Appendix 1. the Pottery

Report of the Archaeological Survey of Chamak and its Surroundings, District Amaravati, Maharashtra Appendix 1. The Pottery This appendix provides an overview of the ceramic material that was observed on the surface of sites encountered during archaeological survey, and that are referred to in the main text of the article. The general characteristics of each pottery class are described and illustrated, with reference to known parallels from elsewhere in the region. Overview smoothed. None are burnished. Most vessel Pottery sherds were identified on the surface types made from this fabric are basins and and in exposed sections at a number of sites globular pots. This ware can be dated to the (PDR01, CHD01.I, CHD01.II, CHD01.III). These mid- to late-first millennium B.C.E. based on were examined on site and grouped into excavated parallels at other early Iron Age broad categories, or “types”, on the basis of sites in Vidarbha, such as Kholapur (Deotare their fabric, methods of manufacture and et al. 2012), and Kaundinyapur (Mishra et al. surface treatment. This resulted in the 2016). identification of eight broad classes of pottery. Further, more detailed, examination of Black and Red Ware individual sherds would undoubtedly result in Identified at: CHD01.I, CHD01.II, CHD01.III the identification of differences within each The fabric is composed of fine silt clay, which class of pottery. Ideally, these differences is well sorted with few visible inclusions. would then serve as the bases upon which to Considerable variation is observed in the delineate further, more refined, pottery types. colour of the fabric, depending on the firing However, until such time as this potential method employed. Some examples were fired resolution in the ceramic assemblage can be in a completely reduced environment (having matched to a degree of stratigraphic a completely black profile and surfaces), while resolution provided by detailed context-based others were fired in a partially reduced excavations, any further refinement of the environment (having a black core and red pottery typology will not afford any more margins). Fragments vary in thickness chronological resolution to our understanding between 3-8mm. One or both surfaces are the sites at which they were found. As such, slipped. Where they are slipped, internal only the common features of each broad type surfaces are black in colour, while external of pottery are presented here. surfaces are pale red to weak red. Vessel forms include bowls, dishes and globular pots. Coarse Red Slipped Ware Many parallels exist from excavations at Iron Identified at: CHD01.I, CHD01.II Age sites throughout the region (see Deo and The fabric is made from a relatively coarse silt, Gupta 1974, Mohanty 2003), which enable us containing low to medium frequency of white to date this ware to the first millennium B.C.E. calcite grit and low to medium amount of organic matter. All are wheel made, and fired Black Slipped Ware in a partially reduced environment, exhibiting Identified at: CHD01.I, CHD01.II a black core with pale red to light reddish The fabric is composed of fine silt clay, which brown margins. Considerable variation is is well sorted with few organic inclusions. All noted in the thickness of the core. Sherds vary examples are fired in a reduced environment, in thickness from 3-11mm. Most sherds are having a black profile. External surfaces are slipped on the external surface. Variation is treated with a black slip, which is polished. noted in the treatment of the slipped surface, Few diagnostic sherds were encountered, but with some being polished and some simply those that were noted indicated that this type of pottery was used to make either globular which is smoothed but not polished. The pots, or some other form of necked jars. Many external surface and rim is further decorated parallels exist from excavations at Iron Age with incised horizontal lines. Identifiable sites throughout the region, which enable us vessel forms are all large globular pots, to date this ware to the first millennium B.C.E. though few diagnostic rim sherds were encountered, so other vessels may have been Pale Red Slipped Ware made in this fabric. Parallels dating to the Identified at: CHD01.II, CHD01.III post-Gupta, or early medieval period have The fabric is fine to plain, with a low been recorded at recently excavated sites frequency of organic inclusions. All sherds are elsewhere in the region, such as Kholapur medium hard, and fired in an oxidized (Deotare et al. 2012) and Paturda (Deotare environment—being uniformly pale red to 2004-2005). red and weak red. External surfaces are slipped, possibly using a self-slip, and lightly Later Black Ware polished. The few diagnostic sherds that were Identified at: CHD01.III visible on the surface indicate small globular The fabric is fine, and well sorted with few pot vessels. Published parallels exist at a inclusions apart from a very low frequency of number of sites in the region, where they are small mica particles that may be part of the dated to the later centuries B.C.E. to the early natural clay. All sherds are moderately hard, centuries C.E. (see Shete 2009). and are fired in a mostly reduced environment, with all sherds having a black Red Micaceous Ware core and very dark brown margins. External Identified at: CHD01.III, PDR01 surfaces are slipped and highly polished, The fabric is fine, usually with medium while internal surfaces are dull and un- frequency of mica inclusions. The fabric is slipped. External surfaces are further hard and moderately well fired in an oxidized decorated with incised horizontal lines. Vessel environment indicated by the uniformly pale types appear to be large globular pots and/or red colour of the fabric. Some variants appear carinated handis, though no complete profiles to have been fired in a slightly more reduced were identified in the surface assemblages. environment, indicated by the presence of a Parallels exist from later medieval contexts at gray core. Both surfaces tend to be treated sites throughout central India. with a thin golden mica slip, which has been smoothed. External surfaces are also Later Grey Ware frequently decorated with linear grooves Identified at: CHD01.III, PDR01 incised around the shoulder or neck of the The fabric is fine to plain, well sorted with no vessel. Vessel types made from this ware visible inclusions. Sherds are moderately hard, include a variety of pots and jars. Parallels and are fired in a partially reduced exist from excavated contexts dating to the environment, with all sherds exhibiting a early to mid-first millennium C.E. (i.e. black core and gray margins. Both the contemporary to the rule of the Vakatakas) at external and internal surfaces are self-slipped many sites in the region, such as Mahurjhari and smoothed (not polished). No complete (Mohanty 2003), Hamlapuri and Nagardhan profiles were found, but all diagnostic sherds (IAR 1981-82: 50; cf. Lacey 2014). that were identified exhibit highly angular rim forms and both impressed and incised Later Red Slipped Ware horizontal grooves. Vessel forms appear to be Identified at: CHD01.III, PDR01 large pots and necked jars. Vessel forms are The fabric is fine with low to medium similar to those dating to the early medieval frequency of large white calcite grit (1-2mm). and medieval periods from recently excavated The fabric is hard and is fired in a well- sites elsewhere in the region, such as oxidised environment, indicated by a pink Kholapur (Deotare et al. 2012) and Paturda core and pale red margins. External and (Deotare 2004-2005). internal surfaces are treated with a thin slip, Figure 7: Example vessel forms of each type of pottery identified in this study References Mishra, S., Shete, G. and Deotare, B. C., Deo, S. B. and Gupta, R. S., 1974. 2016. Excavations at Kaundinyapur Excavations at Bhokardhan (2000-2001). In: K. K. Basa, R. K. Mohanty (Bhoqavardhana) 1973. Nagpur: Nagpur and S. B. Ota, eds. Megalithic Traditions in University. India: Archaeology and Ethnography, Vol. 1. Bhopal: Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Deotare, B. C., 2004-2005. Preliminary Sangrahalaya. pp.263-284. Report on the Excavations at Bhon and Paturda, Buldana District, Maharashtra. Mohanty, R.K., 2003. A Preliminary Report Bulletin of the Deccan College Research of the Excavations at Mahurjhari, 2001: a Institute, 64/65: 87-105. Megalithic and Early Historic Site in Vidarbha, Maharashtra. Pratnatattva, 9: Deotare, B. C., Shete, G., Sawant, R., and 41-48. Naik, S., 2012. Preliminary Report on Excavations at Kholapur, District Shete, G. D., 2009. The “Type Variety” Amravati, Maharashtra. Man and Approach to Utilitarian Pottery of Early Environment, 37(2): 50-59. Iron Age and Early Historical Period in the Western Vidarbha Region: Applications Lacey, H., 2014. Nandivardhana and for Site Chronology. Man and Environment, Nagardhan: Preliminary Analysis of the 34(2): 66-76. Surface Evidence from Nagardhan and Hamlapuri in the Eastern Vakataka Territory near Ramtek, Maharashtra. South Asian Studies, 30(2): 116-132. .

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