An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s14.15

v1.c9.s14.15

The ceramic industry comprises four distinct wares: (1) cream-slipped ware, (2) black-and-red ware, (3) red ware, and (4) grey ware. The cream-slipped ware occurring only in very small quantities in the lower levels at AHAR² and in the upper levels at GILUND comprises bowls and *loṭā*-like vases decorated on the exterior with geometric designs in black pigment. Black-and-red ware is very common; it is thin and well-baked and comprises a large variety of bowls, occasionally on stands. The burnished outer and inner surfaces are profusely painted with a variety of linear and dotted designs in white pigment. This ware was obviously meant for table use. The most common ceramic is red ware which comprises five quite distinct subwares: (a) bright-red-slipped ware, the most profuse of all wares, characterized by a thick, gritty core, a bright-red slip and burnishing on the upper part of the exterior and roughening of the lower part by application of sand, the forms including jars of many shapes and sizes, dishes and bowls-on-stand and pot-rests and the decoration consisting of a bewildering variety of applied, incised, cut and punctured designs, though of in the upper levels of AHAR² some pots also have painted designs in black; (b) dull red slipped ware, vessels which include medium-sized globular jars, shallow pans and basins; (c) coarse red ware, with no slip, its shapes similar to those of (b), the shallow pans with roughened bottoms being probably used for cooking; (d) tan ware (restricted to the lower levels of AHAR²), sturdy, made of fine, well-levigated and well-baked clay, having a thick core, and bearing a tan or chocolate slip on both the burnished surfaces, the shapes including large dishes with beaded rim, dishes-on-stand, bowls-on-stand and pot-rests; and (e) thin red ware, also a deluxe ware occurring in small quantities, made of well-baked fine clay, with a thin, burnished slip, the shapes comprising convex-bodied bowls and small high-necked globular vessels and the decoration consisting of thin parallel ribbings superimposed with incisions. The grey ware is very close to the bright-red-slipped ware in fabric, shapes and decorations and is next only to it in quantity, with two varieties, unburnished and burnished. Some noteworthy features of the pottery are the richness and variety of applied and incised decoration, rarity of painted decoration (except on black-and-red ware) and complete absence of naturalistic decorative motifs and of spouted vessels.