An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c22.s1.9

v1.c22.s1.9

The Megalithic [4.8, 9] sites of PAIYAMPALLI, KUNNATUR, SANUR and BRAHMAGIRI have yielded very few clay animal figurines. Those from the Nilgiris are of a doubtful date. In the early centuries of the Christian era, with the urbanization of the Deccan we get delicate hollow terracottas or kaolin figurines at PAITHAN, NEVASA, TER, KONDAPUR, YELLESWARAM, etc. These figurines, produced out of two moulds, consist of the buffalo, horse, bull (usually seated on a platformlike *nandī*), ram, etc., which are lavishly ornamented with trappings. It is doubtful whether such delicate figurines would have been used as toys. Perforations near the base of some of the bull figurines indicate their use as amulets [12.1]. Crocodile (*makara*) amulets have been found at NEVASA. Animal figurines have been reported from KANCHIPURAM, TIRUKKAMBULIYUR and KĀVERĪPAṬṬIṆAM.