The Personality of India: Pre- and Proto-historic Foundation of India and Pakistan c12.s3.5

c12.s3.5

We are not in a position, yet to decide its origin and the exact technique of manufacture, except that it is made of very finely levigated clay and fired to a very high temperature under reducing conditions, probably in a sagger, as suggested by Rawson.¹ Dr. Wheeler recognized its importance for the North Indian sites where it occurs in comparative profusion, and attributed it to the Pre-Alexandrian levels at Taxila.¹ While this pottery occurred from 6 to 13 feet, a hoard of coins with one of Alexander, in a mint condition, was found at six feet. But the more recent excavations at Kausambi, Rajagriha and Vaisali have shown that the focus of this pottery is the Gangetic basin, particularly the ancient Magadha, where it occurs in very large quantities and varieties and that Taxila marks a peripheral distribution. The chief type site is the ancient capital of Vatsa, Kausambi, on the left bank of the river Jamuna. Here, N. B. P. occurs at the lowest levels of the Historic period, and the construction of city's ramparts has been placed to the beginnings of the 6th century B. C.² There are quite a good thickness of deposits below the main monastery of Ghoshitarama, dated to the 3rd century, B. C. But the importance of this section can only be appreciated when the report of these excavation is published. Before we close this note, it is necessary to caution the use of this Gangetic Valley date to the peripheral areas of Central, Western and Southern India. Since the most probable agency of these movements was trade and political conquest, it may be dated a little later, even upto the 3rd century B. C.