The Indus Civilization (Cambridge History of India, Supplementary Volume) c17.36

c17.36

From these bronzes the transition is easy to the vast number of terra-cotta figurines which are characteristic of the Indus civilization at all known periods and are, as a class, quite unlike those of Mesopotamia. Until properly stratified excavation produces a chronological series, the terra-cottas can only be considered in bulk; for it is certain that ostensibly "primitive" and "evolved" styles were often enough contemporary with each other, and that a purely stylistic classification would be merely misleading. The red colouring of the clay is or was normally heightened by a red wash or slip, occasionally polished.