An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c40.401

v2.c40.401

Within this Pd at least five phases of occupation have been distinguished on the bases of floors and associated burials. No complete house plans have however been exposed, though there is ample evidence to suggest the use of lime-plastered floors with wooden posts sunk into them. Huge storage jars with bold linear designs and tapering bottoms were embedded into the house floor. *Chulhas* are built right on the floor and are usually rectangular with arms formed by raised bands of clay. Of great interest is the occurrence of circular or oval pits dug into the virgin Black Soil [9.1] and the oblong or oval *kuṇḍa*-like constructions. The length, width and depth of the pits vary respectively from 1·2 to 2·7 m, 0·9 to 1·5 m, and 0·5 to 1·2 m. Not all the pits have plastered sides, nor do all of them contain Jorwe sherds. Only two of them have circular post-holes around the periphery. Hence it is difficult to say whether these were used as dwellings [14.13] or for storage though similar ones have also been found at INAMGAON. The *kuṇḍas* are either oval measuring 75 × 90 cm or oblong with diameters of 84 and 79 cm. They have a depth of about 25 cm and clay-plastered sides. Though some sort of ritualistic significance has been attributed to them, the evidence from INAMGAON suggests that they were more likely *chulhas*.