An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s28.6

v1.c11.s28.6

Globular pots, jars and jugs are sometimes provided with handles. Some handles are decorated with human figures and animal motifs, while others are plain. The early ones known from CHIRAND in Mauryan levels have been called *kamaṇḍalu* vessels. At NASIK, NEVASA and Taxila they are datable to 100 B.C. to A.D. 100. In Afghanistan they occur in the contemporary site of Begram. A unique vessel called *kinnarī* pot from UJJAIN (*c.* 100) has the front shaped like a female figure and the back decorated with a winged bird. Another from VAIŚĀLĪ has a female bust with folded hands placed between the breasts. This is a typical shape reported extensively from sites of Rajasthan and Ganga valley between the 1st and 4th centuries. Some of the best ones are from AHICCHATRĀ, ATRANJIKHERA, KAUŚĀMBĪ, MATHURA, RAJGHAT¹, etc. The finest ones, from BHOKARDAN, NAGARI, RAIRH, RANG MAHAL and SAMBHAR, are datable to the Kushan and Gupta periods. The ones from SAMBHAR include an ornamented female bust, a lady in toilet, a female with a dwarf below a unique handle identified as Ganga coming out of the matted locks of Śiva. BHOKARDAN has yielded one with the neck and breast portion of a *kinnarī* pot, another a vessel-lid with three human faces with differing head-dresses. At RANG MAHAL they have been found with male and female busts, motifs made separately and affixed to vessels. SALIHUNDAM has yielded them with human and animal motifs. In addition lids with animal motifs are reported from the megaliths [4.17] at ADICHANALLUR and MAHURJHARI. Perforated globular vessels, bowls and jars are found at the Harappa sites of KALIBANGAN, LOTHAL, ROPAR and SURKOTADA, not to speak of Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and other Indus sites; in levels of the 1st millennium B.C. at ALLAHAPUR, ATRANJIKHERA, NOH, ROPAR, SARDARGARH; and in early historical levels at AHICCHATRĀ, ŚRĀVASTĪ, etc. AHAR¹, RANG MAHAL and Taxila have yielded them in levels of 50 to 200. At Sirkap a bowl has three triangular holes. Another find at AHAR² has a pot base with rough surface. At RANG MAHAL small pots and bowls are found with perforation up to the shoulder and neck.