An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s6.5

v1.c17.s6.5

There is a paucity of female figurines in the cultures associated with the OCW [4.12] and PGW [4.15] in n. India. LAL QILA has just two specimens. JAKHERA has one and ATRANJIKHERA two from the late PGW levels which are contemporary with the early levels of the NBPW [4.18.1]. Archaic mother goddess figurines appear, though in a limited number, in pre-NBPW levels of BUXAR and early NBPW levels of PĀṬALIPUTRA, MATHURA, MASAON, KAUŚĀMBĪ, etc. Schematized ivory figurines with punched circlets known as ‘eye goddesses’ found at ALAMGIRPUR (PGW) and NAGDA, UJJAJN, PRABHAS PATAN (NBPW) could have been used as amulets or votive offerings during a smallpox epidemic. [cf. 12.3.6.]