An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c31.462

v2.c31.462

**Dhatva**, (Dhatwa), Dt Surat, on the s. bank of the Tapti, the mound in the vicinity known as Rundhi Mora. Excavation in 1968 by R.N. Mehta and his colleagues has revealed a Chalcolithic [4.14.5] occupation over the Black Cotton Soil [9.1], with the Malwa Ware [11.10] and black-and-red [11.6] wares and with beads of terracotta, semiprecious stones and shell and cores and microliths of carnelian, jasper chalcedony and chert. The site was then occupied by an iron-using people of the early historical period who used the local ore, black-and-red ware and plain and burnished black ware. Sherds of amphorae [11.19] and the Red Polished Ware [11.23] are available as also copper punch-marked and die-struck coins [3.1]. It has been concluded that the Chalcolithic occupation ranged from the 15th to the 10th century B.C. and the early historical from the 5th-4th century B.C. to the 3rd-4th century A.D. Mehta, R.N., *et al.*, 1975, *Excavation at Dhatva*, Baroda.—A. GHOSH