An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c7.s4: 2.4 Fruits, Nuts, etc.

An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c7.s4

Language: English

2.4 Fruits, Nuts, etc.

v1.c7.s4.1

2.4.1 *Borassus flabellifer* (toddy palm, palmyra palm). ARIKAMEDU (Indo-Roman). Native of tropical Africa, it is now widely cultivated in India, chiefly s. of the Ganga plains.

2.4.2 *Buchanania lanzan* (*chalaunji*). INAMGAON (Chalcolithic). With no world record, it is indigenous to India, chiefly in the peninsula. The ripe fruit is eaten and kernels used in confectionary and seed-oil in medicine.

v1.c7.s4.3

2.4.3 *Citrullus* sp. Cf. *C. lanatus* (melon). Harappa. Widely cultivated in warm, arid, sandy tracts in c. and s. India and in coastal regions, as in the Mediterranean region and w. Asia.

v1.c7.s4.4

2.4.4 *Citrus* sp. (lemon). Harappa. Indigenous to India along the Himalayan foothills up to 1300 m.

v1.c7.s4.5

2.4.5 *Cocus nucifera* L. (coconut palm). Harappa; ARIKAMEDU (Indo-Roman). A coastal or near-coastal plant.

v1.c7.s4.6

2.4.6 *Emblica officinalis* (myrobalan, *amla*). NAVDATOLI (Chalcolithic). Cultivated and wild varieties occurring in mixed deciduous forests, it is sensitive to frost and drought.

v1.c7.s4.7

2.4.7 *Phoenix* sp. TEKKALAKOTA, UTNUR (Neolithic); Harappa; INAMGAON (Chalcolithic), all possibly of wild species with edible fruits. Real date palm, *P. dactylifera*, was introduced in Punjab in the 8th century.

v1.c7.s4.8

2.4.8 *Punicagranatum* (pomegranate, *anar*). Harappa. Wild and often under cultivation in semi-arid climates on poor soils.

v1.c7.s4.9

2.4.9 *Tamarindus indicus* (tamarind, *imli*). NEVASA (Chalcolithic). Origin in tropical Africa or s.-e. Asia.

v1.c7.s4.10

2.4.10 *Zizyphus jujuba* (*ber*). NAVDATOLI (Chalcolithic); BHOKARDAN, NEVASA, TEKKALAKOTA (early historical).