'économie alimentaire des habitants. des M enschen in Zusammenhang congenial for animal life, particularly Les os de rhinocéros, de buffle sauvage gebracht werden. Knochen von Rhino­ for large herbivores, during the proto­ et probablement les bovins sauvages sug­ zeros, Wildbüffel und moglicherweise historic period in Gujarat. The wild cat­ gèrent que les conditions étaient plus Wildrind deuten an, daj3 die Lebensbe­ tle reportedly missing from the propices à la vie animale, en particulier dingungen in Gujarat in priihistorischer Holocene period of India may have pour les grands herbivores, pendant Zeit für groj3e Pfianzenfresser günstiger existed somewhere in this region. l'époque protohistorique à Gujarat. Les waren. Das Wildrind, welches es - wie Representation of horse in the bovins sauvages absents à la période bisher angenommen wird - im Holoziin Harappan context possibly indicates holocène de l'Inde ont pu exister dans Indiens nicht gegeben hat, konnte in die­ that some of these sites were industrial cette région. La représentation du cheval ser Region gelebt haben. Das Vorkom­ and or trade centers. The faunal assem­ dans le contexte harappéen indique peut­ men von Pferden im Kontext der Harap­ blage reveals a wide spectrum of animal être que certains sites étaient des centres pa-Kultur kann darauf hindeuten, dajJ exploitation from terrestrial to aquatic industriels ou commerciaux. L'assembla­ einige dieser Siedlungen Industrie- und fauna. The evidence suggests the possi­ ge faunique révèle un large spectre Handelszentren gewesen sind. Die Fau­ ble existence of husbandry practices d'animaux exploités, depuis la faune ter­ nenzusammensetzungen offenbaren ein related to the functional aspect (}f the restre jusqu'à la faune aquatique. Les breites Spektrum der Nutzung von site. The preponderance of cattle and données suggèrent l'existence possible Tieren des Landes und des Wassers. Es their utilization for various purposes; de pratiques d'élevage liées à l'aspect deutet sich an, daj3 die Art der Tierhal­ sheep, goat and pig husbandry purely fonctionnel du site. La prépondérance tung mit der Funktion einer Siedlung for meat; horse and ass as beasts of des bovins et leur utilisation à différentes zusammenhiingt. Das Überwiegen von burden; dog as watch animal and the fins, l'élevage du mouton, de la chèvre et Rindern und ihre Nutzung für verschie­ exploitation of other aquatic, avian and du porc pour la viande, le cheval et l'âne dene Zwecke, die Haltung von Schafen,

"an College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune-41 /006, India. 768 terrestrial resources/(1rfàod and indus­ utilisés comme h/Jtes de somme, le chien Ziegen und Schweinen z.ur Fleischge­ trial purposes, point to the planned eco- comme animal de garde et/ 'exploitation winnung, Pferden und Eseln ais Last­ 110111 i c strategy of the Harappans in d'autres ressources aquatiques, aviennes tiere, Hunden ais Wachtiere und die Gujarat. ou terrestres, à des fins alimentaires ou Nutzung von anderen Land- und Was­ industrielles mettent en évidence une sertieren und Vogeln deuten auf eine stratégie économique plannifiée par les durchgeplante Wirtschaftsstrategie der Harappéens de Gujarat. Harappa-Kultur in Gujarat hin.

Key Words Mots clés Schlüsselworte Gujamt, Haruppmz, Fauna, Animal Gujaral, HarappClt, Fa1111!', Elevage, Gujarat, Harappa-Ku!tur, Fauna, husbandn·, Subsistence, En\'ironment. Subsistance, Environnement. Haustierhaltung, Suhsistenz, Um1velt.

Introduction The bones from clifferent parts of the site show various In spite of the large number of excavations of the modes of preservation, possibly because of water logging Harappan sites (fig. 1), precious little is known at present and other taphonomical factors. Nine domestic and 22 wilcl about the Harappan subsistence pattern based on animais. species of animais belonging to mammals, reptiles and birds Although the earlier Harappan faunal studies have provided have been iclentified at Kuntasi (tab. !). In addition, a variety valuable information about the animais associated with this of fish and crabs, which couic! not be identified to the species culture, the full scientific potential of the faunal remains has leveL were also found. The large quantity of molluscan not been exploited. because of several reasons. This creates shells collected at Kuntasi is being stuclicd in detail and, so an ambiguity when the modern studies are compared with far. ahout 50 molluscan species have been iclentifiecl. the older ones pertaining to the species, stratigraphy and the quantification. Herc is such an attempt of comparison based on recently analysecl faunal material from a couple of Harap­ pan sites: Kuntasi and Shikarpur from Gujarat.

-.::;-__,------­ Kuntasi ~r _____ ): Rupar Kuntasi is located almost at the boundary between /Rarap a Bara . / _ ___..: Kutch and Saurashtra, on the right bank of river Phulki _// ,,'/ ) PAKISTAN (Rajkot District, Gujarat). The present landscape here is ! ' essentially a fiat alluvial plain with scrub vegetation on the / . black soi!. The area is classifiecl as semi-aricl since the annual average rainfall i.-, less than 600 mm, which is \1nl1cnjcr fJaro mainly the southwestern precipitation. At present there is . very little forest cover in this district. Among the vegeta­ INDIA tion, accacia trees are common in the whole of the district. The wild fauna is highly diverse, where the mammals are ass, panther, hyena, wolf, jackal, fox, badger, wild pig, spotted deer, nilgai, blackbuck, gazella, porcupine, hedge­ Surkotada ._,'§, ~ / hog, mongoose, rabbits, etc., and the birds such as bulbul, Shikarpur • j J " partridge, cotton teal, egret, king crow, hawk, flamingo, K mi.s· Lothal1· ~'/ ,,---_u___ / •1 • Ranupur• .::;./ ibis, stork, etc. are reported (Anonyme, 1965). .. _ J9=ianpur ~ • .-_ye! Nanna_~~~ • - Bahar r c: ,..-,---. ~--- The excavation at Kuntasi has brought to light mainly 1\"ageshwar • • 1 ,; é____/./ ~ "- Rojdi D~io two cultural phases: the mature Harappan (c. 2300-1900 ""\ Padri /- • .l\1al\·an be) and the late Harappan (c. 1900 - 1700 be). Faunal 200 km material amounting more than 100,000 bone fragments were collected, however the present report is based on a part of this collection comprising mainly the material from Fig. 1: Map showing some of the important Harappan sites. the 1987-88 excavation.

ANTHROPOZOOUJGICA, /997, ,v .. 25-2fJ Section V- Postpalaeolithic Europe II, Asia, Africa 769

Table 1: Layer-wise distribution of animal species at Kuntasi. + = Present, - = Absent, ? = Species doubtful

PERIOD II PERIOD 1 Cultural Period Late Harappan Mature Harappan Phase D c B A Layer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Domestic animais Felis dom.esticus (Cat) - ---- + ---- + ------1 Canisfàmiliaris (Dog) ------+ ------1 Equus caballus (Horse) + + - - + -- + - + - 1 + ------Equus asinus (Ass) +? ------+ ------Bos indicus (Humped cattle) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Buhalus bubalis (Buffalo) 1 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + - + - - Bos/Bubalus 1 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Capra hircus (Goat) + + + + + + + + + + + - + - + -- -- Ovis aries (Sheep) + + + - + + + - + - + - + + --- Capra/Ovis + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - -- - ') Camelus dromedarius (Came!) ------Sus domesticus (Dornestic pig) + + - + + - + + + + + + ------Wild animais Preshytis ente/lus (Common langur) -- + -- + ------Felis clwus (Jungle cat) --- - + ------Canis lupus (Wolt) - -- - + ------Hyaena hyaena (Hyena) ---- - + ------Lepus nigricollis (Hare) + -- + -- + + --- + ------Hystrix indica (Porcupine) --- -- + ------Herpestes edwardsi ( Mongoose) ---- + ------1 Equus hemionus () + + --- -- + - + - + ------Equus sp. + + + - + + + + + + + + - + ---- Rhinoceros unicomis (Rhinoceros) --- + ------Bos sp. (Wild cattle) + - + - + + + + + ------Bubalus amee (Wilcl buffalo) ------+? +? +? +? ------Boselaphus tragocamelus (Nilgai) + + + + + + + + + + - + + + ----- Antilope ce1Ticapra (Black-buck) + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + -- - - Gazella bennetti (Chinkara) - + + - + + + + - + --- + --- + - Tetracerus quadricomis (Chowsingha) --- + ------Cervus unicolor (Sambar) - + + - - + - + --- + + ------Cervus duvauceli (Barasingha) ------+ ------Axis axis (Chital) + + + - + ------Axis porcinus (Hog deer) ------+ ------Muntiacus muntjak (Barking deer) -- + + ----- + -- - - + --- Sus scrofa (Wild pig) -- + - + + + --- - + + + --- + - Sus sp. - + + + + + + + + - - + + - - - -- Pava cristatus (Pcacock) -- - + - + ------Birds --- + ------Turtleffortoise - + + - - + + + --- + -- + -- - Crocodylus sp. - -- + ------Fish + + + + + + + + + + -- + + + -- -- Crab - + ------+ ------

ANTl/IIOPOZOOLOG/CA. 1997. N° 25-26 770

Shikarpur although there were industrial and trade centres among Locally known as Valamiya Timbo, Shikarpur, located thcse sites. The utility of cattle as an economic strategy in the Bhachu Taluka of , is about 5 km may have been manifold. In addition to the substantial con­ southwest of modern Shikarpur village. The excavation has tribution in the form of meat, thesc animais may have sup­ revealed Harappan cultural debri of more than 3 m thick ported in agricultural operations and also as draught ani­ consisting of 19 layers. Though the excavation was of a mais (Thomas, 1989). Their by-products like the milk, hide limited frame, more than 15,000 bones were unearthed and dung were probably of economic value even though from the site. there are no direct evidences for their use at these sites. The faunal assemblage here revealed (tab. 2) more Thus the very docile nature of the animal may have been than fourty five species of animais: twenty one species of the reason for their over exploitation. mammals, three species of birds, two species of reptiles, Cattle were slaughtered at different ages; however, the five types of fish, thirteen species of molluscs. and one maximum representation was noticed of adult animais of 3- crustacean species. 8 years old. This demonstrates that the secondary products A comparative study of the faunal material from Kun­ of this animal were also significant in the Harappan econ­ tasi and Shikarpur with that of the other Harappan sites of omy. The presence of numerous first phalanges, as com­ this region is essential to understand the different strategies pared to the second and third in the collection, suggests the adopted by the people depending on the nature of the site, use of animal hide at the site. While removing the hide location, economic conditions, ecological factors and social from the carcass, the third phalanges (and occasionally the aspects. Table 3 gives a list of 16 Harappan sites for which second) were removed along with the hide. The qualitative the animal remains were reported. which includes a few sex determination was difficult on the bones since they sites outside Gujarat. The absence/presence/additional were fragmentary. lt may be possible at a later stage when species in some of the sites cannot be takcn seriously into all the measurcments of cattle bones are statistically ana­ consideration, since these studies were of an incomplete lyzed. Since both meat-bearing and non-meat bearing parts nature. For instance, at Rupar, Nath (1968) mentions horse were equally represented in the collection, it can be pre­ and domestic ass in addition to the species listed in table 3. sumed that cattle were butchered and consumed at the site However, Dutta (1984), Sahu (1988) and Sharma (1989) do (Thomas, 1979, 1984). So the importance of this animal in not mention the occurrence of these equids in the Harappan the general economic and social framework of the site may levels. According to them, these animais are represented in have been multiple. the succeeding Painted Grey Ware and Northern Black Pol­ ished Warc periods. Nath (1962-63) mentions presence of Layers dog, ass, and sambar from period III, the Lustrous Red ware period at Rangpur. However, in his later report ( 1968) 2 he mentions the presence of dog from the earlier cultural 3 phase and the species of the deer in this report is baras­ 4 ingha in place of sambar. These two species of deer have 5 different habitats. In an earlier report on the faunal remains 6 7 of Surkotada (IAR, 1971-72: 21), animais like hyena, wild pig, nilgai and blackbuck were reported, whereas in the 8 final faunal report (Sharma, 1990), there is no mention of 9 these animais. This is only the tip of the iceberg of prob­ 10+11 12 lems which illustrate the kind of discrepancies one often 13 finds in the faunal reports, and the possible fallacies they 14+15 may generate in interpretations. 16 17 Domestic animais 18 Cattle bones accounted for more than 70% (fig. 2) in 19 the total collection of faunal remains from almost all proto­ 0 2 4 6 8 10 historic sites (Thomas and Joglekar, 1990). Like in other protohistoric cultural phases, cattle pastoralism was one of Fig. 2: Contribution of the aquatic the main occupations for the Harappans of Gujarat. fauna at Shikarpur.

ANTHROPOZOOLOGlCA. 1997. N' 25-26 Section V: Postpalaeolithic Europe II, Asia, Africa 771

Table 2: Animais in diffcrent layers at Shikarpur. + = Presence, - =Absence, * = Possibly wild cattle

SPECIES / LA YERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+11 12 13 14+15 16 17 18 19 Domestic animais Bos indicus + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Bos/Bubalus + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Bubalus bubalis + + + + + + + + + + + Capra hircus + + + + + + + + + Capra!Ovis + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Ovies aries + + + + + + + Sus domesticus + + + + + + + Equus caballus + + + Canis familiaris + + + + + Gallus domesticus + + + Wild animais Bubalus arnee + + + Bos sp.* + + + + + + + Boselaphus tragocamelus + + + + + + + Tetracerus quadricornis + + + + + + + Antilope cervicapra + + + + + + + + + + Gazella bennetti + + + + + + + + + + Axis axis + + + + + + + Axis porcinus + Axis sp. + + + + + + + + + + Cervus unicolor + + + + + + + + + Cervus!Axis + Muntiacus muntjak + + + + + Sus scrofa + + + + + + + + + + Canis aureus + Rattus rattus + + + Lepus nigricollis + + + Equus hemionus + + + Rhinoceros unicornis + + + + + + Pavo cristatus + Crus grus + Trionyx gangeticus + Crocodylus porous + + + Lamellidens sp. + + Cerithiidae sp. + Indoplanorbis exustus + + Paphia gallus + + + + + + + + Thias (Cymia) carinifera + + + + + Telescopium telescopium + + Anadara rhombea + + Monetaria moneta + Chicoreus ramosus + + Ellobium aurfajudae + Polinices didyma + Dentalium sp. + Turbine/la pyrum + + + + + + + + + +

AN'IHRO/'OZOOLOGICA, 1997, N° 25-26 772

The overall representation of buffalo bones, though However, the level of contribution of this animal in the diet sparse, was similar to those of cattle and have been repre­ of the Harappans is not known, since only very few bones sented in a majority of Harappan sites. Often from the frag­ of these animais are found in the Harappan faunal materi­ mentary faunal collection it is challcnging to separate out als. The presence of other species of equids like Equus asi­ certain bones and dentition of cattle from those of buffalo nus and Equus hemionus in this region and bones of which because of close morphological similarities (Thomas, in the collection, makes the precise species identification 1977). Buffalo bones may represent about 5-10% in the rather difficult and they are misinterpreted when one is total collection at Kuntasi and Shikarpur. working without the reference skeletons of modern ani­ Mutton was usually the second most important item mais. Horse bernes found in the Harappan context are often preferred in the food economy since bernes of sheep and the lower limb extrcmities. From Kuntasi as well as from goat are found at all the sites. Again from the archaeologi­ Shikarpur bones of wild ass with eut marks and charring cal faunal samples it is often difficult to distinguish have been found in the collection suggesting hunting of between these two species. However, the dues on some of these animais for food purposes. the bones (Boessneck, 1969) suggest that, at least at Kun­ Another domestic species which is usually associated tasi and Shikarpur, goat bones were more numerous in the with the Harappan culture is the domestic fowl and is collection than those of sheep, Unlike cattle, sheep and reported from quite a few sites. At Khanpur and Babarkot goats were killed relatively at a younger age which shows the species identification is not certain. that they were preferred for meat rather than for their sec­ ondary products like milk, wool, etc. The collection com­ Wild animais prises bath meat-bearing and non-meat bcaring parts in In addition to the domestic stock of animais the Harap­ almost equal proportion, which indieates rearing and pans exploited numerous species of wild mammals for food slaughtering of these animais within the settlement. as shown in table 3. Gcnerally the ratio of bones of domes­ Pork consumption was common among the Harappans. tic to wild animais is approximately 4: 1. The composition At Kuntasi and Shikarpur domestic and wild pigs were in of the wild fauna differs from site to site. Boues of ele­ the ratio of 2: 1. The piglets killed probably belonged to the phant, rhinoceros, wild buffalo and probably wild cattle domestic species, identified thanks to a large number of and several species of antelopes, dccr. carnivores, primates their dentition. The presence of more meat-bearing parts or and rodents were reported from a majority of Harappan the wild pigs in the settlement area suggests that the kill­ sites from Gujarat. Furthermore, the aquatic and avian site was located away from the habitation area and only the resourccs were not spared. Bones of various birds, turtle, parts having meat were carried into the settlement. fish, crab and molluscs were associated with the kitchen Dog bones were identified at almost ail the Harappan refuse. The coastal sites have yielded abundant fish sites and were devoid of any human activity on thcm. remains. Sorne of these sites are also known for their shell These boues got mixed with the kitchen refuse probably industry. Hence the molluscan species have been exploited because of the scavenging and predatory activities for industrial as well as for food purposes. (Thomas, 1975). Domestic cat was reported from a couple Numerous shell fragments were collected at Kuntasi of sites, however, its role in the diet of Harappans is not and Shikarpur belonging to three major classes of phylum certain, and unlikely, Mollusca such as Bivalvia, Gastropoda and Schaphopoda. Carnel bones are reported from six of the Harappan They were represented by various familics and at least 50 sites mentioned in table 3. Their convincing association species. Shells in general show good preservation, although with the typical Harappan culture is a matter of controversy the external designs and colour were obliterated to a (Meadow, 1984; Sathe and Atre, 1989). A calcaneum of a greater extent due to taphonomical factors. came! is reported from the slope of the eastern sicle of the Bivalve species such as Anadara rhombea, Trachy­ main mound at Kuntasi. At present it is difficult to estab­ cardium enode, Paphia gallus, Meretrix meretrix, Marcia lish its cultural context, since the sample had no strati­ recens, Lamellidens marginalis, Crassostrea cuttackensis, graphical contrai. The identification of came! at Rojadi is etc were represented in almost al! the layers in large quan­ also enigmatic (Kanc, 1989). tities. A majority of these species could have been utilized Ass and horse are reported from the mature and late for food purposcs, although further ethnographie investiga­ Harappan phases of some of the sites. The presence of tion is necessary for confirmation. Among the gastropods, these beasts of burden probably accelerated the mobility of the marine species like Turbinella pvrum, Pugili1111s the people and helped them in trade as well as in transport. bucephalus, Telescopium telescopium, Erosaria lamarkii,

ANTHROPOZOOLOGIC\. /997, N' 25·26 Section V' Postpalaeolithic Europe JI, Asia, Africa 773

Table 3: Fatma] account of mammals at Harappan sites. MHJ: Mohenjodaro (Sewel and Guha, 1931); HPA: Harappa (Prashad, 1936; Meadow, 1991); KLB: Kalibangan (Sahu, 1988): RPR: Rupar (Sharma, 1989); BAR: Bara (Nath, 1968); AGR: Alamgirpur (Sahu, 1988); BKT: Babarkot (Ryan, in press); RGR: Rangpur (Nath, 1963); LTL: (Nath, 1968); KTS: Kuntasi (present authors); SKD: Surkotada (Sharma, 1990); NGR: Nagcshwar (Shah and Bhan, 1992): SKR: Shikarpur (present authors); OTB: Orio Timbo (Rissman, 1985); KPR: Khanpur (Thomas, 1977); RJD: Rojdi (Kane, 1989); MVN: Malvan (Alur, 1990); PDR: Padri (Joglekar, in press). + = Presence; - = Absence, ? = Species doubtful.

l\IHJ HPA KLB RPR BAR AGR RGR LTL KTS SKD NGR OTB KPR RJD MVN BKT SKR PDR -- Domestic animais Canis familiaris + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Felis dumesticus + +? Camelus dromedarius + + + + + +" Equus caballus + + +•) + + + + + Equus asinus + + + + + Sus domesticus + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Bos indicus + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Buhalus bubalis + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 01-is aries + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Capra hircus + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Wild animais Presbytis ente/lus +'? Cuon alpinus + Canis aureus + + + + + + Canis lupus + +') + + Hyaena hyaena + Felis chaus +? Felis libyca +? Elephas maximus + + + + + + + +? Rhinoceros unicornis + + + + + +? + + Equus hemionus + + + + Sus sera.fa + + + + + + + Bos sp. + + Bubalus arnee + + Muntiacus munzjak + + Cervus wzicolor + + + + + +? +7 + Cervus duvauceli + + + +'? +'' + Cervus daphu.1· hanglu + Axis axis + + + + + + + + + + + + Axis porcinus + + + + Boselaphus + + + + + + + + tragocamelus Gaze/la bennetti + + +? + +? + + Tetracerus quadricornis + +? + + Antilope cervicapra + + +? +? + + + Hystrix indica + + Suncus sto/iczkanus + + Lepus nigricollis + + + + + + + + + Herpestes edwardsi + + + + + + + R attus rattus + + + + + + + + + + Bandicota indica i - +

ANTHROl'OZOOLOGICA, /997. N° 25-26 774

Chowsingha Goat

Blackbuck

Gaze li a Total Fauna

Wild Ass Chital Sam bar Fig. 3: Relative importance of the wild mammals at Shikarpur. Wild Mammals

Aqaronia nebulosa, Lophiostoma sp. and the fresh water for other fonctions such as making bone tools and bone Melania striatella tuberculata and Zootecus insularis were objects. Such bone objects have been reported from a num­ most common. Their occurrence could be partially ber of Harappan sites. attributed to the manufacture of shell objects. Shell bangles made out of Turbinella pyrum and Pugilinus bucelaphus Conclusion and beads made out of Aqaronia nebulosa, Erosaria In general, the representation of wild animais in the lamarkii, etc. were collected in large number at Kuntasi. northem group of Harappan sites shows slight variation from The vast amount of complete shells, finished and unfin­ those sites in the Saurashtra Kutch group. The typical semi­ ished shell objects, and waste products of shell manufac­ arid animais like the blackbuck, gazelle, nilgai, etc. are not ture at the site would indicate a well developed shell indus­ identified from the northern group of sites like Harappa, try at Kuntasi. The role of shell industry and its extent in Kalibangan, Rupar, Alamgirpur, etc. Probably this can be the general framework of the site cannot be judged at this attributed to the different ecological settings of these sites. A juncture as the study is still in progress (Ms. Arati Desh­ majority of the deer species and the domestic animais like pande' s doctoral dissertation programme). cattle, sheep, goat and pig are common at all the sites. The Both at Kuntasi and Shikarpur, a few bones of cattle Harappans were well aware of the multiple utility of cattle. such as humerus, astragalus and metapodials revealed char­ The importance of this animal can be further deduced from acters which were uncommon in domestic cattle. Appar­ its depiction in terracotta and seals, unearthed from a major­ ently some of these bones were also larger in size suggest­ ity of archaeological sites. Horse, an important animal in the ing the possibility of some affinity with their wild Harappan context to the archaeologists and historians, was counterparts or that these animais were in the early stage of identified at Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Rupar, Lothal, Kuntasi, domestication. However, the impact of individual, func­ Surkotada and Malvan. More than anything else, the repre­ tional and/or breed differences cannot be ruled out at this sentation of horse and ass in the Harappan sites probably stage (detailed investigation in this regard is being carried indicates that some of these sites were industrial and/or trade out by Y. Matsushima for his doctoral degree). centers, as these animais can accelerate the mobility of the However, the role of the big mammals like the ele­ people. On the other hand, at least a few of the other contem­ phant, rhinoceros, etc. in the food economy is doubtful as porary sites where horse has not been represented were pri­ the number of bones of these animais are sparse in the col­ marily agro-pastoral settlements catering to the food require­ lection and probably the bones were brought into the site ments of the industrial/ commercial centers.

ANTHROPOZOOLOGICA. 1997, N' 25·26 Section V: Postpalaeolithic Europe Il, Asia, Africa 775

Elephant bones and ivory were reported from a num­ culture degenerated to a greater extent. This could be ber of sites; however these were associated with craftsman­ noticed in their economy, agriculture, industrial and com­ ship and probably were trade items acquired through com­ mercial activities and social aspects. The failure in agricul­ mercial activities. Rhinoceros was also reported from a ture may have been due to environmental degradation number of Chalcolithic and Harappan sites in Gujarat. This caused by the prolonged human interference with the animal inhabited a major part of the Gujarat plains in the nature and also due to the erratic behaviour of the monsoon protohistoric period and in the mcdieval period it was rains. Another reason for the over-exploitation of the ani­ restricted to certain ecological niches. The strips of grass mal world in the late Harappan period may have been due land along the banks of the rivers may have supported the to the pressure of population. In such conditions the people habitat of animais like rhino and wil

Bibliography

ALUR K. R., 1990.- Studies in Indian archaeology and palaeontology. Dharwad : Shrihari Prakashana. ANONYME, 1965.- Rajkot District Gazetteer, Gujarat State 1965. Ahmedabad: Government of Gujarat. BOESSNECK J., 1969.- Osteological clifferences between sheep (Ovis aries Linnaeus) and goats (Capra hircus Linnaeus). ln: E. Brothwell and E. Higgs cds., Science in Arclweology. London: Thames and Hudson, p. 331-358. CHTTALWALA Y. M .. 1977.- Harappan ami post-Harappan settlement patterns. ln : D. P. Agrawal and M. Pande eds., Ecolo gr and archaeology o_f'Western lndia. New Delhi: Concept Publishers. p. 93-98. CHIT ALW ALA Y. M., 1990.- The disappearance of Rhino from Saurashtra : a study in palaeoecology. Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research lnstitute, 49 : 79-82.

ANJJIROPOLOOLOGICA. 1997, N° 25-26 776

DUTTA B. C., 1984.- Rupar: Ancient cultural camp/ex ojîndia. Calcutta : B. C. Dutta, p. 53. !AR, 1971-1972.- Indian archaeology : a revint'. New Delhi : Archaeological Survey of India, p. 21. JOGLEKAR P. P., in press.- Faunal remains from Padri : a second preliminary report. Bulletin of the Deccan Post-Graduate and Research Institute. JOGLEKAR P. P. and THOMAS P. K., 1992.- Ancestry of Bos species: myth and reality IV. The origins of humped cattle. Man and Environment, 17 (1) : 51-54. KANE V. S., 1989.- Animal remains from Rojdi. In: G. L. Possehl and M. H. Raval cds., Harappan Civilization and Rojdi. New Delhi : Oxford and IBH. p. 182-184. MEADOW R. H., 1984.- A came! skeleton from Mohenjodaro. ln: B. B. Lai and S. P. Gupta eds .. Fron.tiers of"the Indus civi­ lization. New Delhi : The Indian Archaeology Society, p. 133-139. MEADOW R. H., 1991.- Faunal remains and urbanism at Harappa. ln : R. H. Meadow ed., Harappa excavations 1986-1990. Madison : Wisconsin Prehistory Press, p. 89-106. NATH B., 1962-1963.- Animal remains from Rangpur. Ancient lndia, 18-19: 153-160. NATH B., 1968.- Advances in the study of Prehistoric and Ancient animal remains in India : a review. Records of the zoological survey of India, 61 : 1-63. PRASHAD B., 1936.-Animal rcmains from Harappa. Memoirs of the archaeological survey oflndia, 51 : 1-60. RISS MAN P., 1985.- Migratory pastoralism in in the Second Millennium B. C. : the evidences from Oriyo Timbo (Chiroda). Ph. D Dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, USA. RYAN K., in press.- Faunal analysis. In : G. L. Possehl and M. H. Raval eds., Report on the excavations at Babarkot; 1990- 1991. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey ofindia. SAHU B. P., 1988.- Frorn hunters to breeders. New Delhi : Anamika Prakashan. SA THE Y. G. and ATRE S., 1989.- The problems of came! in the Indus civilization. Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Grad­ uate and Research lnstitute, 47-48 : 301-306. SEWELL R. B. S. and GUHA B. S., 1931.- Zoological remains. ln : John Marshall ed., Mohenjodaro and the Indus ci1·i/izatio11. ll. London : Arthur Probsthain, p. 649-673. SHAH D. R. and BHAN K. K., 1992.- Faunal remains. In: K. T. M. Hegde, K. K. Bhan, V. H. Sonawane, K. Krishnan and D. R. Shah eds., Excavation at Nageswar, Gujarat : a Harappan shell working site on the gulf of Kutch. Baroda : M.S. Univer­ sity Archaeology Series No. 18, p. 145-47. SHARMA A. K., 1990.-Animal bone remains. Excavations at Surkotada 1971-1972 and explorations in Kutch. Memoirs of Archaeological Survey of lndia: New Delhi : Archaeological Survey of lndia, p. 372- 383. SHARMA Y. D., 1989.- Rupar. In: A. Ghosh ed., An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology, 2. Delhi: Munshiram, p. 377-381. THOMAS P. K., 1975.- Role of animais in the food economy of the Mesolithic culture of western and central India. In : A. T. Clason ed., Arclzaeomological studies. Amsterdam: North Holland Publishing Company, p. 322-328. THOMAS P. K., 1977.- Archaeological a:.pects of the Pre historie culture of western India. Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Poona (Pune). THOMAS P. K .. 1979.- Archaeozoological aspects of the prehistoric culture of Prabhas Patan. In : M. Kubasicwicz ed., Archaeo::oology, Vol. 1. Szezecin, Poland: Agricultural Academy, p. 176-86. THOMAS P. K., 1984.- Faunal background of the Chalcolithic culture of Western lndia. ln : J. Clutton Brock and C. Grigson eds., Animais and Archaeology, 3. England: British Archaeological Review 202, p. 355-61. THOMAS P. K., 1988.- Faunal Assemblage. In: M. K. Dhavalikar, H. D. Sankalia eds., Excavation at Inamgaon, I, Pt ii. Pune: Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, pp. 822- 961. THOMAS P. K., 1989.- Utilization of Domestic Animais in Pre-and Protohistoric lndia. In : J. Clutton Braek ed., The Walking Larder: Patterns of Domestication, Pastoralism and Predation. London : Unwin Hyman, p. 108-112. THOMAS P. K. and JOGLEKAR P. P., 1990.-Faunal Remains. In: M. K. Dhavalikar, V. Shinde and S. Atre eds., Excavations at Kaothe. Pune : Deccan College Postgraduate and Research lnstitutc, p. 233-264.

ANTHROPOZOOUJG!CA. /997. N' 25-26