POTTERY ANALYSIS of Kuntasl CHAPTEH IV

CHAPTER IV

POTTERY ANALYSIS OF KUNTASl CHAPTEH IV

POTTBKY ANALYSIS OF KUNTASI

IV-A. KUNTASI, A HARAPPAN SITE IN WESTKRN SAUKASHTKA

IV-A-1. Gujarat and its regions

The ancient site of Kuntasi (22" 53’ OO” N - 70“ :J2 ’ OO" H ';

Taluka Maliya, Dislricl l^ajkot) lies about two kilomelres soulh- easl of the present village, on the right (north) bank of the meandering, ephemeral nala of Zinzoda. The village of Kuntasi lies

just on the border of three districts, viz., Rajkot, Jamnagar and

Kutch (Fig. 1). Geographically, Kuntasi is located at the north western corner of Saurashtra bordering Kutch, almost at the mouth of the Little Rann. Thus, the location of the site itself is very interesting and unique.

Three regions of Gujarat^ : Gujarat is roughly divided into

three divisions, namely Anarta (northern Gujarat), Lata (southern

Gujarat from Mahi to Tapi rivers) and Saurashtra (Sankalia 1941: 4-

6; Shah 1968: 56-62). The recent anthropological field survey has also revealed major “ eco-cultural” zones or the folk regions perceived by the local people in Gujarat (North, South and

Saurashtra) identical with the traditional divisions, adding Kutch as the fourth region (Singh 1992: 34 and Map 1).

These divisions also agree well more or less with the

physiographical divisions, which are also broadly divided into

three distinct units, viz. the mainland or the plains of (North and

South combined) Gujarat, the Saurashtra peninsular and Kutch

(Deshpande 1992: 119)'.

-72- The mainland or the plains of Gujarat is characleri zed by a

flat tract of alluvium formed by the rivers such as Banas and Kupen X draining out into the Little Rann of Kutch, and Sabarmati, Mahi,

Narmada, Tapi, etc.(all these rivers are almost perennial) into the

Gulf of Khambhat. Both north and east is bordered by the Aravallis and the Sahyadris, making the plains distinct and independent from

the inland regions of Central India (Spate and Learmonth 1984:

650). The plains appear to be a past tectonic depression formed

during the Tertiary period and later filled with alluvium (Dikshit

1970: 16). The average annual rainfall ranges from around 600 mm in

the north to 2000 mm in the south (Census of India 1966: 12).

A series of relict sand dunes form the natural eminences in

the northern plains, covered with a soil rich in lime which

supports a thicket type of vegetation. These elevated lands seemed

to have attracted the Harappans, where recently more than twenty- one sites have been found (Hegde and Sonawane 1986). There is a

view that this part of land is slowly being desiccated (Sankalia and Joshi 1957: 127-8).

The boundaries of the Gulf of Khambhat (between Sabarmati and

Mahi rivers) are loccally known as bhal and bhalbaru, and though soils are sandy and salty and the ground water is brackish, large

portions of these tracts are used for grazing and cultivating wheat

(Varma 1990: 140; 1991: 282). Nearly eighteen chalcolithic

(Harappan) sites have been located in this region (Momin 1974;

1976). The plains, more towards the south, are covered with the

black cotton soil^.

-73- The peninsular of Saurashtra has exp(;rienced a series of geological formations commencing with the Jurassic period, but the major portion of the present land is characterized by the Deccan

Trap of the Eocene and Oligocene periods. The black cotton soil f derived from the Tra' or the weathered basalt is coverig the majority of the peninsular (Wadia 1943; Deshpande 1948: 208-210;

Desai 1972). The central part of Saurashtra is an irregular plateau mostly lying between 75 to 300 m, bisected by peaks, one of which rises to a height of more than one thousand metres (Spate and

Learmonth 1984: 646). As far as the climate is concerned,

Saurashtra falls in semi-arid zone with an average rainfall ranging between 400 and 600 mm, less in southern and western coasts (Census of India 1966: 12).

The Saurashtra peninsular (59,365 sq.km) is believed to have

been an island in the past. A low-level strip of land (bhal) comprising the present Nal lake had once (during the Tertiary and post-Tertiary periods and perhapstill the beginning of the

Pleistocene) connected the Gulf of Khambhat with the Little Rann of

Kutch (Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency 1884: 78; Wadii 1943: 7;

Deshpnade 1948: 210). Even today, it is observed that the excess water of the Rann empties into the Gulf of Khambhat through this channel (Dikshit 1970: 15; Pandya 1983: 62). The recent finds of marine organisms from the sediments of the “ dockyard” at l.othal

(Nigam 1988) may very much support this view. It seems that the

Little Rann was a shallow sea and Saurashtra remained as semi-

insular as late as 17 th century (Spate and Learmonth 1984: 645)®.

-74- Kulch is the most arid region in Gujarat, with an annual rainfall ranging between 300 and 400 mm only. The terrain of Kutch is almost a crescent shaped, composed mainly of sandstones with intrusive and interbedded basalts (Spate and Lcarmonth 1984: 64b).

This is bounded by the Gulf of Kutch in the south and by both the

Great and the Little Kanns on the other three sides, the latter being the vast expanse of tidal mudflats, sand and salt swamps. The old Indus tributaries drained into the Great Rann before the earthquake of 1819 which uplifted a fault now known as the Allah

Bund and disrupted it (Oldham 1900; 1926). The geomorphological study of the area suggests that the Ranns of Kutch were originally an inlet of the Arabian Sea at least upto the Pleistocene

(Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency 1884: 3; Kamanathan 1954; Gupta

1977a; Wadia 1989: 292, 374-75).

Although Ihe isohyet marking the different climatic zones are very irregular because of the large interannual fluctuations in the regional circulation features, Saurashtra and Kutch specifically, have high probability of 50 '/. or more for the occurrence of an extremely arid environment (Singh et al. 1991), and very much prone to be suffered by famines (Das 1988: 189-191).

There are a large number of communities classified as tribes in Gujarat (Koppar 1964; Shah 1968: 79-96), among which, Rabari (in

Kutch, Barada hill and Gir forest area of southern Saurashtra and

MAh^sana and Banas Kantha districts), Bharwad (practically scattered all over Gujarat, but heavy concentration in eastern

Kutch and eastern Saurashtra) and Charan (Kutch, Saurashtra and

-75- northern Gujarat) are known as the main Hiduistic pastoral communities (Jain 1980: 46-87). Traditionally, the animals grazed by each of these communities were camels, sheep and goats and buffaloes respectively. Cows are traditionally kept by Ahir (mainly in south-eastern Kutch). Today, however, the division of communities on the basis of their profession does not hold, and the last named especially, shifted their main occupation to ; agriculture. Muslim patoralists are also seen, specifically in -- ^ ------Banni and Pachcham area of northern Kutch (Jain 1980: 46-87). The tA- mention of the pstoralists of Saurashtra in The Feriplus of the ----- Ery t hraean Sea suggests that this practice goes back at least to two thousand years (Varma 1991: 279).

Listed among the main farming communities are: Kanbi, Mer,

Sathvara, Koli, Kharak, Aboti, Sagar, Ahir and Rajput (all Hindus), and Bohra, Ghanchi, Sama, Sumara, Hengorja, Nodhe, etc. (all

Muslims); though some communities such as Ahir and Rajput had taken farming as occupation only in the last two centuries or so (Jain

1980: 111).

Agro-Ecological Regions : The classification of any land depend on various factors ranging from vegetation, rainfall,

temperature, soil, etc. Recently, the National Bureau of Soil

Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSSLUP) divided the whole of India into twenty broad “ agro-ecological ” regions on the basis of physiography, soil types, fifty years of climatic data, natural vegetation and also the length of growing period of plants'^ (Sehgal et al. 1992). According to this division, Gujarat falls under the

-76- following four agro-eco 1 ogical regions (Fig. 7).

A. Kutch and the north-western part of Saurashtra (included

under Agro-ecorcgion No.2).

Hot and arid ecoregion, with desert and saline soils, and

Growing Period (GP) less than 90 days. Precipitation : less

than 300 mm. Land utilisation type : millets and pulses.

Forest type : tropical thorn forest.

B. Gujarat plains coaprising Ahaedabad and the north-eastern

districts (included under Agro-ecoregion No.4).

Hot, semi-arid ecoregion with alluvium derived soils and GP

being 90-150 days. Precipitation : 500-800 mm. Land

utilisation type : millets, wheat, pulses, maize, sugarcane

and cotton. Forest type : tropical, dry deciduous and thorn

forest.

C. Saurashtra except the north-western part, Gujarat plains

coBprising south and eastern districts of Gujarat (included

under Agro-ecoregion No.5).

Hot, semi-arid ecoregion, with medium and deep blck soils,

and GP being 90-150 days. Precipitation : 500-1000 mm. Land

utilisation type : millets, wheat and pilses. Forest type :

dry, deciduous and thorn forest.

D. Coastal plains of Surat, Dangs and Valsad districts

(included under Agro-ecoregion No.19).

Hot, humid ecoregion with red lateriric and alluvium derived

soils with GP being 219 or more days. Precipitation : 2000-

3200 mm. Land utilisation type : rice, tapioca, coconut and

millets. Forest type : tropical moist deciduous forest.

-77- Fi/;. 7 GUJAKAT AND ITS AGRO-HCOLOGICAI. KHGIOIMS

(aflor SehKal el al. 1992)

. . . . International boundary

— •— Slate boundary

77 a (Seh/;al el al. 1992>«

IV-A-2. Kuntasi and ils surroundings

As far as Saurashlra is concerned, almost entire Jamna/jar district and northern half of Rajkol district (in which Kuntasi is located) are included under the region A of NBSSLUP mentioned above.

The climate of this part of Saurashtra is generally pleasant, the mean daily temperature ranges between 26.0" C and 11.6° C in the coldest month of January, and between 36.3° C and 25.1° C in the hottest month of May, though it remains humid Ihoroughout the year. The average rainfall in the Jamnagar district is around 412 mm, 95 % of which is brought by the south-west monsoon. The monsoon however, is quite irregular and erratic and varies largely from year to year. During the period between 1901 and 1960, the highest amount of annual rain (in 1944) reached 213 % of the nornal year, whereas the lowest (in 1918) was only 14 % of that normal (Gujarat

State Gazetteer 1970: 42-43).

The coastal area of Maliya and Jodiya talukas of Rajkot and

Jamnagar districts respectively where Kuntasi is situated, is characterized by the ranges of sand dunes of very low lying

territories covered by sheet of water during high tides. The coast is covered with mangroves especially towards the south (Gujarat

State Gazetteer 1970: 6, 13).

Four types of soils are in the region, viz., black and medium black soil ikampal) rich in minerals, light brown soil (dharod) which is less fertile and requires plenty of water and manure,

-78- alkaline soil along the coastal areas (.khar) and alluvial soil

(ghad, bkatha or katha). The former two soils are suitable for cultivation (Gujarat State Gazetteer 1970; 168).

Occurrence of the semi-precious stones such as chalcedony, agate, amethyst, onyx, etc., are found as geode materials in the region (Gujarat Stale Gazetteer 1970: 30).

Ground water potentialities among the alluvium and miliolite deposits (both post-Tertiary) are generally good, except the low lying tidal flats or saline tracts along the coast. Abundant water is available for domestic needs and for some irrigation within a shallow depth from the surface (Gujarat State Gazetteer 1970: 31).

However, sub-surface water from and along the Rann is entirely brackish, due to the desiccation of the region (ibid.).

In 1964-65, only 55 % of the land was cultivated^, 34 % was under forest and barren, and 11 % was under pasture or grazing land or waste. The major crop being jo w a r (20 X of the area under cultivation), bajra (14 %) and groundnut (53 %), with additional insignificant amount of wheat, rice, sugarcane, potatoe, sesamum, cotton, etc. Fruit trees such as mango, coconut, chikoo, papaiya, banana, etc., are common. (Gujarat State Gazetteer 1970: 34, 171-

2). Owing to irregularity of the monsoon and the deficient in irrigation facilities, however, crop failures are common feature in the region (Gujarat State Gazetteer 1970: 160-61).

The total livestock in the Jamangar district amounted to almost 7.b lakhs, of which, bullocks and cows sum upto 43 %,

-79- buffaloes 13 %, sheep 27 X, goats 15 /i, poultry 3 %, followed by horses, donkeys, camels, etc.(Gujarat State Gazetteer 1970: 192)'**

The wild animals such as panther, hyaena, wolf. Jackal, fox, wild cat, wild pig, mongoose, sambhar, blue bull (nilgai), spotted deer, etc. can be seen in the region. Lion abounded in the Barda and

Alech hills in the south, but they are now confined to the Gir ranges (Gujarat Stale Gazetteer 1970: 34). Towards the north, the

Little Rann of Kutch is famous for the wild ass (Prater 1990: 227-

228). All the animals found in Kutch and Saurashtra can be classified as Extra-Humid Tropical India species (Tiwari 1985:

104).

In terms of settlement pattern, a few sites are located in the vicinity of Kuntasi : a small Harappan site at about two kilometres towards the north; and Gola Dhoro at a village Bagasara towards Navlakhi on the coast (personal communication,

Y.M.Chitalwala). Further away within a radius of thirty kilometres are a number of sites; they are discovered at Panchasar, a village about thirty kilometres towards the south-east (Dhavalikar 1992:

81; 1993: 563); a “ Sindhi Harappan” site of Shikarpur (lAR 1987-

88: 14-5) on the northern coast of the Gulf of Kutch; and a number of sites belonging to Rangpur IIB and IIC phases are located along

the river Aji towards the south-west (Bhan 1986; 1989)''.

IV-A-3. Kuntasi - the site and its excavations'^

The ancient site of Kuntasi, discovered by the late P.P.Pandya,

lies about two kilometres south-east from the present village, on

-80- the right (north) bank of meandering ephemeral river Zinzoda. It is represented by a prominent mound rising to a height of five metres from the surrounding field, which is locally known as B i b i - n o -

Timbo, situated on a low alluvial fill terrace. The river opens into the Gulf of Kutch about five kilometres towards north-west

(Fig. 1).

The site was earlier reported as ilajnali (Chitalwala 1982;

Dhavalikar 1992: 75; 199: 5 5 7 ) ' and though merely two hactres in size, its location is most significant as stated earlier. Y.M.

Chitalwala, who thoroughly explored the site, commented that the site “ does not appear to be a normal habitational mound like a village or a town. From its shape and size it seems to have been made up of a group of large structures in the manner of a trading post” , and “ with the recession of sea level it now stands inland” (Chitalwala 1982; 200).

The waters of the Gulf of Kutch come close to Kuntasi during high tide, and even upto about forty years ago, ships used to anchor at the village of Jhijhoda (locally known as Juna-bandar or old port), three kilometres west of Kuntasi, untill Navlakhi at the mouth of the river Phulki came into prominence. Today at Navlakhi, small boats of five to six tonnes can be anchored even in two feet deep water, and hence, if the tidal sea did reach Kuntasi in the

past, there should have been no problem for ships to be acnhored by

the site (Logbook of Kuntasi: 60).

The recession of the sea is supported by the geomorphplogical observations around Kuntasi by S.Ghate and S.N.Rajaguru (1990), as

well as by the geochronological work in the Little Rann of Kutch by

- 8 1 - Gupta (1977). These studies revealed that the sea level was higher by a few metres around 6000 years B.P. and there was four metre- deep water in the Little Rann at around 2000 years B.P.; suggestive of the Zinzoda river being a creek and navigable during Harappan times (Ghate and Rajaguru 1990).

The excavations at Kuntasi were carried out from 1987 for the successive three seasons by the Deccan College in collaboration with the Gujarat State Department of Archaeology (Fig. 8). The excavations revealed two phases'^ and three structural sub-phases.

Phase 1 (Mature Harappan : c.2200-1900 B.C.)

sub-phase A and B

Phase II (Late Harappan : c.1900-1700 B.C.)

sub-phase C

It should be noted that this is slightly revised version of the one previously reported - sub-phase C is combined with B and sub-phase D changed to C (Dhavalikar 1991a; 1992; 1993) - which is now accepted as the final sequence (Dhavalikar, personal communication).

The site of Kuntasi is considered as the industrial site making pottery and beads of faience and other semi-precious stones.

The raw material was possibly from the hinterland and the finished products were exported to West Asia. The possibility of Kuntasi being an agricultural settlement is ruled out because the water in the river is brackish (even today, only one out of four wells in

the present village has sweet waterXDhavalikar 1991a: 13; 1992:

-82- (courtesy of Dr.M.K.Dhavallkar, Ihe forner Direclor of Deccan College)

82 a 73. 80).

The layout of the settlement is considered as following the standarized Harappan plan, though it would be classified under a small village due to its size. As it is the case with many of the sites in Kutch, Kuntasi also has no lower town, relatively small settlement which consists only of a citadel and some habitation outside it (Dhavalikar 1991a: 11; 1992: 73; 1993: 558). Dhavalikar infers that these people outside the fortification wall were the extremely poor local people probably who were trained in different arts and crafts; only the typical Harappan pottery was found ? outside the fortified area, and since no floors, post-holes, etc. were traced, they seemed to have lived in small temporary huts

(Dhavalikar 1993: 556).

The availablity of extremely fine clay in the vicinity were used for making pottery of fine variety and beads of faience. Even today there are over 150 factories manufacturing tiles and quite a few ceramic industries are operating around Kuntasi (Dhavalikar

1993: 564).

Dhavalikar reported that the chronology of Phase I is evident from the occurrence of many mature forms in the Red Ware such as the ‘ s’ shaped jars, pointed based jars, highly decorated step- sided dishes, short stemmed stud-handled bowl and ledge-necked jars, etc.(Dhavalikar 1992: 75; 1993: 559) The ratio of painted designs including an occasional floral and faunal motifs are low compared to the plain variety (Logbook of Kuntasi: 151). Other wares consist of Bichrome Ware, Buff Ware, Coarse Red/Grey Ware,

-83- Black-and-Red Ware, etc. Among them, the Bichrome Ware is found abundant at Kuntasi although sporadic at other sites, suggestive of the export of this pottery along with other finished products

(Dhavalikar 1991a: 13; 1992: 80; 1993: 562). The X ray diffraction analysis revealed that at least two sources of clay were used, one for the Red Ware and the other for the Buff and the Grey Wares, though both are local origin (Gogte 1993).

Cubical chert weights, terracotta toy cart frames, a few bone points, a few chert blades (a blade tool industry is conspicous with its absence), a quantity of beads of semi-precious stones including lapis lazuli, faience and steatite, etc., along with copper bangles with spiral motifs, square seal of faience with an incised linear pattern and anchor stones were the noteworthy findings of Phase I (Dhavalikar 1992: 75; 1993: 559). There is

“ astonishing uniformity in the typology of artefact assemblages between those from the homeland (i.e.Sind) and the once produced in

Saurashtra” , suggestive of the craftsmen who were brought to

Kuntasi (Dhavalikar 1993: 566, note in bracket by the present au thor).

The majority of the architectural evidence is confined to sub phase B (Fig. 9). None of the structure of sub-phase A have been fully exposed, and only a few structures of sub-phase C. The entire settlement is said to have been built on the chatukshala plan

(structures on all four sides and an open area in the cenlre)'S

toghether with the semi-circular platform perhaps used for

preaching, the western complex or the “ workshop” where structures

-84- ^ Index TrencK P * 10

(Mg. 9 : Kiinlasi. plan of llarappan structures (Dhavalikar 1992).

84-a such as pottery kiln, furnaces for making beads or copper

implements, granary with five large pit silos, etc. problably

belonging to the chief of the “ workshop” , and the “ landing

platform” are located (Dhavalikar 1991a: 11-13; 1992: 75-78; 1993:.

559-562). The "workshop” was extended more towards east and the

double fortification wall of the settlement was constructed in the

next sub-phase C (Logbook of Kuntasi: 72), The structures were

built of brittle miliolite limestone available in the nearby

stream, though mud bricks (measuring 38X 19X 9.5 cm) were also used

on top of the stone foundation (Dhavalikar 1991a: 12; 1992: 76;

1993: 561).

Phase II or the Late Harappan phase, comprises one structural

sub-phase ^^D^^and is considered as the time of decline due to

decrease in the long distance trade with West Asia. The workshop

area was abandoned, the structures are mostly concentrated on the

southern part of the mound, and the size of the settlement become

smaller (Logbook of Kuntasi: 72). The duration of the occupation is

estimated to be rather short, considering the thickness of about 1

to 1.5 m (Dhavalikar 1991a: 13; 1992: 80; 1993: 562)’ ®. As far as

the pottery is concerned, it is observed that many of the mature

Harappan forms occur but the bowls have now developed everted rims,

the stud of the handled bowls becomes longer, etc., which are all

indication of the late phase. Linear desings dominate the paintings

on the Red Ware (ibid.). Furthermore, it was observed that no

significant change are apparant on the pottery in general, and

"the highly specialized kiln of the late Harappan period indicates

-85- that among the many crafts only the potter’s seems to have survived” (Dhavalikar 1992: 81; 1993: 563).

The site was only reoccupied in Lb ^ in the late mediaeval period^ the 17th-18th century, when the Muslims used to sail from here for Haj, as indicated by the coarse grey pottery and roof tile fragments (Dhavalikar 1991a: 13; 1992: 73, 80; 1993: 558, 562).

The floral remains from Kuntasi is currently being investigated by M.D.Kajale. On the basis of a preliminary I observation, he ha^oncluded as follows: “ .... millets constitute the major staple food while the cereals like wheat and barley were probably insignificant constituents of the food plants used at this site during Harappan times” ; and this is to support the view that

“ northern and north-western Indian Harappan agriculture was essentially based on winter crops like wheat, barley, pea, etc., while the Saurashtran Harappan agriculture was characterized by hardy crop plant species such as millets, especially finger millet, locally called ‘ ragi ’ ” (Kajale 1991: 173), which is also previously proposed by Possehl (1986).

On the other hand, the preliminary analysis on the faunal remains by Y.Matsushima (1991) shows that a m o n g all the seven domesticated and fifteen wild species identified so far, throughout both Phases I and II, almost 60 X is that of cattle (Bos indicus), followed by around 11 X of sheep/goat. It' is significant to note that the bones of ‘ true' horse (Equus caba I I us) were identified along with that of donkey iE. asinus)and onager IE. hemionus)

(Matsushima 1991).

-86- The distribution of phosphorus content in more than two hundred samples collected from different structure and passages wore analyzed by A.Kshirsagar (1993). It was observed that the phosphorus content of the samples from the habitation mound were in

the range of O.IX - 0.5% as against less than 0.08 % from non- habitational soils. Fur thermmore, the phosphorus mapping of respective structures correlated very highly with the observations and the interpretations made by Dhavalikar. The samples from the structure nos. 24 and 26 for example, which were considered as

houses of an important person, measured high phosphrus content -\r indicating higher activity (Kshirsagar 1993). It can be sated that

the amount of phosphorus content of Kuntasi in general is more or

less similar with other Harappan sites such as Lothal, Rupar and

Kalibangan (Joshi and Deotare 1983: 63, 67, 74; 1987), suggetive of

the cultural activity of similar nature and intensity. However,

phase-wise content of phosphorus could not be specified.

At present, three calibrated radiocarbon dates are available

from Kuntasi:

a sample from layer 12 (PRL-1370) = 2135, 2052, 2050 cal.B.C.

a sample from layer 7 (PRL-1371) = 2034 cal.B.C.

a sample from layer ? (BS-567) = 2451, 2433, 2392, 2384,

2356 cal.B.C.

(Dhavalikar 1991a: 11; Kenoyer 1991: 38; Possehl 1992: 27;

1993b)

-87- IV-B. HANDLING OF THE SAMPLES lV-B-1. Liaitations of analysis

a. The first problem of the analysis lies in the very fact that the present author could not attend the excavations of Kuntasi carried out for three seasons between 1987-90. This means that the author was not present during the selection process of pottery carried out at the pottery yard. The selection of pottery was subjective and qualitative in nature, and it is therefore quite an imposing task for the present author to refer or to restore the process of selection for collecting some basic data. Those potsherd considered as “ undiagnostic” , including rim, base and other body fragments of vessels were discarded and only the selected material was taken back and being kept at both Deccan College and the Rajkot office of the Gujarat State Department of A r c h a e o lo g y 'H o w e v e r , is not a criticizm on the selecting operation. Considering a vast amount of the material, it is not possible to carry everything.

b. As stated earlier in Chapter II, the excavation report of

Kuntasi is being prepared which includes a portion on pottery in general. Therefore, the present analysis will be an independent work confined specifically to the Index Trench.

There are two Index Trenches viz. D-10 and K-6, both dug more or less to the same depth (4.80 m and 4.50 m respectively).

However, though the layer numbers of both the trenches almost correspond with each other (personal communication, Dr.Dhaval ikar), the top ten layers of the trench K-6 are missing (eroded ?), and only layers 11 to 21 (22 being the virgin soil) are exposed in the south-western quadrant (the Logbook of Kuntasi: 79)'®. In order to

-88- keep consistency in the data, analysis was confined to the Index

Trench D-10 only (Figs. 8 and 10).

c. In the beginning, some attempt was made to compare the pottery recovered from each structures, but there were severe

limitation on the nature of data. It was fell necessary first to understand all, if not as many as possible of the representative categories of pottery in a comparatively small, well sampled

locality. Fortunately, the samples from the Index Trench D-10 seemed to serve our purpose showing most probably, the

representative categories with considerable amount of samples. This

is also supported by the fact that the varieties of pottery that

have been unearthed from various parts of the site is described as

representing “ a uniform -rate of distribution” (Y.M.Chi tal wal a

manuscript).

The nature of data obtained from vertical and horizontal diggings is obviously different but should supplement the other.

However, in the present case, the main objective of the study lies

in establishment (as far as possible) of the pottery sequence in

order to compare with other sites. 1 It is a fact that the pottery from any one trenchcould ever be 1 representative of the entire pottery variation of a site. Each

trench was dug to various depths in some cases. At the same time,

most of the structures exposed at Kuntasi belonged to sub phase B,

and as far as the other sub phases (A and C) are concerned, their

representation among various trenches are insignificant.

Furthermore, many of the excavations of other sites in Gujarat

-89- o z < a z e o X © M aI U < o f- X z u 3 e Ctiz i« Qi a ^ U H Cfl X u r H X 3 B3 O a W z O36 o 0 “ u u < s £ >» > X 1 o e ua o u ■H a •o U o f- a 'O u jO s o d V) Xu u :x] H H r < to X a '5 X X u Vi

V! X

89 d are more or less confined to vertical in nature and therefore, the samples of the Index Trench of Kuntasi should provide least

comparative data for the analysis. The present samples from the

Index Trench D-10 can be considered as the representative of the

variations in pottery and its sequence of Kuntasi (at least for the

time being).

d. Besides yielding considerable varieties of pottery, another

important aspect of the Index Trench D-10 is that this is the only

trench at Kuntasi where the complete sequence of both Phase 1 (sub

phases A and B or layers 19 to 7) and Phase II (sub phase C or

layers 6 to 1) were encountered. Furthermore, though the majority

of ‘ undiagnostic’ potsherds were also discarded after selection,

all the rimsherds from this trench were preserved. Although the

possible ways of analysis will be very much limited with only the

rim portions available, they can still be treated as fresh and

unbiased (taking aside a possible disturbance in the formation

process) samples to work on unlike other trenches where only

selected samples are available.

e. The potsherds of the Index Trench D-10 were collected

layer-wise and not, for example, lot-wise. However, the deposit of

each layer is fairy uniform in thickness (Fig. 11), and hence, the

sampling procedure of pottery can be regarded as uniform and

consistent.

f. As it is usually the case with any of the excavated

- 9 0 - 4 M -

F’lJ . 11 C Ind CX 'I’ r* *5 n c: f» l>— l<>* fJocrllon r i n fK «<>iillk, K (in L A » l lO «V -« H <<:<>« i"l o » y o f l> r - M - K . 0 »i o V I k li n • I ti n mcj r- I> I r cj c: i <> r* o f !>

90 a material, the most of the samples from the Index Trench D-10 are also fragmentary having various breakage (surviving) rates. This obviously would affect the consistency of taking measurements and their accuracy, estimation of full diameter, or restoring the full painting designs, etc. However, this had to be compromised as long as their size are big enough for taking measurement or observation. A number of complete (or alomost complete) vessels recovered from other trenches were often used as the "reference material" to infer and visualize the complete vessel shapes from

these rim sherds belong.

Only a few excavation reports of the sites in Gujarat (such as

Oriyo Timbo and Nageswar) have quantitative data and analysis. In

the case of other sites without such information, simple present- absent traits of vessels are compared. This is also the procedure applied for the comparison of painting designs.

g. Confining the data to the Index Trench was inevitable considering the vast amount of the material recovered in the three seasons, in spite of the selection at the site. In this sense, the present work should be considered only as a test-case.

h. In order to establish the major groups of pottery at

Kuntasi, a collection of 9b samples from various trenches

(including 18 vessels from the Index Trench D-10) and layers are

utilized. These are the vessels almost complete in shape or those

with enough proportion is preserved, so that their internal body

diameter (IBD), interior height (IH), diameter at throat (THT) can

- 9 1 - be measured or at least restored'®. Althouj'h each of these vessels are from different co n tex ts, they supply crucial data for determining the ratios that determine the major groups of Jar, Pot, etc., of Kuntasi.

IV-B-2. The aajor groups

It is first necessary to determine the major groups of

Kuntasi before going into details of the Index Trench. The labels or nomenclature such as Jar, Pot, Bowls, etc., as used by Dales and

Kenoyer (1986) will be used here.

Out of the total of 95 samples of which IH (Internal Height),

IBD (Internal Body Diameter) and THT (Throat) could be measured, as high as one quarter belongs to “ miniature” vessels. Their body wall is comparatively thicker in proportion than the larger vessels**. These appear to be the small replicas of larger vessels as it is the case at Mohenjo Daro (Marshall 1931: PI.LXXIX-LXXXIV;

Dales and Kenoyer 1986: 120) or Chanhu Daro (Mackay 1943: PI.XXV-

XXIX).

Almost ail the samples are of the Red Ware with a few examples of Buff, Coarse Red/Grey and Coarse Red Ware. Table 3 lists all

the 92 vessels with their various values for IBD, IH, etc, as well as the ratios of IBD/IH and IBD/THT. The classification of the major groups are based on manly morphological values (Fig. 12).

Unlike in the case of Mohenjo Daro where variabilities in the pottery cause a lot of overlaps between the two

neighbouring groups, the numerical values of the pottery of Kuntasi

-9 2 - Table 7 KUNTASl - VESSELS AND THEIR VARIOUS VALUES ARK li^SI^D ON RESTORATlOM I H_SQMF. CAGES) _

RED r e d “ IDD » INTEHNAL BODY DIAMETER 111 • IKTF.WNAL IIEIGDT THT • THROAT Fig. refer* to Dales «nd Kenoy^r (lOflfi)

92 a iq- 12 ! Major c)roups op vessels

92 b LID

0 10 Ur, t_ —I

“iq • 12 contnd .

92 c seem to have much stronger tendency to cluster around certain ratios, and thus the fjrouping is more clear and distinct (Kig. 13 and 14). Comparatively less number of categories represented at

Kuntasi must have also contributed to clearly distinction of the major groups.

The distributional pattern of the ratios (whether they form clustering or not) become crucial especially when, for example,

Pots and Bowls cannot be differentiated only from their profile.

The clustering is emphasized because they are the result of the norm, categori zation, or the motoring habits of ancient potters, or else the functional variability of the pottery utilized at the si te.

Very distinctive clusterings of IBD/IH (when IH = 1) are seen: values ranging between around 0.8 and 1.4, between 1.6 and 2.4 and

then 3.6 and above (Table 3 and Figs. 13 and 14). These have been labled here as Jar/Pot, Bowl and Bowl/Dish respectively (Fig. 12).

It is possible that values ranging between 3.6 and around 6.4 constitute a deeper variety of Dish, but it seems more appropriate to interprete them as two separate groups. Hence, one being Bowl-

Dish (eight samples) having comparatively more depth, the other being Dish (14 samples), their ratio being above 7.6, (of squat or extremely flat, open vessels)(Figs. 12, 13 and 14).

The ratio for Jar/Pots (49 samples) indicates that internal

height is more or less the same as internal (maximum) body diameter

or little higher in some cases. In general, the vessels of this

group is characterized by round body and constricted throat having

slightly flaring rim. Almost all the miniature variety also fall

-9 3 - Lbccujcraujzo^ i

93 d Fig.14 :KIJNTAH1-RATIOS OF IKD/IH I M i Giwurs N T E R »

II E I G II T

c u

INTEim (MftXIttUM) BODY DlftHETEIl : cm □ JAH + JAR-POT ♦ Krr A BOWL X K/J/L-DIb'H V UISH

Fig. I5 : KUNTASI-RATIOS OF IBDAFHT V Fon JW1, Jwi-roT a n d p o t \ 6 A f M E T T I] E R R 0 T

c El

um m m body Diwumm : um a JAH + JAH-Krr ♦ wrr

93b into this cluster, supporting the earlier assumption that they have the same proportion as that of the larger variety (Fig. 13).

Less unequivocal is Jar and Pot which have only a small number of examples, probably too early to derive firm conclusion at present. Even so, four examples of tall vessles almost of the same size with an average ratio (IBD/IH) of 0.69 do seem to stand apart from the neighbouring cluster of Jar/Pot, and hence separated as an independent group as Jar (Figs. 12, 13 and 14).

There are only two examples which may come under the lable

Pol, their ratio being probably falling between 1.4 and 1.6. They have very open mouth (throat) almost equal with the internal body diameter with convex or hemispherical body, similar in appearence with that of Bowls, but little taller. Also in the case of two examples of Kuntasi, the vessels have slightly constricted throat and flaring mouth with externally projecting rims (Fig. 12).

In the case of Kuntasi, the group labled as Bowls (15 samples) designates exclusively of hemispherical bowls with almost straight rims also commonly known as convex-sided bowls. To be specific, the ratios are confined between 1.75 and 2.46 (Figs. 12 and 13).

To summarize, the vessels of Kuntasi can be classified into six major groups same as in the case of Mohenjo Daro, an approximate determinate ratios of each can be enumerated as follows

(Figs. 13 and 14):

Jar ❖ (0.6) < IBD/IH ^ 0.8

Jar/Pot ❖ 0.8 < IBD/IH ^ 1.5

Pot (?) 0 1.5 < IBD/IH ^ 1.6

-94- Bowl ❖ 1.7 < IDD/IH ^ 2.5

Bowl-Dish ❖ 3.6 < IBD/IH g 6.4

Dish <> 7.6 < IBD/IH g (20.5)

The ratios for the lower limit for the Jar and the upper limit for the Dish are simply based on the samples available in the present collection and consequently require revision when new data is obtained.

Comparison of these ratios of the major groups of Kuntasi with that of MohenjoDaro (Fig. 5) indicates that the ratios for both

Bowl-Dish and Dish almost correpond between the two sites. However, the difference is distinct among Jars, Jar/Pots, Pots and Bowls, where the ratios tend to cluster at different values. It has to be reminded here that the tables of Jars, Pots, etc., are given to respective clusterings of the ratio IBD/IH, and hence, the determinant factors for each group is not consistent or universal for all the sites. In another words, such difference reflect regional, chronological, and functional variations.

In the case of Mohenjo Daro, the ratios of IBD/IH of Bowls have comparatively wide distribution ranging between 2 and 4, and at the same time, a number of different categories are included

(Fig. 5 and Table 1). However, in the case of Kuntasi, there seems

to be only one category which can be tabled as Bowls having the distinct hemispherical profile as noted earlier. Their ratio clusters between 1.7 and 2.5 which correpond to the smallest values

among the Bowls of Mohenjo Daro (Figs. 5 and 13).

On the other hand, Kuntasi has more wider range and more

intense concentration for the Jar/Pots, bordered by Jar and Pots on

-95- either side. As far as the present data iOf is concerned, Jar/Pots dominate among the vessels with the rarfTos of lI]D/ni below 1.6, and

Jar and Pots are marginal. The ratios of the Jar/Pots also form a cluster at Mohenjo Daro, but in this case. Jar, Jar/Pots and Pots form distinctive groups of thier own having more wider range of distribution respectively (Pigs. 5 and 13).

Though the present data is still limited and fragmentary to derive any firm conclusions, the figure does indicate quite sufficiently that there are two variations in size, viz. small and large, for each major group except Jar. Jar/Pots especially, may even have four sizes. Jars are probably also made in several sizes, but the number of samples is too small to infer such practice (Fig.

14). The presence of vessels with distinct difference in size or standardization also indicate functional variability of the pottery which were prevalent at Kuntasi.

Fig. 15 shows the ratio of Internal Body Diameter (IBD) and diameter at throat (THT) of Jars, Jar/Pots and Pots. It shows clearly that tha^ these vessel are standardized to precise

proportion (whether intentionally or unintentionally). The ratio of

THT : IBD is maintained almost constant at 1 ; 2.1 which seem to

have retained for all the three groups of Jars, Jar/Pots and Pots.

Almost all examples of each group have flat or disc base,

except in a few occasions among Bowls, etc., where ring bases (one

example from layer No. 6) are also found. However, the preceding

observation on the morphology of the 95 vessels revealed no clear

-96- chronological features or change.

About one third of 95 samples are painted in black pi/'menl with some designs, consisting simply of groups of horizontal lines on the outer surface in the majority of cases. Two examples (Jar:

OE-14 and Jar/Pol: Gateway) of hatched leaves are the only naturalistic designs^'. One example (Jar/Pot: R14-1) has elaborate combination of hathced diamonds, vertical and horizontal lines and a wavy line covering the exterior surface above the shoulder.

Interior of all the pedestailed Bowl-Dish and a third of the Dish

(including the pedestailed variety) are painted with double-loops on the rim and several groups of concentric circles on the interior. One example of Bowl-Dish (D10-6-No.38c) has additional two concentric circles with round dots in the centre. The group of dots are seen also on the Bowl and Jar/Pot, and though their absolute quantity is less in number, they seem to appear occasionally on the pottery of late phases of Kuntasi. However, as a whole, no clear chronological features or change are evident from the present limited samples.

Among the 95 vessels, altogether 15 (out of 77) UM categories can be identified with certainty, viz. Nos. 5, (6?), 8, 9, 22, 23c,

47a/b, 52 (in Coarse Red), 57a/b (but without incised design),

58a/b, 63, 70 and 73 (Table 3). Certain shapes in both Jar and

Jar/Pot variety having bulbous body with a high and narrow neck and flaring out rim (K3-8 and L8-4), is practically absent in Mohenjo

Daro, though Fig.15:, 11 and 12 (rim portion broken; no category

-97- nos. given; Dales and Kenoyer 1986), both from Phase U (of the UM sequence), may belong to this category. One complete specimen very similar in shape is also reported from Chanhu Daro, from Harappan as well as Jhukar levels (Mackay 1943: 87. 115, PI,XXVI:71,

Pl.XLl: 37, 41). Incidenlly, both the present samples from Kuntasi are also from Phases B and C (layers 8 and 4). Though nothing is certain at this stage, the Jar and Jar/F'ot with high neck is probably the product of late phases of the Mature or Urban Harappan prevailed in both Sind and Gujarat.

One more vessel among the present collection which may have corresponding shape in Mohenjo Daro is the hemispherical bowl found in abundance not only at Kuntasi but very common all over

Saurashtra or Gujarat as a whole. As far as its shape is concerned, the hemispherical bowl is not entirely unknown in Mohenjo Daro as shown in Fig. 42: 6 of Dales and Kenoyer (1986), again amongst the un-numbered specimen. It is very difficult to assume any correlation with this example of Mohenjo Daro with the common Bowls of Kuntasi (and Gujarat) because the former is not only much larger than the latter but also the lower exterior is severely and roughly scraped, possibly moulded and devoid of any slip (Dales and Kenoyer

1986: 160). Such treatment is so far not found at Kuntasi.

An identical example of the hemispherical Bowls of Kuntasi can be seen in phase IB to ID of Amrl (Casal 1964 Vol.II: Type Nos.74,

202, etc.), but again, data is still insufficient to trace the origin of this Bowl to Amri.

On the other hand, there are few vessel shapes which may be of

local origin, having no parallel in Sind (Fig. 16).

-98- 5 10 Cm -I— _J

Fy. 16 ; Vessels with no counterparts at Mohenjo lijro.

? 8 a IV-C. The Index Trench D-10

IV-C-1. General description

The Index Trench D-10 (4 X 4 m , excluding baulks) was dug in the first season of 1987-88 in one of the highest parts of the mound on the 13.50 m contour line (Fig. 8). Located in the south east part of the mound, successive excavations of the following seasons later revealed that the Trench lies just on the south side of the “ L” shaped passageway leading to the main gateway of the settlemnt, opening towards the east in the peripheral wall (Fig.

9). Though notrench except one (D-7, dug at the south-eastern corner of the “ central open space” but yielded no cultural debris: see note 13 above) was dug in the area towards the south and west adjacent to the Index Trench, it is most likely that many structures also covered this part of the settlement.

In all, nineteen habitational layers were exposed reaching a virgin soil at the depth of around 4.80 m. As stated earlier, the deposit of almost all the layers are fairly uniform, having fairly even thickness of around 20 cm each with occasional disturbances

(Fig. 11). A part of the wall of a structure was found inlayer 13

(belonging to sub-phase B ?) which runs diagonally in the northern half of the trench as well as in the south-western corner. Some portions of deposit below the wall was left undug for support (at least 10 X of the area of the trench) which should be kept in mind when dealing with the sherd count and frequency. P The description of some of the layers of the Index Trench D-10

-9 9 - given in the Logbook is as follows :

Layer 1 - Surface humus, hard, compact and brownish in colour.

Thickness varies from 10 to 20 cm.

Layer 2 - Habitation debris. Loose grey soil mixed with

profuse ash.

Layer 3 - Loose, grey to almost white due to profuse mixture

of ash.

Layer 4 - Slightly compact, greyish soil.

Layers 5 to 19 not specified (Logbook of Kuntasi: b-7).

The following layers are assigned torespective sub-phases

(Dr.Dhavalikar, personal communication):

Phase 1 (Mature Harappan : c.2200-1900 B.C.)

layers 19 to 13 - sub-phase A

layers 12 to 7 - sub-phase B

Phase II (Late Harappan : c.1900-1700 B.C.)

layers 6 to 1 - sub-phase C

“Ho- 3 0 5 ^

IV-C-2. The pottery fro» theIndex Trench and its statistical

analysis.

In this section, sherd count'^of all the pottery recovered from

the Index Trench is reproduced from the logbook with the kind

permission of Dr.Dhavalikar (Table 4). In the Logbook, the pottery

is classified into the following “ wares” : Sturdy Red, Buff,

Bichrome, Coarse Red/Grey and Coarse Red. Both “ diagnostic” and

“ non-diagnostic” sherds of each ware were counted, after which

the body sherds were discarded. All these wares are more or less

-100- TABLE 4 : KUNTASI INDEX TRENCH D-10

total no. 1 aver sturdy red buff aichrome coarse r/q soarse red Df sherds 10 27 ( 50 . 0056) 9(16.66%) 18(33.33%) 54 18 502(51 .85) 47(4.85) 24 ( 2 .4756) 395(40.80) you 17 105(41 .83) 26(10.35) 120(47.80) 251 16 418(58.54) 67(9.38) 214(29.97) 15(2.10%) *714 15 297(35.86^ 112(13.60) 414(50.30) 823 14 122(36.63) 11(3.30) 2(0.60) 183(55.00) 15(4.50) 333 13 297(46.84) 7(1.10) 2(0.31) 328(51.73) 634 12 129(37.05 7(2.01) 5(1.43) 204(58.62) 3(0.86) 348 11 126(30.50 11(2.66) 5(1.21) 226(54.72) 45(10.89) 413 10 233(28.69 20(2.46) 8(0.98) 475(58.49) 76(9.35) 812 9 484(53.89 12(1.33) 402(44.7) 898 8 511(47.93 27(2.53) 11(1.03) 517(48.49) 1066 7 582(52.38 37(3.33) 45(4.05) 447(40.23) n i l 6 433(27.33 49(3.0?) 68(4.27) 1034(65.27) 1584 5 344(52.36 29(4.41) 16(2.44) 268(40.79) 657 4 363(36.67 78(7.88) 32(3.23) 517(52.22) 990 3 746(55.55 66(4.91) 61(4.54) 470(35.00) 1343 2 260(43.33 64(10.67) 11(1.83) 265(44.17) 600 1 391(58.71 34(5.11) 16(2.40) 221 (33. 1) 4(0.60) 666 Grand Total (the Logbook of Kuntasi: 173, by the coutesy of Dr.Dhavalikar)

I OO dk found commonly in many of the sites in Gujarat, though Ihc name given to each ware may differ from scholar to scholar. The following description of each ware is based on the personal observation, though the Logbook is also referred.

At Kuntasi, the Sturdy Red Ware Is the most common ware along with the Coarse Red/Grey Ware. It has very fine quality with extremely uniform, well levigated fabric except a few tiny mica and

white particles. The section of the fabric shows that it is well

fired in oxidizing condition though a faint greyish middle portion

is visible in some cases. The fabric emits a metallic sound when struck. Generally treated with a very thin slip ranging from deep

red to red and pink in colour. A number of painted designs in black also occur on this ware. All the categories of vessels found at

Kuntasi including jars, basins, dishes,dishes-on-stand, bowls,

etc., are important shapes in this ware.

Buff Ware is also of a fine variety but with slightly coarse

(powdery) in appearance in comparison with the Red Ware. Both the surface and the core is buff in colour and hence the name. The clay used is make this ware was obtained from different source from that of the Sturdy Red Ware as mentioned earlier (Gogte 1993). A

chemical analysis of this ware from Rangpur shows that its buff

colour of the fabric is due to high content of calcareous clay

(Rao 1961: 21; Lai 1963: 134-35).

Chocolate colour is preferred for slip and painting. However,

perhaps it is possible that the slip applied is the red slip, same

as the one applied on the Red Ware, but attains the brown colour on

-101- the calcareous fabric. The same may have been the case also with the purple slip or painting usually seen on the Buff Ware. The original slip is probably the same as the one used for “ black” on the Red Ware but turns purplish colour on the Buff Ware. This point has been already noted by Mackay (1943: 89). The shapes made in the

Buff Ware seems to be the same as that of the Red Ware^^ except big jars or pots, but it is difficult to determine from Ihe small quantity which is the characteristic of this ware. The ware remains common throughout all the phases though it must have been meant for limited use or special function.

Bichrome Ware on the other hand, is basically the red ware,but having both red and buff slips and paintings in red, brown, pink, etc. The fabric is extremely fine and thin represented by a variety of bowls and globular jars of small and medium sizes (the Logbook of Kuntasi: 16). The amount of this ware recovered from the Index

Trench is insignificant, but it shows slight increase especially in the last phase C (layers 6 to 1, Table 4 and Figs. 17a, b). Some concentration of this ware found in the western complex of the site including the “ port” is considered as an indication of this delux ware being the commodity for export (Dhavalikar 1991a: 13; 1992:

80; 1993: 462). The Bichrome Ware is also regarded as the new pottery in the Harappan wares of Gujarat, though in comparison with

Kuntasi, the amount recovered from other sites is said to be sporadic.

Coarse Red/Grey Ware, also referred to as Coarse B1 ack-and-Red

Ware has a gritty fabric usually with thick cores. The name derives

from the red and grey patches on the surface due to irregular

-102- Fig. I7d : KUKFASI INDKX THKNCH U-IH nnniD ooinir of wmies

s I] E n D c 0 u N T

U^YHIS o s tu rd y r a i + buff « bichrntnc A coarse rcd/grcy >« ctnrsc rnd

F13. |7 b :KUNTASI INDEX TRENCH D-10 FIffiQ.«) OF WWTES

F n E Q U E N C Y

I N

IJiYHlS □ sturdy red + Duff o Sichrome A coarse rcd/grcy coarse red

102 a oxidization and firing, or sometimes having black interior and red exterior. Mouth of these vessels probably have been covered (not necessarily inverted) when fired. However, there are also many examples with both the surfaces in black. There seems to be no particular application of slip but a layer of coating of the same clay as that of the fabric is formed on the surface most probably due to smoothing or burnishing. The core itself is grey to black in colour. Almost all the category of this ware belongs to medium sized jars with corrugations or applique bands and incised designs on the shoulders being the common decorations. As with the case ofthe Red Ware, the Coarse Red/Grey Ware also constitute high proportion ranging from around 30 to 60 % and with even distribution in all the layers.

There is yet another ware among the coarse variety which is

the Coarse Red Ware. The fabric of this ware is not as gritty as

the Coarse Red/Grey Ware. Though the Logbook reports its sporadic occurrence between layers 16 and 10 and also in layer 1 (the latter being intrusion ?}, it was not possible to differenciate this ware clearly in the present observation. Most probably it was represented mainly by body fragments which were possibly discarded at the pottery yard.This ware seems to be confined only to jars or pots usually having a thick core, pinkish to brick red in colour.

Thick application of slip of the same colour (clay) as that of fabric or the coating resulting from smoothing of the surface is no teworthy.

The grand total of all the potsherds from the Index Trefich

-1 0 3 - amounts lo 14265 sherds, among which, the Sturdy Red Ware constitutes 44.7 X (6370 sherds), the Buff Ware 5.0 % (713 sherds), the Bichrome Ware 2.1 % (306 sherds), the Coarse Red/Grey Ware 47.1

X (6718 sherds) and the Coarse Red Ware 1.1 X (158 sherds). The amount of both the Sturdy Red Ware and the Coarse Red/Grey Ware especially, fluctuates considerably from layer to layer which may be due to sampling error (in the sense that taking a count from only one trench). However,the ratio of the Sturdy Red Ware do seem

to decrease between the layers 15 and 10, when the coarse ware marks higher rate instead (Figs. 17a, b) show the actual sherd count and the same expressed in X). These two wares combined alone constitute almost the entire assemblage, from around 80 X to as high as almost 98 X (layer 13), and there is no doubt that these are the most commonly used wares of Kuntasi. In very broad sense, however, the ratios of respective ware remain relatively constant

throughout the layers. This may indicate lack of drastic change in

the pottery manufacturing activity during the occupation at

Kun tasi.

As a whole, the recovery of comparatively smaller amount in

the lower half of the trench (around layer 12 and below) may be due

to the restricted digging in these lower layers, but at the same

time, it is significant lo note that the Buff Ware has the highest amount and ratio in the same layers.

Not included in the table is one sherd of the B1 ack-and-Red

Ware of the fine variety recovered from layer 4, similar lo the ones commonly known as the Ahar type, but without white paintings.

The procedure of mere counting of the sherds however, almost

-1 0 4 - corresponds with the method for the “ Number of Indenlified

Specimens (NISP)” used in archaeozoology (Thomas and Joglekar, in press). A problem of over-represen lalion - a possibility of double counting of broken sherds from one and the same vessel - has to be always kept in mind.

IV-C-3. Other antiquities

Besides pottery, other antiquities from the Index Trench D-10 include t.c. objects such as discs, spindle whorls, etc., beads of various material, blades made from silicious semi-precious stones, hammer stones and saddle quern, bone tools and copper implements

(Table 5). Out of the total of 138 objects, beads (72 pieces or

52.2 X) constitute the majority which occur almost throughout all the phases. This is followed by used shells (15 pieces or 10.9 X).

Among beads, paste is the most common material followed by carnelian, dentalium, shell, faience, etc.

As a whole, the number of varieties of the antiquities seems to increase slightly between layers 15 to 13, and from layers 9 to

4, specifically, with comparatively high number of beads including that of Lapis Lazuli^^ and gold(Table 5). Perhaps, it is interesting to note that an occurrence of sling balls between the layers 12 and 10 corresponds with the sub-phase B when the periheral walls were constructed around the habitation.

Besides a piece of slag found in layer 14, all the four copper implements are recovered from the upper layers.

This, however, must be admitted apparently as an example of sampling bias, since copper is common in the earlier sub-phases in

-1 0 5 - TABLE KUNTASI INDEX TRENCH D-10 object(material) layers otal (material) 9 8 7 6 15 4 13 12 11 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 no. disc(t.c.) 3 1 4 Derforated disc(t.c.) 1 1 1 1 4 spindle whorl(t.c.) 1 1 3 6 net sinker(t.c.) 1 1 “ r tablet(potsherd) 1 1 =rucible(t.0.) 1 1 bead(t.c.) 1 1 D e a d ( iasper) 1 1 Dead(carnelian) 2 1 1 4 3 n 3ead(chalcedony) 1 1 Bead(chert) 1 1 bead(steatite) 2 1 1 4 8 Dead(paste) 1 4 1 4 4 2 2 18 pead(faience) 1 1 2 4 1 9 peadilapis lazuli) 2 2 Dead(qold) 1 1 sead^shellL 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 9 Bead(dentallun) 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 10 3anale(shell) 2 2 flake core(quartzite) 1 1 0 lade (Jasper) 1 1 2 4 Dlade(carnelian) 1 1 Slade(chalcedony) 1 1 2 flake(carnelian) 1 1 i\ aone r_s t-Jgu ar t zjjt e) 1 1 hanmer st.(limestone) 1 1 rubber st.(basalt) 3 1 1 5 rubber st.(quartzite) 1 1 2 saddle quern(stoneS 1 1 slinq ball(basalt) 1 1 1 1 4 slinq balKsand st. ) 1 ■' 1 kni fe(bone) 1 1 tool(bone) 1 1 2 ased shell 4 1 3 7 15 rinq(copper) 1 ..i. 2 lump(copper) ___ 1 1 implement(copper) 1 1 slag 1 1 5 a e 18 14 Il3 lie lio 138 total no.of objects 4 - 1 1 2 6 11 3 7 7 3 L .

Based on the Antiquity Register of Kuntasi.

|05

Near absence of antiquities from the lowermost layers of 19 to

16 is probably due to the smaller area of digging. On the other hand, this may also reflect comparatively less craft-related activities (manufacture as well as trade) in the earlier phases at the site.

IV-D The Classification

IV-D-1. Basic understanding of different “ wares”

The present analysis basically follow the classification of

“ wares” described in the Logbook as mentioned above (section

IV-C-l-b), but the author felt the need for more specific definition to avoid confusion.

Firstly, the most general classification will be the Fine Ware and the Coarse Ware. In the case of Kuntasi at least, only the Red

Ware and the Buff Ware consititute the Fine Ware, and the

“ Bichrome” is treated as a variety of the Red Ware. Though it has been reported that (some of) this ware has an extremely fine and thin fabric (the Logbook of Kuntasi: 16), at least the examples from the Index Trench D-10 were not distinguishable from the Red