An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s15.2

v1.c16.s15.2

The bulk of the Chalcolithic Megalithic pottery of the Vindhyas is wheel-made though handmade examples are also present in small numbers in red ware. The clay used for manufacturing the pots is not well-levigated and contains medium to fine grains of quartz and grit. Most of the pots are fairly well-fired. The ceramic assemblage consists of red ware, black-and-red ware [11.15] and black-slipped ware. The red ware which forms the major assemblage is generally of thick section, medium to coarse in fabric with gritty brick-red to smoky-grey core and is represented by: the shallow, convex-sided and deep bowl; dish; shallow bowl-cum-cover; button-based goblet; beaker; shallow and deep basin with collared rim; funnel-shaped lid; bowl-cum-lid; footed and perforated vessel; vase with conical profile; large and medium vase with carinated neck; narrow concave-necked vase; high-necked vase pear-shaped vase; vase with beaded or collared rim; *hāṇḍī* or cooking vessel; and dish-on-stand. The lower exterior of some of the pots is rusticated. A few sherds with burnishing have also been found. Some pots bear ocherous red slip on both the sides. The black-and-red ware which is fine to coarse in fabric includes: the hemispherical, ovaloid, subovaloid and pedestalled bowl; dish; shallow dish-cum-basin, trough; funnel-shaped lid; and vase. Some sherds with a burnished smooth surface are also present. The black-slipped ware, generally of fine to medium fabric and thin section, is represented by: the hemispherical, ovaloid and subovaloid, carinated and pedc-stalled bowl; dish; basin; funnel-shaped lid; vessel with strap vertical handle; and small vase. Some sherds with a burnished black shining surface of this group compete well with sherds of the NBPW [11.16] in brilliance. A few pots which though very close to the black-slipped ware in general appearance but with a grey surface have also been met with. Some pots in the black-slipped ware, the slip of which has flaked off or withered completely or partially, resemble sherds of the grey ware. The typology of the grey ware also matches that of the black-slipped ware. This grey ware also closely resembles the plain grey ware of PGW assemblage [11.14].