An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c15.s1.21

v1.c15.s1.21

The most common material in the non-stone category is terracotta which was used extensively both in time and space. Apart from abundance of raw material, its plasticity and ease in perforation were additional assets. Some of the shapes, as for instance the arecanut-shaped beads, are 'ageless' and are reported from the 3rd millennium B.C. to the 16-17th century A.D. Moulded beads predominate in the Gupta period, whereas appliqué work is more associated with Śuṅga-Sātavāhana period.