An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s10.5

v1.c17.s10.5

It is not yet conclusively shown whether the ring stones of the Indus civilization (Marshall, 1931, p. 61) were used for magico-religious or utilitarian purposes. Sankalia 1974, pp. 241, etc, while referring to the ring stones of NEVASA, NAVDATOLI, LANGHNAJ and other sites, suggests their use as mace-heads or weights for digging sticks. However no utilitarian purpose can be ascribed to smaller holed objects made of faience, shell and carnelian found at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa which according to Marshall, *ibid.*, seem to have fetishistic or cultic significance. In this connection it is significant to note the cultic association of the ring stones of 3rd-2nd century B.C. found at sites between Taxila, PĀTALIPUTRA, etc., which have figures of a mother goddess carved on them [12.3.9; 12.6].