An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s15.16

v1.c19.s15.16

The most characteristic feature of the ring-wells is the use of terracotta rings inside a circular shaft to forestall the collapse of the sides. For the construction of a ring-well a large pit having a much bigger diameter than the rings to be placed was dug and the rings were then piled inside it and fitted into each other; the space in between was filled with rubble and compact earth and carefully rammed near the opening at the ground level (Dikshit, 1955, p. 23; *IAR 1970-1*, p. 8). While ring-wells are generally found singly, there are instances also of twin ring-wells, as at TRIPURĪ and NASIK, besides clusters of them as at RAIRH where these are present in a large number within a considerably smaller area, and at NAGARI. Similarly, while single-ring casing is the general rule, at ARIKAMEDU (Casal, 1949, Annexe III) double-ring casing can be noticed; in some examples at Taxila (Marshall, 1951, 1, p. 94) and RAIRH pots have been placed upside down with their bases perforated and telescoped into each other.