An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c39.200

v2.c39.200

(23°42′; 87°42′), Dt Birbhum, on the left bank of the Kopai. Excavation in 1964 (*IAR 1963-4*, p. 59) established two cultural Pds. Pd I representing a Chalcolithic culture [4.14.4] has as its equipments all the essential elements such as microliths, a very limited supply of copper and the Black-and-Red ware [11.6.5], both plain and painted, the other ceramics including a red ware with paintings in black or white. Of the types the channel-spouted bowl, carinated bowl with splayed or flared rim and convex-sided bowl are the most distinctive. The designs are essentially linear on the black-and-red ware while those on the red ware consist of the double axe, strokes like the inverted comma and horizontal lines in groups. Although no house-plan is available, two structural phases have been identified by two levels of floors of beaten earth with a soling of terracotta nodules. The presence of burnt-reed impressed clay daubs and mud plaster indicates that the inhabitants lived in simple mud-plastered structures. An impressive find is a pit granary destroyed by fire. The carbonized-rice grains [2.2.3] recovered in bulk from inside the granary as well as from the floor are of a slender variety corresponding to the modern fine grains. While copper is scarce stone and bone implements are quite prolific and are local products. The microliths include scrapers, points, lunates and short blades, the last being predominant. The technique of crested guiding ridge [15.15.2], characteristic of the c. Indian Chalcolithic blade industry, is absent. The restricted use of copper, represented by a single celt, may be due to the non-availability of the material in the immediate vicinity. The presence of beads of steatite and semiprecious stones, bangle pieces, decorated combs [18.3] and terracotta gamesmen [6.7.2] indicates the personal decoration and recreation of the people. Among other finds a terracotta phallus is very significant for the religion of the people. Thus flourished a sedentary peasantry practising mixed economy with an efficient system of food production supplemented by hunting and fishing. Their ceramic industries and some of the painted designs on pots showing a close affinity with the Chalcolithic cultures in c. India [4.14.5], the Deccan [4.14.6] and e. Rajasthan [4.14.1] as also with the Copper Age strata of PANDU RAJA DHIBI suggest a life based on mutual contacts and interrelationships with other people. The ¹⁴C dates are 855 ± 100, 1085 ± 110 and 1380 ± 105 B.C. A large-scale conflagration brought about the end of the Pd.