[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c19.s13 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s13: 14.13 Pit-dwellings An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s13 - **Language:** English ### 14.13 Pit-dwellings ### [v1.c19.s13.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s13.1) Pit used as dwellings were in vogue in the Neolithic cultures of Kashmir \[4.6.1\] and the Deccan \[4.6.8\]. The early phase at BURZAHOM, dated 2300 to 1700 B.C., yielded both circular and square pit-dwellings dug into the loess. That these were covered with thatched roofs is evident from the discovery of post-holes on the periphery and sometimes even in the centre, and of traces of burnt birch and hay. Circular pits, wider at the bottom (3 to 4·50 m) and narrower on the top (1·05 to 3 m) had their sides plastered. Provided with steps and stone hearths, some of them had alcoves, and in one case, two pits were interconnected by a passage. The square ones, with, 4·5 to 7 m sides, had drains on all the four sides, besides mud platforms. Artefacts recovered from these dwelling include handmade grey pottery and tools of bone and stone. These pit-dwellings have extra-Indian affiliations and similar ones have also been reported from the Swat valley, Pakistan. ### [v1.c19.s13.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s13.2) Pit-dwellings of the Deccan have no relationship with those of Kashmir. Pits dug into the disintegrated granite at NAGARJUNAKONDA were mostly irregular on plan and shallower in depth than those at BURZAHOM. These semisubterranean dwellings were used alongside the house types built on earth-fast poles. They belong to the mature Neolithic phase, dated 2000-1500 B.C. and the largest of them, measuring 5·28 × 4·20 m, has four post-holes. ### [v1.c19.s13.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s13.3) Circular pit-chambers with post-holes were also noticed in the Malwa phase \[4.14.6\] at INAMGAON. Significantly there are some people here who still live in pits. ### [v1.c19.s13.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s13.4) \[See also PAIYAMPALLI, SONGAON² and SONPUR¹.\] ### [v1.c19.s13.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s13.5) Pande, B.M., 1973, in \*Anthropologist\*, 17, 1 & 2, Delhi. Sarkar, H., 1961, in \*International Conference on Asian Arch., Summaries of Papers\*, New Delhi; 1975, in Subrahmanyam, R., \*et al.\*, \*ed.\*, \*Nagarjunakonda 1954-60\*, New Delhi. For other sites see respective entries in vol. II.—H. SARKAR ## Linked texts (5) - [Nāgārjunakoṇḍa](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.nagarjunakonda) - [Burzahom](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.burzahom) - [Inamgaon](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.inamgaon) - [Sonpur](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.sonpur) - [Paiyampalli](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.paiyampalli) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s13) · Pramāṇa