An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.34

v1.c9.s18.34

Most of the sites have produced a rich collection of beads [10.1] from various levels. Detailed reports are available in respect of HASTINĀPURA AHICCHATRĀ, KAUŚĀMBĪ and ŚRĀVASTĪ. For the subperiod 600-300 B.C. ŚRĀVASTĪ has produced by far the most significant examples which include among others 'eyebeads' of stratified glass, leach-shaped beads of agate, cylinder beads of lapis lazuli, axe amulets of carnelian, dagger pendants of clay and shell and cornerless cube beads of jasper. All these types are known from the pre-Mauryan and Mauryan levels of Taxila and can be cited as firm evidence of trade contacts between the two metropolitan centres. Etched beads of agate and carnelian are assignable to a period after 300 B.C. and have been reported from ŚRĀVASTĪ, and KAUŚĀMBĪ. Similarly transparent beads of crystal and amethyst do not appear to have been introduced earlier that 300 B.C., as evidenced at ŚRĀVASTĪ KAUŚĀMBĪ, AHICCHATRĀ and Taxila. Their occurrence in Pd III of HASTINĀPURA would not indicate an early date, since, as has been said above, the chronology of the site is not above dispute. Between 50 B.C. and A.D. 300 many new types of beads, particularly amulets [12.1], were introduced. Special mention may be made of several amulets of terracotta and occasionally of semiprecious stones of the bird and tortoise motifs recovered from AHICCHATRĀ and KAUŚĀMBĪ. An interesting innovation was faïence [16.6] as material for beads, pendants and bangles, recovered from AHICCHATRĀ and KAUŚĀMBĪ.