An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c23.s4: 18.4 Flesh-rubbers
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c23.s4
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18.4 Flesh-rubbers
v1.c23.s4.1
The antiquity of terracotta flesh- or, more appropriately, skin-rubbers dates back to the Harappa culture [4.9]. They have been found in the Chalcolithic [4.14] levels at NEVASA and AHAR², as also at several other excavated sites throughout India except the far s. They occur in the historical levels, e.g. at KUMRAHAR, HASTINĀPURA, AHICCHATRĀ, BHOKARDAN, BESNAGAR, RAJBADIDANGA, MASAON and CHIRAND.
v1.c23.s4.2
These rubbers have various shapes and patterns—mostly rectangular, square or circular and rarely planoconvex, oval, barrel-shaped or trapezoid. To enhance their utility for scrubbing the skin they are either pecked or incised with oblique lines, rectangular or semicircular notches, triangular V-shaped notches, checks, zigzags chevrons. While the barrel-shaped rubbers are wheel-turned others are handmade. For terracotta rubbers the clay is mixed with lime and a sufficient quantity of sand to obtain a rough surface. Often quartz pieces are added to roughen the exterior.
v1.c23.s4.3
The AHAR² examples are rectangular, circular or even shaped like a double-axe while those from NEVASA have a punctured surface. The one from the Kushan levels at CHIRAND shows a criss-cross pattern encircling a row of triangles with a flower in the centre. The PRABHAS PATAN example is inscribed with characters of the 2nd century B.C. Such objects of toilet are still in common use.