An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s12.2

v1.c9.s12.2

The excavation at SAIPAI provides evidence that the OCW was associated with the Copper Hoards [4.11]. Here a hooked spearhead and a harpoon, typical of the copper hoard equipment, were found in an OCW-bearing deposit. Even earlier there had been discoveries suggesting a link between the hoards and the ware. For example a copper ring or bangle, familiar from PONDI and BAHADRABAD, was reported from the excavation at BARGAON; a piece of copper and broken pieces of terracotta crucibles containing copper granules were found at ATRANJIKHERA; and an arrowhead, a pendant, a bead and broken pieces of a celt, all of copper, and a few pieces of terracotta crucibles were found at LAL QILA. It would appear strange that the users of such sophisticated copper objects produced such dull pottery. However the picture has been changed by the excavation at LAL QILA (Gaur, 1973a, b; 1974), which for the first time produced a well-preserved red pottery with all the characteristics of a developed industry. The pottery shows a degree of sophistication; it is not only wheel-turned and well-baked but is decorated with incised designs, graffiti [20.1] and paintings in black pigment over a smooth red surface. Among the painted designs mention may be made of an elongated bull, segregated leafy designs, floral motifs, hatched triangles, circles, etc. Lal Qila is the first undisturbed site to retain all the relevant features of the habitational pattern, including well-preserved floors with post-holes, plaster fragments suggesting a sort of wattle-and-daub construction of both baked and unbaked brick. The other finds comprise terracotta objects including typical human figurines, bangles and beads and stone and bone