The Indus Civilization c9.8

c9.8

It was seldom that the whole of a jar was ornamented in the manner described. As a rule, about a quarter of the larger vessels is undecorated, this being the part round the base which was probably concealed by the jar-stand or by the earth in which the jar was set. The smaller specimens frequently have a wide band round the middle or the shoulder, framed above and below by narrower painted lines, while other vessels, especially the very large ones used for storage purposes, are ornamented solely with broad horizontal bands of black or reddish-black, set in couples, which usually fill up the whole of the surface of the jar except for a small portion at the base.