An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c38: L
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c38
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L
v2.c38.1
**Labpur**, Dt Birbhum. Microliths (of unspecified nature). *IAR 1964-5*.
v2.c38.2
**Lachchhagiri** (25°21'; 82°12'), Dt Allahabad. NBPW [11.16] was found in the eroded sections along an extensive mound showing brick structures and ring-wells [14.15]. *AI*, 10 & 11, 1954 & 1955, p. 144. *IAR 1961-2*.
v2.c38.3
**Lachhmipura**, Dt Bhilwara. Microliths (of unspecified nature). *IAR 1958-9*.
v2.c38.4
**Ladai**, Dt Kutch. Parallel-sided blades in crested-ridge technique. *IAR 1955-6*.
v2.c38.5
**Ladbediya**, Dt Mirzapur. Rock-shelter with paintings [13]. Misra, V.D., 1977, *Some Aspects of Indian Arch.*, Allahabad, pp. 55, 86.
v2.c38.6
**Ladhora**, Dt Ambala. PGW [11.14] site. *IAR 1964-5*.
v2.c38.7
**Ladhot (Chugaala)**, Dt Rohtak. Early historical [4.18.1] site. *Jour. Haryana Studies*, 3, 1, p. 5.
v2.c38.8
**Lagadvohal Pada**, Dt Dhule. Middle Stone Age (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) and Late Stone Age (Mesolithic [4.5]) site. *IAR 1966-7*.
v2.c38.9
**Lagba**, Dt Bhagalpur. Microliths and black-and-red ware (both of unspecified nature). *IAR 1963-4*.
v2.c38.10
**Lahachura**, Dt Hamirpur. Early Stone Age (Lower Palaeolithic [4.2]) tools.
v2.c38.11
**Lahagal**, Dt Indore. Chalcolithic site yielding Malwa [11.10], Banas [11.6.2] and Kayatha Wares [11.7]. *IAR 1970-1*.
v2.c38.12
**Lahana**, Dt Ujjain. Early historical [4.18.7] site. *IAR 1971-2*.
v2.c38.13
**Lahanda nullah**, Dt Allahabad. From the banks of this nullah, an affluent of the BELAN, Early (Lower Palaeolithic [4.2]) Middle (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) and Late Stone Age (Mesolithic [4.5]) tools were obtained. Megaliths [4.17.3] were noticed near by. *IAR 1966-7*.
v2.c38.14
**Lahar**, Dt Bhind. NBPW [11.16] site. *IAR 1957-8*.
v2.c38.15
**Lakameta**, Dt Chandrapur. Early Stone Age (Lower Palaeolithic [4.2]) tools. *IAR 1961-2*.
v2.c38.16
**Lakha**, Dt Ujjain. Early historical [4.18.7] site. *IAR 1971-2*.
v2.c38.17
**Lakha Dora¹**, Dt Ganganagar. PGW [11.14], impressed pottery, terracotta animal figurines and a ball and a shell bead. See SARASVATĪ VALLEY. Unpublished.
v2.c38.18
**Lakha Dora²**, Dt Ganganagar, PGW [11.14] and RANG MAHAL WARE [11.24], terracotta figurine, shell bangles and beads. See SARASVATĪ VALLEY. Unpublished.
v2.c38.19
**Lakhabaval** (22°24'; 70°00'), Dt Jamnagar. Excavation at the site, about 14 km n.-e. of Jamnagar, revealed three Pds. Pd I had pottery of thick fabric like that of Pd II A and B of RANGPUR. Pd II contained Red Polished Ware [11.23] and considerable quantities of coarse black-and-red painted pottery. Pd III represented a very late occupation on the mound with crude rubble structures and late medieval coins. *IAR 1955-6*. *AI*, 18 & 19, 1962 & 1963, p. 206.
v2.c38.20
**Lakhahar**, Dt Allahabad. Painted rock-shelters [13]. *IAR 1969-70*. Misra, V.D., 1977, *Some Aspects of Indian Arch.*, Allahabad, p. 55.
v2.c38.21
**Lakhajaur (Badi Jamunjhiri)**, Dt Raisen. Lower and Upper Palaeolithic [4.2, 4] site. In the vicinity are painted rock-shelters [13]. *IAR 1970-1*.
v2.c38.22
**Lakhania**, Dt Mirzapur. Rock-shelter with paintings [13]. Misra, V.D., 1977, *Some Aspects of Indian Arch.*, Allahabad, p. 55.
v2.c38.23
**Lakhan Timbo**, Dt Jamnagar. Site in the Aji valley with Harappa [11.36] Ware and coarse corrugated ware. *IAR 1960-1*.
v2.c38.24
**Lakhanka**, Dt Bhavnagar. Harappa [4.9] site. See BOKHALIDHAR. *IAR 1971-2*.
v2.c38.25
**Lakhanvara**, Dt Jabalpur. Series II (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) tools. *IAR 1958-9*.
v2.c38.26
**Lakhapur¹**, Dt Allahabad. Upper Palaeolithic [4.4] and Megalithic [4.17.3] site. *IAR 1969-70*.
v2.c38.27
**Lakhapur²**, Dt Chanda. Late Stone Age (Mesolithic [4.5]) tools. *IAR 1962-3*.
v2.c38.28
**Lakhapur³**, (23°33'; 70°28'), Dt Kutch. The ceramic content included the Harappa [11.3] red, buff, crude black-and-red and the reserved-slip wares. Some jars and dishes in red ware were comparable with RANGPUR II A and II C. The reserved-slip ware was represented by sherds painted in black with horizontal bands over light-grey background, comparable with similar sherds from LOTHAL A. A jasper fluted core and a flake and blade were some of the other finds. Coarse black-painted red ware akin to the RANG MAHAL Ware [11.24] and a red-slipped cream ware were also found.
v2.c38.29
*IAR 1965-6; 1970-1*. Chakrabarti, D.K., 1975-6, in *Purātattva*, 8, p. 159.
v2.c38.30
**Lakhari**, Dt Jabalpur. Microliths (of unspecified nature).
v2.c38.31
*IAR 1959-60*.
v2.c38.32
**Lakhavav¹** (21°51'; 71°27'), Dt Amreli. Site with Lustrous Red Ware [11.9] corresponding to RANGPUR II C and III.
v2.c38.33
*AI*, 18 & 19, 1962 & 1963, p. 206.
v2.c38.34
**Lakhavav²**, Dt Bhavnagar. Harappa [4.9] site in the Kalubhar valley.
v2.c38.35
*IAR 1960-1*.
v2.c38.36
**Lakhiyar Viyaro**, Dt Kutch. Lower [4.2] and Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] and historical site.
v2.c38.37
*IAR 1970-1*.
v2.c38.38
**Lakhmantikalan**, Dt Saharanpur. Harappa [4.9] and OCW [11.5] site.
v2.c38.39
*IAR 1966-7*.
v2.c38.40
**Lakhmapur**, Dt Hardoi. Huge mound on the bank of the river Garruh with sherds of the PGW [11.14] and NBPW [11.16], a sprinkler, a fragment of Red Polished Ware [11.23] and four Muslim copper coins.
v2.c38.41
*IAR 1965-6*.
v2.c38.42
**Lakhmi-kheda**, Dt Dhule. Palaeoliths and microliths (of unspecified nature).
v2.c38.43
*IAR 1959-60*.
v2.c38.44
**Lakhnaur Sahib**, Dt Ambala. PGW [11.14] site.
v2.c38.45
*IAR 1963-4*. Suraj Bhan, 1976, *Excavation at Mitathal & Other Explorations in the Sutlej-Yamuna Divide*, Kurukshetra, p. 123.
v2.c38.46
**Lakhneswar-dih**, Dt Ballia. Excavation yielded NBPW [11.16] besides stone and terracotta objects.
v2.c38.47
*IAR 1956-7*.
v2.c38.48
**Lakhnu**, Dt Aligarh. Early historical [4.18.1] site.
v2.c38.49
*IAR 1962-3*.
v2.c38.50
**Lakhond**, Dt Kutch. Lower and Middle Palaeolithic [4.2, 3] site.
v2.c38.51
*IAR 1967-8*.
v2.c38.52
**Lakhpat**, Dt Kutch. Harappa Ware [4.9] and early historical ware.
v2.c38.53
*IAR 1958-9*.
v2.c38.54
**Lakkangaon**, Dt E. Nimar. Microliths (of unspecified nature).
v2.c38.55
*IAR 1958-9*.
v2.c38.56
**Lakkundi¹**, Dt Bijapur. Chalcolithic [4.14.8] site. See ALMEL.
v2.c38.57
*IAR 1959-60*.
v2.c38.58
**Lakkundi²**, Dt Mysore. Black-and-red [11.15.3] and Russet-coated Painted [11.22] Wares.
v2.c38.59
*IAR 1961-2*.
v2.c38.60
**Lakkur**, Dt Mysore. Megalithic burial [4.17.8].
v2.c38.61
*IAR 1968-9*.
v2.c38.62
**Lakra**, Dt Mirzapur. Microliths (of unspecified nature).
v2.c38.63
*IAR 1962-3*.
v2.c38.64
**Lakshmanagutta**, Dt Khammam. Megalithic site with dolmens [4.17.7] in Bhadrachalam Taluka.
v2.c38.65
Sewell, R., 1882, *Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras*, Madras.
v2.c38.66
**Lakshman-Tila**, Dt Lucknow. PGW [11.14] and NBPW [11.16] site.
v2.c38.67
*IAR 1955-6*; *1962-3*.
v2.c38.68
**Lakshmeshwar**, Dt Dharwar. Early historical [4.18.11] site. See ADERKALTI.
v2.c38.69
**Lakshmigudda**, Dt Gulbarga. Megalithic [11.17.8] site.
v2.c38.70
*AR Hyderabad Arch. Dept*, 1933-4, p. 7.
v2.c38.71
**Lakshmipur¹**, Dt Bellary. Neolithic [4.6.9]-Chalcolithic [4.14.8] site.
v2.c38.72
*IAR 1962-3*.
v2.c38.73
**Lakshmipur²**, Dt Mysore. Neolithic [4.6.9], Megalithic [4.17.8] and early historical [4.18.11] site.
v2.c38.74
Foote, R.B., 1916, *Indian Prehistoric & Protohistoric Antiquities*, Madras, p. 72.
v2.c38.75
**Lakshmipuram**, Dt Madurai. Megalithic site with terracotta urns [4.17.9].
v2.c38.76
Sewell, R., 1882, *Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras*, Madras.
v2.c38.77
**Lakshnai**, Dt Mainpuri. PGW [11.14] site.
v2.c38.78
*IAR 1961-2*.
v2.c38.79
**Lakueswar Dih**, Dt Ballia. Site with NBPW [11.16] besides Kushan terracottas and a stone image of Śiva of rare variety.
v2.c38.80
*IAR 1955-6*.
v2.c38.81
**Lalapur¹**, Dt Banda. Situated at a distance of about 100 km from Allahabad on the Allahabad-Banda road, Palaeolithic [4.2] tools have been collected from the bed of a nullah joining the Ohan, a tributary of the Paisuni. The tools, all in a fresh condition, comprise cleavers, scrapers and handaxes. The Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] assemblage includes cores, flakes and finished tools comprising scrapers, points and blades. Some are highly patinated.
v2.c38.82
Misra, V.D., 1977, *Some Aspects of Indian Arch.*, Allahabad, pp. 34 etc.
v2.c38.83
**Lalapur²**, Dt Bhagalpur. Beads and Microliths of Chalcolithic [4.14.6] assemblage.
v2.c38.84
*IAR 1965-6*.
v2.c38.85
**Lalbedia**. See CHANDRAPRABHA VALLEY.
v2.c38.86
**Lal Bhagat**, Dt Kanpur. Site with red-ware sherds.
v2.c38.87
*IAR 1970-1*.
v2.c38.88
**Lal-Bijora**, Dt Allahabad (?). Middle Stone Age (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) tools comprising blades, flakes, scrapers and cores.
v2.c38.89
*IAR 1962-3*.
v2.c38.90
**Laligam**, Dt Dharmapuri. Late Stone Age (Mesolithic [4.5]) and Megalithic burial [4.17.9] sites.
v2.c38.91
**Lalitpur¹** (24°42'; 78°25'), Dt Lalitpur. Palaeolithic tools of Series I and II (Lower and Middle Palaeolithic [4.2,3] and microliths (of unspecified nature) were discovered near the place. *IAR 1956-7*; *1959-60*; *1960-1*; *1961-2*; *1963-4*. Misra, V.N., 1975-6, in *Purātattva*, 8, pp. 29-31.
v2.c38.92
**Lalitpur²**, Dt Saharanpur. PGW [4.14] site. *IAR 1965-6*.
v2.c38.93
**Laliyo**, Dt Bhavnagar. Red Polished Ware [11.23] site in the Shetrunji valley. *IAR 1960-1*.
v2.c38.94
**Lal-Kot** (28°32'; 77°11'), Dt Delhi, an irregular fortified enclosure within which the famous Qutub-Minar stands. It is reputed to have been built by a Tomara Anan\ gapāla, possibly to be identified with Anangapāla II, who figures in certain dynastic lists and whose name with *saṁvat* 1109 (A.D. 1052) is inscribed on the iron pillar of Chandra. Its extension on the n. and w., bounded again by massive stone walls, is known as QILA RAI PITHORA and is ascribed to the Cāhamāna king Pṛthvīrāja III, also known as Rai Pithora, who was defeated by Muḥammad Ghūrī. The two enclosures together have long been known as the first city of Delhi of early medieval times. Some points along the Lal-Kot walls and inside it were probed in 1957-8 and 1958-9 by the writer on behalf of the ASI (*IAR 1957-8*, p. 24; *1958-9*, p. 25) in order to examine the reasons behind the obvious structural differences between the w. and e. flanks of the Lal-Kot rampart walls and also to ascertain if the pre-Sultanate occupational levels could be distinguished from the Sultanate ones.
v2.c38.95
The uncovering of the debris-covered wall to the n. of Ādham Khān's tomb, which was generally régarded as a partition wall, has shown that this was the w. arm proper of the Lal-Kot, and that against it was later built an extension, which formed part of the QILA RAI PITHORA complex but was mistakenly taken as the w. wall of Lal-Kot. The structural features of the newly uncovered wall tallies with those of the e. wall of Lal-Kot.
v2.c38.96
The exposed stretches of the hitherto concealed wall show that overlying the bed-rock and provided with a 1·52 m wide stones apron the original wall was built of rubble stones to a height of 2·45 m. Its width varied between 2·48 and 3·05 m. Later the height was raised by the superimposition of kiln-burnt bricks, 30 courses of which still survive. A flight of steps, built of stones up to the original rubble-built height, and of bricks to the height of brick courses, led to the top of the wall. On the exterior face the wall was first provided by a brick revetment which survived in parts. Later, when the brick revetment had been robbed or had become dilapidated, a facing of neatly dressed quartzite stones, tied with iron dowels, was given to the ramparts. Integral with the original construction are semicircular bastions at irregular intervals. To the e. of the Qutub-Minar where Delhi-Gurgaon bye-pass runs over the Lal-Kot walls, the quartzite facing is largely robbed. Some further clearance in this area carried out later has exposed a barbican with gateway.
v2.c38.97
A small trench to the s. of the Qutub-Minar has indicated that this was the residential part of Lal-Kot, at least in Sultanate times, for on either side of a 1·52 m wide street here flanked portions of houses. Drains from these houses join an open lime-plastered gutter running in the middle of the street, which show several road levels. Another spot, where a black stone image of Viṣṇu dated in *saṁvat* 1204 (A.D. 1147) had been found, was also tapped. On a stone platform here is seen the exterior plan of a *pañca-ratha* shrine. Thickly built brick houses have been uncovered here one above the other.
v2.c38.98
The pottery from these excavations can be divided into two phases. From the lower levels come plain red wares, sometimes slipped, the main types of which correspond generally with those of the topmost stratum of AHICCHATRĀ, *c.* 850-1100. From the middle depth of the upper levels come glazed ware and associated black-slipped grey ware. The two phases are separated here by a deposit of ash and earth mixed with debris. —Y.D. SHARMA
v2.c38.99
**Lallapeta**, Dt Nellore. Lower Palaeolithic [4.2] site. *IAR 1966-7*.
v2.c38.100
**Lal Mijaura**, Dt Palamau. Middle Stone Age (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) site. *IAR 1971-2*.
v2.c38.101
**Lalparda**, Dt Jamnagar. Site with Red Polished Ware [11.23]. *IAR 1957-8*.
v2.c38.102
**Lalpur¹**, Dt Kanpur. NBPW [11.16] site. *IAR 1965-6*.
v2.c38.103
**Lalpur²**, Dt Purulia. Microliths (of unspecified nature). *IAR 1959-60*.
v2.c38.104
**Lalpur³**, Dt Shahdol. Tools of the Middle and Late Stone (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] and Mesolithic [4.5]) Ages. *IAR 1962-3*.
v2.c38.105
**Lalpurawa**, Dt Mirzapur. Cairn circles and dolmenoid cists [4.17.3]. *IAR 1962-3*.
v2.c38.106
**Lal Qila**, Dt Bulandshahr, on the left bank of the Kali Nadi, a tributary of the Ganga, adjacent to village Narainpur, 24 km from Anupshahr (28°30'; 78°15'), the Tahsil headquarters, excavated by the writer on behalf of the Aligarh Muslim Univ. between 1969-70 and 1970-1 (*IAR 1969-70*, p. 38; *1971-2*, p. 45). It is the first OCW [11.5] site to yield definite evidence of habitation and associated objects. Though the thickness of the deposit is only between 1 to 1·5 m three successive phases have been demarcated on the basis of different floor levels. An ordinary rammed earth floor damaged at places by water has been exposed in Phase I immediately lying over the natural soil. The burnt patches on it are perhaps indicative of a fire-place or a cooking spot. The floors of the later phase are in a better state of preservation and large in area. Out of these two clay-plastered floors belong to Phase II. These floors are reinforced with potsherds rammed horizontally and have a series of post-holes. The use of mud brick is evident in this phase, Though no complete house plan can be determined, a corner probably joining two walls of five courses of a room has been exposed. Besides a floor a mud platform made of rammed earth is found associated with it. The structures are badly damaged and it is not possible to determine the exact thickness of the walls, but at places the bricks are laid in a single course joined together with mud mortar. Mud clods and brickbats have been frequently used. Debris of burnt brick along with mud brick have also been noticed here and there in Phase III. Except a wedge-shaped brick, 30 × 21 × 7·5 cm, no complete burnt brick has been found. The exact size of the mud bricks cannot be determined due to their decomposed condition, but it appears that their sizes vary between 27 to 30 cm in length, 20 to 23 cm in width and 7·5 to 10 cm in thickness. The occurrence of reed and bamboo-marked burnt plasters, mud clods and burnt patches indicates thatched roof and walls of wattle and daub.
v2.c38.107
The pottery complex is generally of red ware varying in shades from ochrous to brownish. However a few sherds, greyish probably due to ill-firing, also occasionally occur. The pottery, in bulk wheel-made, is usually of well-levigated clay varying in fabric from fine to coarse with the medium fabric dominating. It is sturdy and well-fired and is treated generally with a fine slip and occasionally with a wash. A fairly large number of sherds are decorated with painting in black pigment, incised designs, graffito marks [20.1] and applied devices.
v2.c38.108
The characteristics of the OCW usually noted at some sites, viz. rolled edges, porous and powdery surface, ill-firing, etc., are rare at Lal Qila. This major difference may be due to the fact that the pottery here comes from a habitational site whereas elsewhere it belongs to sites that were badly affected by water-logging (Lal, 1968-69, pp. 857-63) or other weathering conditions.
v2.c38.109
The pottery complex (Gaur, 1971-2, pp. 10-12) includes a variety of shapes, the majority of which conforms to the types recovered from ATRANJIKHERA and SAIPAI. They may be classified broadly into seven groups: (i) storage jars, (ii) vases, (iii) basins, (iv) bowls, (v) lids, (vi) dishes-on-stand (?), and (vii) miniature pots. Of these the vases in which vertical handles are attached between the rim and the shoulder deserve special mention. In one bowl a set of legs is attached to its base, while a few large basins have horizontally or vertically attached loop handles just below the rim on either side, one such handle being of a twined rope pattern. The base of the vases, bowls and basins is flattish, discoid or ringed. Though not a single complete dish-on-stand has been found, broken pieces of its different parts indicate that the type also occurs at Lal Qila. A variety of interesting miniature pots, generally complete, includes different types of bowls, vases, pots and lids with pinched oblong knob.
v2.c38.110
Lal Qila has considerably increased our knowledge about the technique and variety of painted motifs on the OCW. They appear to have been finely executed with bold hand, the chief characteristic being an emphasis on the rim, neck and shoulder as the area for decoration. The most significant painting is on the shoulder of pot—an elongated humped bull having prominent crescentic horns, muscular thighs and slightly raised straight tail. Another interesting motif on the same pot is on the either side of the bull—a serrated leafy motif with a spiral at the end. A design like a row of ribbon knots and some floral motifs desrves mention. The other designs include thick parallel bands on the shoulders, horizontal band within two wavy lines, thick vertical, horizontal and in a few cases wavy bands, loops joined by a pair of horizontal bands on the shoulder, oblique parallel lines, slanting and vertical lines emerging from horizontal bands, crescentic comb pattern, hatched triangles between two sets of horizontal parallel lines, square with diagonals, circles, semicircles, check pattern, etc.
v2.c38.111
Compared to ATRANJIKHERA the incised designs here are much less in number, the incised lines being deeper and longer. The designs include incised oblique strokes on cords, crescent-like notches, deep dashes, oblique and straight lines, check pattern, etc., often accompanied with paintings and occasionally with applied and pinched decorative devices.
v2.c38.112
A significant discovery is of graffito marks noticed for the first time on OCW sherds particularly on the deep bowls. These marks include symbols of a ladder (?), cross, cross in which both ends have arrow-like tips, two parallel lines cut by a transverse line, three straight lines intersecting each other at one single point, a set of three oblique lines cut by two transverse lines, four hatched quadrangles joined together, a trident-like design, etc.
v2.c38.113
The five discovered copper objects include a pendant, a bead (?), an arrowhead, a celt fragment and an indeterminate object.
v2.c38.114
The terracotta finds include two unique female figurines [17.2], several bangle pieces, plain and incised balls, wheels [16.19], beads, gamesmen [6.7.2], pieces of crucibles [16.4] and pottery discs [6.73]. A few objects of indeterminate use have also been recovered. Out of the two fascinating handmade female figurines one is in a good state of preservation. It has a short head, bulging eyes with holes, in the centre denoting pupils, pinched parrot-beaked nose, depressed cheeks, broad jaws with protruding lips divided by a horizontal slit, a protruding chin and an elongated neck. The hands have not been modelled, each shoulder having a transverse hole for hanging purposes. It has prominent straight breasts with pointed nipples. The rest of the body is broken. The second figurine differs from it in two respects it does not net-sinkers [6.16], etc. Bone objects include arrow-heads, points, styluses, etc.
v2.c38.115
Among other finds are carnelian and soapstone beads, an agate point, querns, mullers, pestles [6.19], net-sinkers [6.16], etc. Bone objects include arrow-heads, points, styluses, etc.
v2.c38.116
The people appear to have reared cattle as bones have been found in large numbers. The cut marks on many bones suggest that meat figured in the diet. Grain finds suggest that agriculture was in a developed stage (Chowdhury *et al.*, 1972, pp. 531-3).
v2.c38.117
Thermoluminiscent dating of a few potsherds by the Arch. Research Laboratory at Oxford have placed them somewhere between 2030-1730 B.C., the mean date being 1880 B.C. This strengthens the view that the OCW culture was contemporaneous with the Harappa culture [4.9] but according to the evidence so far gathered it was independent of the latter. The excavation at SAIPAI has confirmed that the authors of the OCW and the Copper Hoards [4.11] were the same people (Lal, 1971-2, pp. 46-9).
v2.c38.118
Chowdhury, K.A., Saraswat, K.S., Hasan, S.N., & Gaur, R.C., 1972, in *Science & Culture*, 37. Gaur, R.C., 1970-1, in *Purātattva*, 4; 1971-2, in *ibid.*, 5. Lal, B.B., 1968, in *American Anthropologist*, 170; 1971-2, in *Purātattva*, 5.—R.C. GAUR
v2.c38.119
**Lambalakudi**, Dt Pudukkottai. Megalithic [11.18.8] site.
v2.c38.120
*Manual of Pudukkottai State*, 1944, 1, 1, p. 515-18.
v2.c38.121
**Lametaghat**, Dt Jabalpur. Palaeoliths (of unspecified nature), scrapers, flake-blades and microliths (also of unspecified nature).
v2.c38.122
*IAR 1960-1.*
v2.c38.123
**Lamgorawa**, Dt Mirzapur. Middle Stone Age (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) site.
v2.c38.124
*IAR 1970-1.*
v2.c38.125
**Lamheta-Ghat**, Dt Jabalpur. Middle Stone Age (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) tools.
v2.c38.126
*IAR 1964-5.*
v2.c38.127
**Langer**, Dt Nagaur. Microlithic (of unspecified nature) site.
v2.c38.128
*IAR 1964-5.*
v2.c38.129
**Langewala** (29°11′; 75°41′), Dt Hissar, RANG MAHAL [11.24] site.
v2.c38.130
*IAR 1967-8.*
v2.c38.131
**Langhania**, Dt Sitapur. Terracottas in Śuṅga style.
v2.c38.132
*IAR 1958-9.*
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**Langhnaj** (23°8′; 72°5′), Dt Mahesana, located about 59 km due n. of Ahmadabad, a habitation-*cum*-cemetery site, similar to many other sites located on river banks and especially on the sandy alluvial plains of n. and c. Gujarat around small hillocks of wind-blown deposits or dunes which enclose almost perennial small lakes, along with scrub vegetation that are ideally suited to support small and big game and fish. It was excavated by Sankalia, 1949, 1956, 1965, and his colleagues Clutton-Brock, 1965, and Erhardt, 1965, at various intervals between 1942, 1944, 1947 and later on. Zeuner, 1950, 1952, worked on the chronology, and Subbarao, 1952, with his colleagues (Malik, 1966) also excavated other similar sites in Gujarat. Excavation was conducted at a contour level of 67·06 and 68·58 m and the total excavated area by now is about 1200 sq m. It is a Mesolithic [4.5] site of hunters and fishermen, characterized by microlithic industries along with remains of pottery, metal, pieces of haematite, animal bones and 14 human skeletons. Charred and burnt bone remains indicate the knowledge of fire and cooking although no remains of any hearth and ashes have been found.
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Excavation has revealed a deposit which is basically of sandy silt composition, only the upper two layers being generally clear. The top 1 m layer is dark-brown in colour, while the lower 1 m layer is of light-brown colour that merges with the still lower deposits that are full of *kankar* or lime nodules. Most of the finds are encrusted with lime deposits. However chemical analysis through soil testing with acid indicates a buried-soild horizon at a depth varying between 86 cm to 1·27 m representing a climatically wet phase during the first occupation.
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While occupational debris is found in the top 2·4 m most of this is concentrated in the upper 1·5 m and comprises microliths and pottery. But at the junction of the first and second layers, at about 1 m, a ring-stone (mace-head), a hunting knife of pure copper (depth 96 cm) and small sherds have been found. In the upper 1 m some modern-looking pottery, along with an iron arrowhead with a mid-rib and tang (depth 76 cm) and bones, has also been found.
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The main occurrence of microliths is between 1 to 1·5 m. but they do not show any typological evolution. The raw material utilized for microliths is mainly cryptocrystalline in nature, such as chert, chalcedony and quartz, though occasionally carnelian and rarely lydianite are also used. The lithic industry is based upon the production of small parallel-sided blades prepared from cores through indirect percussion by the use of bone or wooden hammer. The main stone tool types are: triangles, trapezes, lunates, asymmetrical points, borers or awls, notched and partly retouched flakes, blunted-back blades, burins, scrapers, fluted cores and macro-scrapers. The number of geometric tools and burins is small, and the percentage of reject waste material from here and allied sites is almost 90%. This indicates that the artefacts were produced at the occupation site itself.
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The other interesting finds include quartzite pebbles, a rhinoceros shoulder blade with pits, perhaps used as an anvil, a hammerstone, two small ground-stone axes of chlorite-schist and a large quartzite ring stone, probably used as a mace-head or a weight for a digging stick. Either the cultural remains indicate a stage of ‘incipient cultivation’, or the presence in the later period of pottery as well as copper and iron tools suggests cultural contacts with the other settled contemporary Chalcolithic [4.14] and Iron Age [4.16] communities.
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The presence of 14 human skeletal remains, with their general orientation from e. to w., indicates clear burial practices, 13 being placed in a flexed and one in an extended position. With these skeletons have been found beads of dentalium shells, which must have been brought from the distant sea, and quartzite pebbles are kept near the head. Possibly the skulls were smashed before burial. Racially the human remains are considered to vary from the Mediterranean to the Veddoid types. Remains of animals [15.1] are mainly mammalian and the range includes several species of deer (spotted and hog deer, swamp deer or *barasinga* and black-buck), wild boar, *nilgai*, bovines (possibly cattle or Indian buffalo), the Indian wolf, rat, squirrel and mongoose. Most of these animals are found even today in similar climatic areas of the subcontinent.
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Pottery remains are in the form of small sherds which do not indicate any shape. But it is clear that pots were made mostly by hand, and also some on the wheel. The four main ceramic types are: (1) burnished red ware, (2) burnished black-and-red ware [11.6.1] similar to RANGPUR, (3) incised coarse red ware, and (4) scooped or rusticated ware.
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The dating of Langhnaj is not very clear as the layers are not well-differentiated, and as the artefactual remains do not show any typological evolution. But a comparison with other sites in the area gives a relative dating, i.e., the industry is akin to microliths found in the pre-Chalcolithic levels. Preliminary investigations on charred bones suggest a date of 2000 B.C. for the site.
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Clutton-Brock, J., 1965, *Excavations at Langhnaj: The Fauna*, Poona. Erhardt, S., & Kennedy, K.A.R., 1965, *Excavation at Langhnaj: Human Remains*, Poona. Malik, S.C., 1966, in *Artibus Asiae*, 28, pp. 162-74. Sankalia, H.D, 1956, in *Jour. Gujarat Research Soc.*, 18, 4; 1965, *Excavations at Langhnaj 1944-63: Archaeology*, Poona. Sankalia, H.D., & Karve, I., 1949, in *American Anthropologist*, 51, 1. Subbarao, B., 1952, in *Maharaja Sayajirao Univ. Jour.*, 1, 1. Zeuner, F.E., 1950, *Stone Age and Pleistocene Chronology in Gujarat*, Poona; 1952, in *Man*, 182.—S.C. MALIK.
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Sewell, R., 1882, *Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras*, Madras, p. 92.
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**Lanjwada**, Dt Bidar. Early historical [4.18.11] site. [See 11.22].
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*Karnataka Bharati*, 11, 3.
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**Lank**, Dt Tonk. Non-Megalithic Black-and-red Ware [11.6] and Red Polished Ware [11.23].
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*IAR 1958-9*.
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**Lankapalem**, Dt Visakhapatnam. Mesolithic [4.5] site.
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*Jour. Andhra Hist. Soc.* 35, 1976, pp. 323-6.
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**Laowar**, Dt Sidhi. Tools of the Early and Middle Stone (Lower and Middle Palaeolithic [4.2, 3]) Ages.
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*IAR 1962-3*.
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**Lapari**, Dt Allahabad. Neolithic [4.6.3] site.
v2.c38.152
*IAR 1970-1*.
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**Lathaura**, Dt Varanasi. Black-and-red ware (of unspecified nature).
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*IAR 1962-3*.
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**Latifpur**, Dt Saharanpur. PGW [11.14] site.
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*IAR 1965-6*.
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**Latifshah dam**, Dt Varanasi. NBPW [11.16] site.
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*IAR 1963-4*.
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**Lattavaram hill**, Dt Anantapur. Neolithic [4.6.8] habitation site. See AKKAMMAKONDA. (Same as following?).
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*IAR 1965-6*.
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**Lattavaramu hill**, Dt Anantapur. Neolithic site yielding celts, adzes, chisels, scrapers, flakes, hammer-stones, and cores. (Same as preceding?).
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Foote, R.B., 1916, *Indian Prehistoric & Protohistoric Antiquities*, Madras.
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**Lauriya-Nandangarh**, Dt W. Champaran, 30 km n.-w. of Dt headquarters Bettiah. Lauriya deriving its name from a pillar (*laur*) of Aśoka standing there and Nandangarh (variant Nanadgarh) being the name of a mound about 2 km to the s.-w. of the pillar. Lauriya has 15 *stūpa* mounds in three rows, each row upwards of 600 m long; the first row begins near the pillar and runs e. to w., while the other two are at right angles to it and parallel to each other. A. Cunningham (*ASI—AR*, 1, p. 68) partially excavated one of them in 1862 and found a retaining wall of brick (size 51×20 cm) which he regarded as late. A few years later H.B.W. Garrick opened up several mounds with indifferent results (*ibid.*, 16, p. 104; 22, p. 47). In 1905 T. Block (*ASI—AR 1906-7*, p. 119) excavated four mounds, two in each of the n. to s. rows. In two of them he found in the centre of each, at a depth of 1.8 to 3.6 m, (probably meaning 1·8 m, in one and 3·6 m in the other) a gold leaf with a female figure standing in frontal pose and a small deposit of burnt human bones mixed with charcoal. The core of the mounds was, according to him, built of layers of yellow clay, a few cm in thickness, with grass leaves laid in between. Further down in one of them he found the stump of a tree. His conclusions were that the ‘earthen barrows’ had some connection with the funeral rites of
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**Lanjapoḷuru**, Dt Kurnool. Neolithic [4.6.8] site.
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the people who erected them, and he found an explanation of the phenomena encountered by him in the rites of cremation and post-cremation prescribed in the Vedas. On the basis of this hypothesis he identified the gold female figure as Pṛthvī, the earth-goddess, and ascribed the mounds to a pre-Mauryan age. After him the mounds came to be known rather loosely as Vedic burials mounds.
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In 1935-6 N.G. Majumdar (*ASI—AR 1935-6*, p. 55; *1936-7*, p. 47) re-examined four mounds with important results. He found that all of them were earthen burial memorials with burnt-brick revetments, two being faced with a brick lining in a double tier, so that there was no justification for regarding them as more earthen barrows. He also pointed out that the gold leaves found by Bloch had their exact replica in the *stūpa* at PIPRAWA which is definitely a Buddhist *stūpa* of 300 B.C. or earlier. The respective Lauriya *stūpas* might be of a comparable date and there is nothing to connect them with Vedic burial rites. The layers of yellow clay which had a share in the building up of the Vedic theory of Bloch are according to the observations of the writer nothing but mud bricks, husk and straw being a not uncommon ingredient of ancient brick.
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Excavation of the Nandangarh mound was started by Majumdar in 1935 (*ibid.*) and continued by the writer till 1939 (unpublished). Before excavation the mound had a height of about 25 m and a circumference of about 460 m, standing at the e. edge of a brick fortification about 1·6 km in perimeter and roughly oval of plan, no doubt enclosing a habitation area, perhaps the headquarters of a clan that was responsible for the erection of the Lauriya *stūpas*. Surface finds indicate that it was inhabited in Śuṅga (if not earlier) and Kushan times.
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On excavation Nandangarh turned out to be a stupendous *stūpa* with a polygonal base; with its missing dome which must have been proportionately tall, the *stūpa* must have been one of the highest in India. The walls of the four cardinal directions at the base (only the w. and partly the s. one were excavated) are each 32 m long and the wall between each has a zigzag course with 14 re-entrant and 13 outer angles. The walls flanking the first and second terraces following the polygonal plan of the base; those pertaining to the upper terraces were circular. An extensive later restoration hid the four upper walls and provided new circular ones; the polygonal plan of the walls of the base and the first terrace were left unaltered. The top of each terrace served as a *pradakṣiṇā-patha*, though no staircase to reach the top was found in the excavated portion.
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The core of the *stūpa* consists of a filling of earth with a large number of terracotta animal and human figurines [17] in the Śuṅga and Kushan idiom, a few punch-marked coins and cast copper coins [3.1], terracotta sealings [3.2] of the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. and iron objects. As the earth was brought from outside, obviously from a part of the habitation area to the s. of the *stūpa* where the resultant pond is still visible, the objects are understandably unstratified.
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In a shaft dug into the centre of the mound though an evidently disturbed filling was found at a depth of 4·3 m the remnants of a brick altar 1 m high; it has been previously truncated, perhaps by one of the many explorers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Further down at a depth of 4·6 m from the bottom of the altar and of 11 m from the surface of the mound was found the top of an intact miniature *stūpa*, complete with a surmounting square umbrella. This *stūpa*, is 3·6 m in height and is polygonal on plan. An examination of its interior yielded nothing, but beside there lay a tiny copper vessel with a lid fastened to it by a wire. Inside the vessel was a long strip of thin birch-leaf manuscript, which having been squeezed into it was so fragile that it was impossible to spread it out thoroughly. The bits that could be extricated were sufficient to show that the manuscript was that of a Buddhist text (probably the *Pratītyasamutpāda-sūtra*, as the word *nirodha* could be read a few times) written in characters of the 4th century A.D. No excavation was undertaken at a further depth.
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Ghosh, A., 1950, in *Archaeology in India*, Delhi, pp. 59-61. —A. GHOSH
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**Lavacha**, Dt Surat. Middle Stone Age (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) tools.
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*IAR 1963-4*.
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**Laxmanapura**, Dt Mysore. Megalithic burials of cairr and cist types [4.17.8].
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*IAR 1963-4*.
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**Laxmipur**, Dt Monghyr. Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] site.
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Burman, D.K., 1976, in *Arch. Congress & Seminar, 1972*, Kurukshetra.
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**Leelapur**, Dt Varanasi. Early historical black-and-red ware and NBPW [11.16].
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*IAR 1962-3*.
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**Lekhahia'**, Dt Mirzapur, with painted rock-shelters [13] and open-air settlements near village Bhainsaur, two of the former and three of the latter excavated by V.D. Misra of the Univ. of Allahabad (*IAR 1963-4*, p. 51). In the first open-air settlement the lowest layer was not a habitational deposit, but all the upper eight ones yielded microliths. Stratigraphically the earliest of them were parallel-sided blades, blunted-black blades, points, lunates and scrapers together with cores and unfinished tools. Next came both non-geometric and geometric types, the former predominating, followed by geometric types like triangles and trapezes associated with pottery, the quantity of which progressing increased towards the top. The other excavated open-air site yielded comparable results.
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An excavated rock-shelter had paintings of diverse styles, themes, colour and technique on its walls. In a pit cut into the bed-rock of the shelter were found two skulls and the mandible of an animal. Excavation of the floor of the shelter yielded as many as 17 extended human skeletons in graves within a depth of 42 cm, all with plenty of microliths. On the basis of the superimposition and overlapping of the burials eight burial periods could be recognized. Except in two which were oriented n.-s. the skeletons in all had an e.-w. orientation. With some skeletons were associated ochre and lateritic nodules which might have been used for paintings the rock walls. The occupation in the shelter was later on disturbed by extensive pits with copper beads and arrowheads, reminiscent of the Vindhyan Megalithic culture [4.17.3].
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In the other excavated shelter the 20 cm thick deposit yielded geometric microliths and pottery.
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Two ¹⁴C dates are available for the Mesolithic occupation of Lekhahia: 1710 ± 110 and 2410 ± 115 B.C. Both the sample were uncharred bones which, we are warned, are not as good for ¹⁴C determination as charred material (Agrawal *et al.*, 1974, p. 61).
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Agrawal, D.P., & Kusumgar, S., 1974, *Prehistoric Chronology & Radiocarbon Dating*, Delhi. Misra, V.D. 1977, *Some Aspects of Indian Arch.*, Allahabad, pp. 53-7. Sharma, G.R., 1965, in Misra, V.N., & Mate. M.S., ed., *Indian Prehistory: 1964*, Poona, pp. 76-9. —A. GHOSH
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**Lekhahia²**, Dt Rewa. Early Stone Age (Lower Palaeolithic [4.2]) site. *IAR 1963-4.*
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**Lekurvali, Lekurwali**, Dt Dhule. Microlith [4.17.8] and sometimes neoliths [4.6.9] were found in association with the black-on-red painted pottery and coarse grey ware, similar to that from the Chalcolithic levels at BRAHMAGIRI and BAHAL. The site also containd remains of burials and pots of Black-and-red Ware [11.15] bearing graffiti [20.1]. *IAR 1957-8; 1958-9.*
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**Le Malle**, Dt Guntur. Megalithic [4.17.7] were discovered on the Guntur-Amaravati road. *IAR 1960-1.*
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**Ler**, Dt Kutch. Mesolithic [4.5] site. *IAR 1967-8.*
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**Lidapisa hills**, Dt Santal Parganas. Microliths (of unspecified nature) were found about 10 km to the right of the Jamtara-Dumka road from Jhorjukha. *IAR 1961-2.*
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**Liddar valley**, Dt Srinagar (?). Early Stone Age (Lower Palaeolithic [4.2]) tools were found in deposits assignable to the Second Glacial and the Second Interglacial. A stonework industry including remains of dishes, bowls, etc., was brought to light on the mound overlooking the Liddar valley near a 10th century temple. See PAHALGAM. *IAR 1969-70.*
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**Likhoda**, Dt Ujjain. Early historical [4.18.7] site. *IAR 1971-2.*
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**Likhunia**, Dt Mirzapur. Painted rock-shelters [13]. Ghosh, M., 1932, *Rock Paintings & other Antiquities*, Mem. ASI, 24.
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**Liki Saira**, Dt Purulia. Handaxes, cleavers, ovates and other tools of Acheulian assemblage [4.2] were recovered from the cliff sections of the river. On the basis of typology, patination and state of preservation the industry may be divided into an earlier and later phase. *IAR 1967-8.*
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**Lilkheda**, Dt Jabalpur. Microliths (of unspecified nature). *IAR 1959-60.*
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**Lilvadeva**, Dt Panch Mahals. Late historical site. *IAR 1971-2.*
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**Limb**, Dt Satara. Early, Middle (Lower, Middle Palaeolithic [4.2, 3]) and Late Stone Age (Mesolithic [4.5]) tools. *IAR 1962-3.*
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**Limbodra**. See LIMODRA.
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**Limbwas**, Dt Ujjain, Middle Stone Age (Middle Palaeolithic [4.3]) site. *IAR 1971-2.*
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**Limdi**, Dt Bharuch. Late Stone Age (Mesolithic [4.5]) site. *IAR 1969-70.*
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**Limoda**, Dt Ujjain. Early historical [4.18.7] site. *IAR 1971-2.*
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