An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.29.2

v1.c9.s18.29.2

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.