An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c15.s3.t1: 10.3.1 Head ornaments
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c15.s3.t1
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10.3.1 Head ornaments
v1.c15.s3.t1.1
The bulk of head ornaments displaying an amazing variety comes from the Harappa [4.9] sites. Cones of gold, silver, ivory, shell, terracotta and faïence were used for adorning the head. Another popular head ornament of faïence was fan-shaped. An 8-shaped ornament from Harappa was possibly used for decorating the bun at the back of the head. Fillets with attached round ornaments were worn on the forehead. Hairpins were made of bronze, ivory, steatite and shell and their heads were tastefully decorated with spirals and animal figures, thus presenting foreign analogies (Wheeler, 1968).
v1.c15.s3.t1.2
Later on head ornaments present a poor array. The Megalithic [4.17] urn burials at ADICHANALLUR have yielded gold and bronze diadems worn on the forehead. Two large shells with copper riveting from the Mauryan levels at NASIK have also been described as head ornaments. Crescent-shaped terracotta pendants from BRAHMAPURI and KONDAPUR, dating to the Sātavāhana period, may have been worn on the forehead. Hairpins are scarce and are restricted to a few plain specimens of copper and ivory. A few ivory combs [18.3] recovered from the early historical levels at UJJAIN, NEVASA and TRIPURĪ may also have been used as head ornaments.