An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c38.106

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.