An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s19.t1.14

v1.c9.s19.t1.14

In Assam AMBARI in Gauhati may be treated as the most representative site. At least three constructional phases of an urban settlement with ruins of magnificent buildings, drains, ring-wells [14.15], pottery, sculptures, etc., ascribed to Pd I (7th to 12th centuries A.D.) have been brought to light. The period is characterized by a buff-coloured kaolin pottery, not reported in any other part of the country and hence labelled as Ambari Ware. Similar potsherds have been found on the Navagraha, Kamakhya and Sarania Hills in Gauhati, at some sites in Nowgong and Tezpur and BHISHMAKNAGAR in Arunachal. The ¹⁴C date of the stratum with this pottery is A.D. 1030± 130. Made of well-levigated pure clay, this fine fabric is baked at a uniformly high temperature. The principal shapes are the globular jar with flaring mouth and short neck, carinated bowl, dish-on-stand and horn-shaped vessel comparable to Greek *cornucopia*. Red ware, grey ware and ware with coarse fabric are also found in small quantities. Among the few terracotta figurines may be mentioned the torso of a female, stylistically dated to the 8th-10th centuries. It is the finest specimen of art of the period. The stone sculptures, essentially of Brāhmaṇical deities, stylistically belong to the 8th-10th centuries.