An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c5.7

v1.c5.7

On protohistoric and historic side, cultural sequences supported by a chronological frame-work, obtained through carefully observed vertical excavations, are now available for all parts of the country. The overall pattern of the cultural development of the sub-continent has come much more clearly in form and a grammar of Indian archaeology is now available for reference. We now know more of the dynamics of the Indus Civilization, including its genesis, spread and decay, the principal excavated sites in India being Banawali, Kalibangan, Lothal, Mitathal, Rangpur, Ropar, and Surkotada. A late phase of Harappan culture being an amalgam of different traits has been duly recognized, particularly in Haryana and Punjab. The Dark Age intervening between the end of the Indus Civilization and the beginning of the historical period has been filled, though not closely secured, through the recognition of various chalcolithic cultures in western, central and eastern India, the principal excavated sites being Ahar, Chandoli, Chirand, Daimabad, Eran, Inamgaon, Jorwe, Kayatha, Mahishdal, Nagda, Nasik, Navdatoli, Nevora, Pandurajardhibi and Prakash. The elusive 'Copper Hoards' and the inappropriately termed Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) have been placed in a cultural and chronological sequence, the principal excavated sites being Atranjikhera, Bahadarabad, Hastinapura, Jodhpura, Lal Qila and Saipai Lichwai. The pottery has been dated by thermo-luminiscence method, which indicates a time-range from 2650 to 1180 B.C Another ceramic industry which is thought to fill the gap between the Indus Civilization and the historical period and stratigraphically follows the OCP is the Painted Grey Ware (PGW). This Ware is widely distributed in northern India, Punjab, Haryana, north-eastern Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh, and marks the beginning of the Iron Age in that region. Strata yielding this ware have been extensively excavated include Ahichchhatra, Atranjikhera, Hastinapura, Mathura, Noh and Ropar. Excepting a solitary date from Atranjikhera (1025 B.C.) the remaining C-14 dates of the contemporary levels fall within a range of 800-400 B.C. (uncalibrated). Relevant to the issue is the excavation at Bhagwanpura where the deposit yielding the grey ware has been found interlocked with that yielding a late Harappan complex.