An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c35.42.4

v2.c35.42.4

46) of a small mound known as Solkhana yielded a Chalcolithic occupational deposit of about 2·6 m. The most important finds are extended burials of children oriented from n. to s. within the habitational areas. Though there are no grave goods the finds from the pits as well as from the deposits indicate clearly that the burials belong to the Chalcolithic folk [4.14.4]. No report on the skeletal remains has been received so far from the Anthropological Survey of India. The pottery consists of painted as well as plain black-and-red ware [11.6.5], black-on-red ware and white-painted red ware, besides a dull-red ware. The shapes comprise mainly the carinated bowl, convex-sided bowl, channel-spouted vessel and perforated vessel. The painted designs consist of horizontal and vertical strokes, herring-bone designs, short strokes like inverted commas, interconnected loops, rows of triangles and two joint arcs resembling flying birds. While most of the painted designs occur on the inner side of the vessels some of them bear paintings on both sides. The shapes and designs are identical with those at MAHISDAL and other Chalcolithic sites of W. Bengal as well as of c. India [11.10]. The other finds, though limited in number, consist of short blades, tiny Neolithic celts, a stone pestle, bone points and microbeads of steatite. Burnt clay nodules with reed impression and a charred wooden pole, 4 cm in diameter, indicate that the inhabitants lived in perishable huts. —R.G. PANDEYA