An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s22.2

v1.c16.s22.2

Some of the excavated habitation sites with this pottery are: NEVASA, MASKI, BRAHMAGIRI including the burials, CHANDRAVALLI, TIRUKKAMPULIYUR and ALAGARAI, and the Megalithic [4.17.10] urn burials at PARAVAI, MANGALAM and NATTUKALPALAYAM. They have revealed the occurrence of this pottery regionally in varying proportions and in different phases of the early historical culture datable to c. 3rd century B.C. to 3rd century A.D. in the habitational deposits along with other pottery in the Godavari-Kaveri area, and in the Megalithic burials in the Coimbatore-Madurai area. Earlier in view of the then known extent of this pottery in the Deccan and of its being characteristic of the ‘main Andhra period’ along with the Sātavāhana coins particularly of Vāsiṣṭhīputra Pulumāvi (c. A.D. 131-55) and Yajñaśrī (c. A.D. 169-96), and its stratigraphic relation with other special pottery fabrics, such as the Rouletted Ware [11.21] and amphorae [11.19] characteristic of 1st-2nd centuries A.D., the pottery was designated as Āndhra Ware (Wheeler, 1947-8). Subsequent explorations and excavations and a comprehensive study of all the known material have clearly proved its occurrence in the pre-Christian context as well and over a wider extent. Considering its technical characteristic Thapar, 1957, has rightly redesignated it as the Russet-coated Painted Ware. Its concentration is in the area s. of the Krishna.