An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c29.71

v2.c29.71

*Pottery.* Isolated and small bits of pottery, 1 to 2 cm in size, appear almost down to the bottom of the occupation deposit. They had almost certainly sunk from the upper levels by infiltration, assisted by decaying rootlets and burrowing of rodents, into the soft sandy soil. Phase I is best regarded as devoid of pottery in the cultural sense. It is only Phase II and Pd II that are culturally associated with pottery. The pottery of Phase II is made of gritty and micaceous clay. Both surfaces of the pot are treated with a slip of fine clay and the outer surface is often burnished. A wash of bright-red colour was applied over the slip but in most phases it has largely faded away and the present surface colour is dull-brown. The pottery is poorly fired and fragile. Most of the pots seem to have been made entirely by hand or by the use of slow wheel or turntable. There are a few sherds with a black inner surface which suggests attempts at producing a black-and-red ware. The shapes include the broad-mouthed jar of various sizes, the small *loṭā*-like pot, large shallow basin, some smaller and deeper basin and bowl in a range of sizes. Though no complete pot is decorated many sherds bear incised designs which include groups of parallel bands, chevrons, herringbone patterns, criss-crosses, groups of short strokes and finger-nail incisions. There are some affinities between the Bagor pottery and that of the KAYATHA [11.] and AHAR² [11.6.2] cultures of Malwa and Mewar in fabric and shapes. Judging from the technological and economic status of the Bagor settlement it would appear that the pottery was obtained from agriculture-based village settlements in the area rather than produced by the local people themselves.