An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s14.26

v1.c9.s14.26

4.14.3 *Middle Ganga region.* Excavations at sites in Bihar, viz. SONPUR, Dt Gaya, CHIRAND, Dt Saran, and ORIUP, Dt Bhagalpur, show that at the first two sites the Chalcolithic people lived in houses made of mud-plastered reeds or bamboos, evidenced by the discovery of clay chunks with the impression of these materials. The 5·50 m thick Chalcolithic deposit at CHIRAND revealed at its earliest level a circular hearth and post-holes and floors of burnt earth. The excavation was too limited to ascertain the plan of dwellings, but they were larger than those of the earlier Neolithic settlement [4.6.4]. The exposed lime floors within the 3·65 m thick deposit at SONPUR had circular pits representing circular huts, with varying diameters of 1·84 to 2·44 m and with bones of animals and birds inside.