An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s17.66

v1.c9.s17.66

MAHURJHARI on the other hand yielded in the excavations carried in 1970-2 and again in 1975-6 no habitational remains but as many as 13 human skeletons, generally oriented n.-s. with the legs to the s. In some cases two persons were buried close to each other, whereas in one case the skeleton was found to have been without legs—possibly lost in a skirmish—and with a dagger with iron blade and copper hilt placed on the chest of the body. Along with the dead were found buried objects of daily utility like a cauldron and nail-parers of iron; objects of agricultural use like hoe; objects for woodwork like chisels, adzes, scrapers and nails; and objects of offence like lances, daggers, swords and spears. Objects of copper comprised dishes and conical lids capped by figures of birds, bells and anklets. Beads of carnelian, some etched, crystal, agate and gold were also buried. The pottery, which was mostly the black-and-red ware, comprised shapes like the bowl with conoidal base, squat hour-glass-like stand, dish and lid with conical top capped by figures of ram or a cock or birds. While no generalizations could be made regarding the human skeletal data it was noted that they belonged to an age-group ranging between 18 and 45.