An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s19: 16.19 Wheels
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s19
- Language
- English
16.19 Wheels
v1.c21.s19.1
As wheels and carts were made of perishable material like wood actual ancient examples are seldom found. A wooden chariot wheel, 1.2 m in diameter, with 24 spokes and three iron bands in the hub, was found at BULANDIBAGH; it is believed to be Mauryan in date (Gupta, 1965, p. 350). But model toy-cart wheels in terracotta show that from the Harappa [4.9] to later times the wheel has gone through various stages of technical modifications. The idea of wheeled transport must have been derived from the heavy potter's wheel which was moved from place to place by rolling. This must have led to the idea of putting an axle between two wheels with a superstructure over it for carrying load. Animals would then have been used for drawing the contrivance.
v1.c21.s19.2
The earliest examples of toy-cart wheels found at Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, KALIBANGAN and LOTHAL show that they were of two major types—solid and spoked. Solid wheels were again of three kinds: plain, i.e. without hub, single-hubbed and double-hubbed. Of these the plain solid wheel is the earliest and as a result of technological development later on developed into a single-hubbed one. It was difficult to maintain the balance with a solid wheel without hub. Hence in order to control the undulating movement of the wheel a single hub was introduced. Finally the double-hubbed wheel was invented because it was more convenient and practical than either of the other types. The solid wheel was very heavy and sturdy and was made of three to 12 pieces. It was easy to make and was very useful and efficient for the transportation of goods but could not be used when speed and manoeuvrability were required because of its heaviness and clumsiness. Therefore in order to reduce the weight of the wheel and to make it suitable for speed the spoked wheel came into vogue where the defects of the solid wheel were reduced to the minimum. Models of actual spoked wheels have not been found in the Harappa culture, but that they were not unknown to the Harappans is apparent from the spokes painted on toy-cart wheels. It is interesting to note that all these painted wheels are single-hubbed. All the four types of wheels common in the Harappa period have been found in the PGW[4.15] levels of AHICCHATRĀ.
v1.c21.s19.3
The earliest evidence of a wheeled vehicle is found in Sumer in *c.* 3500, in Assyria around 3000 and in C. Asia and the Indus valley around 2500 B.C.
v1.c21.s19.4
Gupta. P.L., 1965, *Patna Museum Cat. of Antiquities*, Patna. Margabandhu, C., in Agrawal, D.P., & Ghosh, A., 1973, *Radiocarbon & India Arch.*, Bombay, pp. 182-9. For sites see respective entries in vol. II.—S. BANERJEE