An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s1.37

v1.c19.s1.37

(ix) Maharashtra. S. of the Tapti, the Maharashtra plateau is a land of flat-topped hills intergraded with rolling plains drained by the upper reaches of the Godavari and its tributaries. The evidence of the Chalcolithic in this region [4.14.6] is made clear at sites like NEVASA, NASIK, JORWE, DAIMABAD, CHANDOLI, SONGAON and INAMGAON. The major excavated Megalithic settlements [4.17.6] are JUNAPANI, MAHURJHARI and KHAPA in Vidarbha or Berar where the evidence of early historical occupation is typified at the Buddhist *stūpa* site of PAUNI. The trade routes of Maharashtra were quite significant in the late centuries B.C., and early centuries A.D., and the Buddhist remains along these routes suggest a considerable expansion of settlements in Maharashtra in this period. In the Tapti valley two important excavated settlements are BAHAL and PRAKASH.