An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s17.5

v1.c21.s17.5

Copper and bronze models are known from the 3rd century B.C. The vehicles have a transverse hole for the axle underneath the body and another hole for the front pole. The wheels have heavy and clearly defined hubs and fellies. The bronze cart models from RAIRH have a yoke left open at the back and are provided with high sloping and voluted sides; one of them has no yoke but has a clear projection like a mud-guard at the back for passengers to sit. No canopies are found. Some fine models from ATRANJIKHERA, KAUŚĀMBĪ and MATHURA consist of an open vehicle with two wheels, hubs and spokes—a typical specimen of the Ganga valley. It is externally decorated with flower designs in three rows. BRAHMAPURI has produced excellent bronze specimens of Sātavāhana times. Single or a pair of bullocks or horses was yoked to the vehicle. The coverings seem to have been made of thatched bamboo matting or grass (accurate copies are depicted in contemporary sculptures at AMARAVATI and NAGARJUNAKONDA). Taxila has yielded a few types of *c.* 100 B.C. to A.D. 200. One is two-wheeled vehicle styled as light racing chariot. Another is a simple dogcart furnished with two holes in the front for shafts and two ground projections underneath for the wheeled axle. Simple carts pulled by one or two animals are known from RANG MAHAL, *c.* A.D 300 to 500. Similar ones of the Ikṣvāku times are also found at NAGARJUNAKONDA and YELLESWARAM and are almost identical with their modern successors.