An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c42.666

v2.c42.666

*Pd III* (*c.* 1500-1200 B.C.). The Prabhas Ware of the preceding Pd continues in this Pd, but the Lustrous Red Ware [11.9] is now also associated with it. The most important feature of this Pd is a structure complex built of miliolite in mud. It consists of small squarish rooms (1·50 m sq) and a few larger ones (3·50 × 1·50 m). In most of the larger and in a few of the smaller rooms have been noticed a set of three or four flat stones set in mud mortar to form a sort of platform, usually near the entrance. The structure, however, has not been completely exposed because of huge banyan trees on one side and large-scale disturbances on the other sides. The floor in the room is not well-made and plastered but is rammed hard; it is made of lumps of black clay. A careful examination of the walls shows that there is no trace of post-holes. This is indicative of the structure being roofless and exposed to the sky. Another factor which provides corroborative evidence is the height of the walls which is not more than 60 cm. In fact most of the walls have only one or two courses of stone. Only the c. walls running n.-s. is a little high (60 cm) and two more walls parallel to it are also equally high but only at one or two points. We do not know whether originally they were so high or they appear to be so because of deep digging in the area within for tracing the stone courses of the foundation. A close examination of the stratigraphy and a careful analysis of the artefacts recovered from within the structure suggests that it was not meant for residential purposes. Hearths, ash, bits of charcoal, or clods of burnt earth and charred grains or any such evidences bespeaking human habitation are totally absent and one can therefore be certain that it was public building. It has therefore been tentatively identified as a sort of warehouse on the basis of parallels in w. Asia (cf. Tepe Yahya).