An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s14.t1.58

v1.c9.s14.t1.58

Chalcolithic sites in other parts of India flourished by and large in the riverine plains where the systematic raising of crops was possible. In such favourable conditions the settlements would necessarily be of a permanent nature. In the Dts Kurnool and Cuddapah, away from the hills have been located a cluster of settlements yielding black-on-red pottery, which is indeed the dominant trend, and black-and-red, grey and creamslipped wares of Chalcolithic affinity. One or two workshops of disc beads of steatite have also been discovered in this region. Of these sites, PATPAD, PUSALPADU (Sarma, 1967) and SINGANAPALLI are noteworthy. A small-scale excavation carried out at SINGANAPALLI (*IAR 1967-8*), situated on the bank of a nullah, disclosed painted pottery, stone blades and fluted cores, besides microbeads of steatite and shell. In the occupational deposit, with a height of 1·5 m, traces of a limeplastered floor came to light. The settlement, ascribable to the middle of the 2nd millennium B.C., does not appear to be of a temporary nature. At the same time as these sites are not situated in river valleys the possibility of their being associated with a developed food-producing economy is remote.