An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.16

v1.c9.s18.16

A continuity between the latest stage of the megalithic and the early historical has been suspected in the lower Deccan [4.18.11], the chief element of continuity being provided by the presence of the dying black-and-red ware [11.15.3] in the levels of the early historical settlements and the co-occurrence of the megalithic pottery and the historical russet-coated painted ware [11.22] in the earliest (1st century A D) levels of CHANDRAVALLI (*AI*, 4, 1947 and 1948, p. 278). The latter, essentially a local pottery confined to Karnataka and its neighbourhood, may be regarded as the diagnostic early historical pottery of the region. At the same time it is admitted that much more forceful than local factors was the impact from the n. that was responsible for the beginnings of the early historical period in the lower Deccan, in the form of fortified towns, punch-marked coins [3.1], coins of the Sātavāhanas and their feudatories and Buddhist monuments. The impact may have been transmitted through the Sātavāhanas.