An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s6.t6.5

v1.c9.s6.t6.5

Abundant animal bones exhibiting cut and chop marks or in a charred condition indicate a non-vegetarian diet including roasted meat and marrow. The domestic cattle, buffalo, fowl, goat, deer, gazelle, spotted deer, *barasingha*, pig, bony fish and molluscs were consumed. Bones of the cattle predominate. Charred remains of *kulti* (horsegram, *Dolichos biflorus*, and *uruli*) found at TEKKALAKOTTA *ragi* (*Elusine coracona*), found at HALLUR along with *Elucine indica*, and the great millet (*Holocus sorgum*) found in the KUDUTANI ash mound lead to the conclusion that the diet included agricultural produces as well [2]. The food habit highlights: (1) rearing of large herds of the domesticated cattle; (2) practice of agriculture, probably in the terraces of the hills by the clearance of jungle with stone axes or burning it (slash-and-burn operation) and shifting of soil with weighted digging sticks; and (3) hunting and fishing (spotted deer, gazelle, *barasingha*, wild boar, monitor lizard, common rat, fish and molluscs). Besides, the use of the cattle as draft animals is evidenced by the development of anchylosis of the hock joint observed in the skeletal remains from HALLUR [1].