: Beginning of Agricultural Life in the Godavari Valley

Sanjay Paikrao1

1. School of Liberal Arts, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, , (Email: [email protected]; spaikrao265@ rediffmail.com)

Received: 11 August 2017; Revised: 22 September 2017; Accepted: 26 November 2017 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5 (2017): 856‐861

Abstract: Godavari valley in Deccan has played a vital role in the process of enhancing agricultural life in Maharashtra. Excavations at Daimabad throw light on agricultural life in Maharashtra. There is a need to study these evidences to understand agro based socio‐economic life in Maharashtra. Daimabad is an interesting site. This site was discovered by B. P. Bopardikar in 1958. It has been excavated three times so far by the ASI. The first excavation in 1958‐59 was carried out under the direction of M. N. Deshpande. The second excavation in 1974‐75 was led by S.R. Rao and finally; the excavations between 1975‐76 and 1978‐79 were carried out under the direction of S. A. Sali. Discoveries at Daimabad suggest that late Harappan culture extended into the in India. The roots of agricultural revolution can be traced in this paper. The excavations at Daimabad have yielded variety of charred seeds. Carbonized grains from the site were acquired by using flotation technique and their identification was carried out by noting their external morphological features under low power binocular microscope. This study has brought to light 16 wild and cultivated species of plants, some of them being the oldest record in the Indian subcontinent as well as in Africa. The agricultural evidences show that farming was established by Daimabad people in a systematic manner. The people were able to develop farming systems for each crop. Their adoption of different crops was unique. Along with agriculture they developed acultural life. The painted potshard of Daimabad has reflected the first dancer in Maharashtra.

Keywords: Daimabad, Agricultural Life, Godavari Valley, Architecture, Social Archaeology, Chalcolithic Period, Excavation

Introduction Daimabad (19 31ʹ N, 74 42ʹ E) is at present a deserted village, situated on the left bank of Pravara river a tributary in Ahemdnagar district. Daimabad does not exist on any map today; it is only deeply incised on the memory of the people of the surrounding areas. The top sheet marks the area by a cross indicating that is a deserted village. It was discovered by B.P. Bopardikar in 1958 who was then working under the “village‐ to‐village survey” of the Archaeological Survey of India (Dhavalikar1988‐89). Here in this paper agricultural life in Daimabad has been carefully studied. Godavari valley in Deccan has played a vital role in the process of enhancing agricultural life in Paikrao2017: 856‐861

Maharashtra. Excavations at Daimabad throw light on agricultural life in Maharashtra. There is aneed to study these evidences to understand agro based socio‐economic life in Maharashtra. Daimabad is an interesting Chalcolithic site. It has been excavated three times so far by the ASI teams. The first excavation in 1958‐59 was carried out under the direction of M. N. Deshpande. The second excavation in 1974‐75 was led by S. R. Rao finally; the excavations between 1975‐76 and 1978‐79 were carried out under the direction of S. A. Sali. Discoveries at Daimabad suggest that, Late culture extended into the Deccan plateau in India. The roots of agricultural revolution can be traced in this paper.

The fertile land was an attraction for agriculture in the Pravara valley. It can be understood through the site catchment analysis of Diamabad that the greatest attraction to the pioneering colonizer was the large track of extremely fertilized black cotton soil(Dhavlikar1988‐89) This soil was mainly responsible for agriculture revolution in the region. The flat water of the river was diverted for agricultural purpose. The fortification of Daimabad was constructed and protected it from flood waters. This may account for the flood of Maharashtra during C.1400.1200 B.C and the construction of embankments at Daimabad and . It is not unlikely that at Daimabad the embankments were built for diverting the flood water to irrigate fields lying to the south of the settlement (Dhavlikar1988‐89) Availability of water for agriculture was in Daimabad culture.

Features of Agriculture Agriculture life in Daimabad has a background of earlier culture. Succession of five Chalcolithic cultures was recognized at Daimabad such as Phase I‐ Salvada culture; Phase II‐ The Late Harappa culture; Phase III – The Daimabad culture; Phase IV‐ The Malva culture and Phase V–The culture (Sali1986) In all these phases agriculture was an important component in Daimabad. The plant economy for the Savalda, the and the Jorwe cultures was first briefly reported in 1977 by Kajale to consist of Barley, Lentil and Zizyphus jujube for the Salvada culture: Wheat, Barley, Pisum, Lathyrus, Dolichos, Lentil and Zizyphus for the and addition to these Rice, Ragi, Paspalum, Sorghum, Vigna species, Carthamus tinctorius, Linum unitatissimum for the (Kajale 1977) This was also prevailing in Late Harappa culture period. The report about agricultural life in Daimabad is based on the plant economy of the site based on carbonized seeds and fruits and leaf impressions from the levels of the Salvada, the Malwa and the Jorwe cultures given to the senior author for investigation and the charcoals sent separately for radiocarbon assay to Dr.G. Rajgopalan of the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory at the Birbal Sahani Institute of Palaeobotany (Sali 1986)

The Late Harappa period at Daimabad also supported by finds of bronze chariots. A of a chariot, 45 cm long and 16 cm wide, yoked to two oxen, driven by a man 16 cm high standing in it; a sculpture of a water Buffalo, 31 cm high and 25 cm long standing on a four legged platform attached to four solid wheels; a sculpture of a

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rhinoceros 19 cm high and 25 cm long standing on two horizontal bars, each attached to an axle of two solid wheels. The archaeologists are not unanimous about the date of these . On the basis of the circumstantial evidences and on the basis of analysis of the elemental composition of these artifacts, M. N. Deshpande, S. R. Rao Dhavalikar and S. A. Sali are of view that these objects belong to the Late Harappa period. Thus this rich evidence amply testifies well developed agriculture life in Daimabad.

The excavations at Daimabad have yielded a variety of charred seeds. The carbonized grains from the site were acquired by using flotation technique and their identification was carried out by noting their external morphological features under low power binocular microscope. This study has brought to light 16 wild and cultivated species of plants, some of them being the oldest record in the Indian subcontinent as well as in Africa.

The following features of agricultural life can be noted below: o In Daimabad, its surrounding provide ample natural resources. The site is situated on an elevated ground which is normally out of reach of normal flood waters and affords commanding view (Shinde and Pappu 1990) Thus availability of water wasmainly responsible for development of agriculture. o The site is located at the crossing point of river Pravara. Which has provided scope for agriculture development. Instances of crossing of antiquity and repute may be found on all the great rivers of India (Allchin1962). o Easy access to resources was mainly responsible for agriculture development in Daimabad. Daimabad is located in the midst of an extensive plain area of black cotton soil. At a distance of about 5 km is an extensive patch of coarse shallow sols supporting excellent growth of pasture (Shinde and Pappu 1990) Thus Daimabad became a favorable site for agricultural development. o Lack of technology was a major problem in traditional agricultural system. But agricultural production could not go beyond a certain level because of lack of adequate technology. The black cotton soil could not be effectively cultivated in the absence of the iron plough and perhaps this is the most important reason why the Chalcolithic cultures ultimately died as village culture and could not achieve the urban status such as that which developed in the Indus valley first and in the Ganges valley much later (Dhavlikar1984) In Daimabad agriculture could have taken new term if technology have been available to them. o The rural culture could not turn into urban culture which was a major problem in Late Harappa culture. The Harappa civilization in Saurashtra owed its existence solely to foreign trade and vanished with it around 1800 B.C (Dhavlikar1984) Daimabad was no exception to this.

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o The Indian river sites have provided rich background for socio‐economic change. These phases are represented in habitation mounds on the plains adjacent to the rivers and tributaries that flow from the Malwa and Jorwe period, although some site like Daimabad and Kothe have earlier evidence (Fuller 2002). This background was responsible for failure of agricultural revolution in Maharashtra.

Critical Analysis There was no marketing method of food grains. Barley, Wheat, Finger Millet, Beans, Horse Grain, Peas, Ber, Tarla were main grain produced by Daimabad people (Sali 1986) The critical analysis of agricultural life in Daimabad during Chalcolithic age reveals that, the extension of agricultural life was limited to Pravara‐Godavary valley. The availability of natural sources was the main reason behind this process.

The following facts can be noted if we critically examine different aspects of theperiod: o The public architecture was limited. Construction of public architecture is possible only on the orders of a chief, who commands respect from all the members of the society (Shinde and Raghunath1990) Hence public buildings were very limited. o Both vegetarian and non‐vegetarian culture found in food habits reveals a greater shift towards vegetarian food culture. Slowly they were shifting towards vegetarian culture. The name the Daima related to certain community in Rajasthan who are vegetarians (Sali 1986). o As iron was not known it was difficult to manifest any agricultural change in making a revolution. Studies of modern hunting, gathering and agriculture economics have shown that the territory exploited from a site tends to lie within certain well defined limit (Shinde and Raghunath1990). o The rapid agricultural growth led to prosperity but in the contemporary economy there was no other way than barter system. o The find of chariot Elephant and Buffalo as well as Rhino clearly shows that the agro based developed was transforming into technological changes. However no agricultural equipment was recovered from excavation. o There was no caste or varna awareness because the habitations was a mix and no bearing in equality or social classification. o The bronze chariot is manifestation of rich cultural life of agro based society. It only seems that the affluent class was able to enjoy this status. o The rich, middle and poor were three classes operating on social level. The find of bronze chariot shows the upper level prosperity. Further middle class also needing happy life. Thus all these critical aspects reveals that the agro based development

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in Daimabad was mainly limited to the rural areas and in the Chalcolthic age people were not able to take a great leap forward based on urban development.

Causes of Decline The following cause of decline can be noted: o The social neglected towards technology and their not being able to change. o Upward urban movement was lacking and people were self‐contentand satisfied. o Constant floods might have created problems as a result fortifications were built. o The Daimabad people were not facing innovation properly. Except the bronze chariot there is no other evidence to show their progress. o The picture of dancer on the pot sherd shows that they were enjoying social life but they were not able to develop economic institutions.

Socio‐Archaeological Perspective The agricultural evidences show that farming was established by Daimabad people in a systematic manner. The people were able to develop farming systems for each crop. Their adoption of different crops was unique. Along with agriculture, they had developed cultural life. The painted potsherd of Daimabad reflected the first dancer in Maharashtra.

The study of Daimabad excavation in socio‐archaeological perspective led tothe following finding: o The agricultural land owner and laborers were having smooth based on sharing of food grain. Which is described in Marathi language as Balut. o The use of vegetarian and non‐ vegetarian food was prevailing in the Chalcholithic period. o People were shifting from non‐ vegetarian culture. This was sign of their maturity. o All social sections had smooth relations with each other. o Exchange of cultural symbols shows that, there was cohesion in the society.

The most remarkable evidence comes from the second cultural period Late Harappa which consists of structural complex. The artifacts recovered from it are also of great significance (Dhavalikar1988‐89).All these processes can be observed in Late Harappa phase. Among all Chalcholithic sites, Daimabad is most effective example of social and cultural interactions. Daimabad was a regional centre and the most important Chalcolithics settlement and there is evidence to show that it had contacts with adjoining regions. This contact is indicated by the materials which were exchanged

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Paikrao2017: 856‐861 with contemporary communities (Dhavalikar1988‐89) Daimabad witness socio‐ economic and cultural transitions. Plant motif and Trishula were important symbols used in graffiti marks. Thiss hows upcoming Indian identities and man’s relations with nature and eco system. Agriculture life in Daimabad shows that people at the time had relations which nature. Because according to J Elart, man, ecosystem and culture are inseparable from each other (Elart1985).

Summary Thus all the discussion this paper reveal that Daimabad was rich agricultural centre during Late Harappa period. Daimabad witnessed the dawn of agriculture revolution in Chalcholithic age. The development of agricultural chalcholithic period provided base for human development. The social life was having better harmony and cohesions. The study has revels that, over allin field of agriculture development was noteworthy. It marked beginningof systematic and prosperous life in the Pravara‐ Godavari valley. All these aspects revel that, there was a significant age of agriculture in Diamabad.

References Allchin, F.R. 1962. Archaeology of River Crossings, in India Anthropology (Essay in Memory of Mujumdar. D.N) Madan T.N.andSaran Gopala (ed) Aian Publishing House, Bombay,p.32. Dhavalikar, M. K. 1982.Daimabad Bronzes, in Gregory L. Possehl (ed) Harappan Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective. Warminster, Aris and Phillips, p. 361. Dhavalikar, M.K. 1988‐89.Diamabad: A Chiefdom Society, in Bulletin of Deccan College Post‐ Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, Vol 47‐48, p‐67. Dhavlikar, M.K. 1984.Toward an Ecological Model for Chalcolitics Cultures of Central and Western India, in Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 3, p.155. Elart, J. 1985. Man Eco System and Culture, Progressive, Moscow, p.1. Fuller, D. Q. 2002.Fifty Years of Archaeobotanical Studies In India: laying a Solid Foundation, In S. Setter and R.Korisetter (ed) India Archaeology In Retropect, Vol.3, Archaeology and Interactive Disciplines, Manohar, , p.247 Kajale, M.D. 1977.On the Botanical Finding from Excavations at Daimabad‐ AChalcolithic Site in Western Maharashtra, in Current Science, 46 (26), pp.818‐9. Sali, S.A. 1986.Daimabad 1976‐79, Archaeological Survey of India, MASI, 83, Delhi, p.588. Shinde, V. and R. Pappu. 1990.Daimabad: The Chalcolithic Regional Centre in the Godavari Basin, in Bulletin of the Deccan College Post –Graduate and Research Institute, Pune. Vol.50.p.310.

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