[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c9.s9.58 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s9.58 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s9.58 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c9.s9.58](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s9.58) Technologically, the pre-Harappans had long crossed the Mesolithic/Neolithic stage and were in the Chalcolithic, in which metal (copper/bronze) played its due part. Thus, on this count too the change from the pre-Harappa to the Harappa stage was more quantitative than qualitative. Besides, quite a few items of daily life which characterized the Harappa culture had also begun to appear in the pre-Harappa times: for example, steatite disc beads, terracotta bangles, terracotta toy-cart frames and even the distinctive terracotta 'cakes'—both triangular and biconvex-circular. (Besides the published evidence from Kot Diji and Jalilpur, the occurrence of both the types of 'cakes' has been noted by K.N. Dikshit at NOHAR and SOTHI which are essentially pre-Harappa settlements.) Some of the pottery fabrics, forms and even painted designs \[11.2\] also forestall those of the Harappa culture. For example, Fabrics C and E of KALIBANGAN I are quite similar to their Harappa counterparts. As regards the forms, one may recall the cup-on-stand, dish-on-stand, flanged jar and even the distinctive perforated jar (the last-named being from SHERPURA, SOTHI and NOHAR; not published, but information from K.N. Dikshit). The painted designs common to the pre-Harappa culture include the intersecting circles, fish-scale, pipal-leaf, banana-leaf, etc. And although one does not find the Harappa scale in a pre-Harappa context, it would be difficult to ignore the similarity between the signs inscribed on the pre-Harappa pottery on the one hand (e.g. at Amri, Damb Sadaat, etc.) and some of those constituting the Indus script on the other (Lal, 1975). - [Previous: v1.c9.s9.57](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s9.57) - [Next: v1.c9.s9.59](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s9.59) - [Up: v1.c9.s9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s9) ## Linked texts (4) - [Kālībangan](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.kalibangan) - [Kot Diji](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.kot-diji) - [Amri](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.amri) - [Sherpura](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.sherpura) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s9.58](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s9.58) · Pramāṇa