An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.29

Language: English

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Within the early historical period three subperiods may be distinguished on the basis of pottery and other objects: early (600-300 B.C.), middle (300-50 B.C.) and late (50 B.C.-A.D. 300). In the early subperiod the key position is held by the NBPW which appears to have been introduced in the sixth century B.C. at sites like ŚRĀVASTĪ, KAUŚĀMBĪ and RAJGHAT. But at several sites its introduction could have been appreciably later and in any case not earlier than the 4th century B.C. Except for its glossy shining surface and black or steel-blue colour, occasionally with a golden or silvery flourish, the NBPW does not introduce any significant innovation in shapes over the preceding wares such as the PGW, the Black-slipped Ware and black-and-red ware in the w. region and the Black-slipped Ware and painted black-and-red ware in the e. The shapes, nature of clay and firing in the NBPW show a continuity of the earlier tradition. The main shapes in the NBPW are the bowl and dish, but other shapes like the bottle-necked vase, lids and miniature vessel also occur. That the ware was a prized commodity is evident from some specimens showing attempts to repair the broken fragments. A careful examination of the ¹⁴C dates and the archaeological context at sites like ŚRĀVASTĪ, KAUŚĀMBĪ and RAJGHAT shows that the peak period of the occurrence of the ware at sites in e. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is from 550 to 300 B.C., whereafter its manufacture and use become scarce.

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Along with it occur a number of other wares like the black-and-red ware, Black-slipped Ware and a few painted wares including the Painted Grey Ware in small quantities but as an integral part of the ceramics of the period. The plain red ware occurring in the early subperiod shows two strains—a coarser variety and a finer one. In the finer variety the shapes are generally those that are common in the NBPW and allied wares and include the dish and basin. In the finer variety the common shapes are the storage jar and high-necked globular vase. At sites like ŚRĀVASTĪ and KAUŚĀMBĪ the miniature vessel of different shapes is also found. Many of the shapes in plain red ware show incised decorations. In the middle subperiod (300-50 B.C.) the NBPW continues to occur but in declining quantities; at ŚRĀVASTĪ it ceased to occur at this point. At HASTINĀPURA and ROPAR the specimens show a thicker section than in the preceding subperiod. The other allied wares ceased to exist. Instead a thick grey ware came into use, and the most common and often the only type in this ware is the dish, with its inside bottom often with the stamped design of a wheel. In the plain red ware the number of types appears to have been greatly reduced. The new common varieties include the miniature bowl, pear-shaped vase, collared basin and carinated *hānḍī* with a featureless rim. A very noteworthy feature in this subperiod is a near-absence of decoration or sophistication on the pottery.

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In this respect this subperiod stands apart from both the preceding subperiod and the succeeding one when the NBPW and the thick grey ware cease to exist, together with many of the popular red ware shapes. Instead many new shapes are introduced, with decoration and sophistication returning in a substantial way. A common feature of this last subperiod is the occurrence of the sprinkler type of vase in different varieties; with its wide distribution it serves as a diagnostic ware of this subperiod. Another important type, though not so common, is a tumbler type of a vessel with a footed base which was definitely more common at sites in the n.-w. than in the e. The occurrence of a good number of specimens of the Red Polished Ware [11.23] showing a highly smooth bright-red surface has also been noted at RAJGHAT, HASTINĀPURA and other sites. It is also not uncommon to decorate vessels with various stamped and incised designs which include symbols like the *tri-ratna*, *śrīvatsa*, taurine, etc. Spouts of the vessels of this subperiod often carry the design of a crocodile.