An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s7.t4.9

v1.c11.s7.t4.9

Rattles are objects with sound-making device made in shapes imitating animals and birds, grotesque figures, pots, etc. Small pebbles and clay pellets are put inside them for jingling. They are known from KALIBANGAN, LOTHAL, SURKOTADA, etc., and are mostly birds in terracotta. During the early historical period the commonest ones are in the shape of bird. They are usually in terracotta but a few are of iron and copper. At NEVASA one is of the shape of an elephant and another is bulbous. A specimen from BRAHMAGIRI possesses a grotesque face. Bird-shaped rattles are also reported from AMRELI, CHANDRAKETUGARH and RANG MAHAL; SAMBHAR has yielded one of iron in addition to bird rattles in terracotta from Kushan times. Rattles also come from PAUNAR in the period of the 5th-6th century. At Taxila a number of terracotta rattles occur in levels of the 3rd century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. In addition to birds (cocks and parrots), animals (rams and tortoise) and grotesque faces, the new types include fruit (pomegranates) and anthropoid figures.