An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s6.t2.3

v1.c9.s6.t2.3

The wirter has observed at MAHAGARA other details. A section was maintained in excavation of this Neolithic site, on its inner eroded declivity and this seems to indicate also that there were two stages of the microlithic strata, on the upper of which the land was further eroded by a drier climatic succession that followed after the Upper Palaeolithic times, on the undulating land of which the Neolithic hut-dwelling culture was established a few mm below the present top. This culture is characterized by handmade and partly burnished pottery which carries coarse silica and rice-husks in its sections. Some stray pieces of polished stone flakes and tool fragments and a good number of contemporary microliths are also seen. The huts are often in pairs with the inner part of each invariably characterized by greyish humic soil which was the working floor and having a well-delineated series of post-holes on the perimeter of the huts. Some single huts are also seen but paired huts appear to be more in number. The area of occupation on the survey of the neighbouring interior parts seems to extend almost up to the main road on a now partly undulated and cut-down land and partly recultivated modern soil. The site could be prima facie designated as the well-established Neolithic farmstead culture with cultivation around, as also proved by hoof marks in the houses, indicating perhaps that the cattle were themselves housed in the huts used as cattle pens and probably men lived along with them in these circular huts, the average diameter of which appears to be up to 5 m.