An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.t3.42

v1.c9.s18.t3.42

Phase I: The beginnings of the use of iron, the Black-and-red Ware [11.15.3] and Megalithic monuments in the Deccan can be assigned to the early first millennium B.C. generally but the habitations and other cultural relics, barring funerary vestiges, still remain an enigma. At KESARAPALLE, Dt Krishna, megaliths are found in proximity of the habitation site but their mutual link could not be established here or elsewhere. However an important discovery from the Megalithic assemblage of this site (Pd II, 5th century B.C.) is an NBPW [11.16] sherd along with plain wares, closely paralleled by the ceramics of Pd I of UJJAIN. Jami, Dt Visakhapatnam, revealed an iron-using Black-and-red Ware [11.15.3] occupation in Pd II, beginning from the 7th century B.C. but no megaliths were associated (Sarma, 1976). The extensive use of iron tools and implements and decorative objects in gold, silver and brass from the megaliths at NAGARJUNAKONDA and YELLESWARAM suggests an advanced technique and evolved traits, not very different from the contemporary historical sites of the s. and n., although at both the sites some of the Megalithic types belong to a late date, say 2nd-1st century B.C. At the present state of our knowledge it is not possible to place the cultural assemblages—iron, Black-and-red Ware, Megalithic or non-Megalithic associates—under the early historical group despite their contemporaneity and overlap.