An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.t3.14

v1.c9.s18.t3.14

The black-and-red ware [11.6], contemporary with the NBPW at UJJAIN and TRIPURĪ, seems to have continued even in the post-Mauryan period, associated with the coins of the Śātavāhanas. The tempo of urbanization and economic development seems to have continued in the Śuṅga-Sātavāhana period as evidenced by largescale Buddhist establishments as at Bharhut and SANCHI and the abundant find of coins of the Sātavāhana rulers. The black-and-red ware of the early historical period is generally thick, with impure clay, the core showing imperfect firing, but it shows quite a range of shapes mostly of utilitarian value, e.g. the bowl, dish, globular pot, basin, cup, etc. Houses were brick-built with the roof supported on wooden posts and covered with tiles fixed to rafters below by means of iron nails. Coins of Sātavāhana kings have been reported from a number of sites in c. India, like TRIPURĪ, UJJAIN, Malhar, MAHESHWAR, BESNAGAR and several places in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra contiguous to Madhya Pradesh. Along with the Sātavāhanas and later the Kṣatrapas held sway over a large part of c. India and their coins have been reported from TRIPURĪ, Malhar, UJJAIN and MAHESHWAR. There was not much change in the material culture but a new type of ceramic ware seems to have come into vogue along with terracotta figurines in this period. The former is characterized by a red surface with bands in dull-black.