An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c44.477

v2.c44.477

*Pd II.* After a long break the site was occupied by the users of the PGW, identified with the early Aryans by some and with the contemporaries of the later Vedic texts by others. Wheel-turned from well-levigated fine-grained clay, the PGW is sometimes self-slipped or covered with grey wash, but often it seems to have no surface treatment. After it is painted with designs in black it is subjected to even and gradually reduced temperature. The sagger-based dish with incurved side and deep bowl with straight side are the most common shapes in the PGW. The painted designs comprise bands, grouped verticals, oblique and criss-cross lines, sigmas, *svastikas*, apirals, chains, rows of dots and dashes and concentric circles or semicircles. Apparently the PGW was mainly used for purposes of dining. The discovery of a PGW water-pot (*loṭā*) at Ropar completes the normal set of dining utensils, consisting of a plate or dish (*thālī*) bowl (*kaṭorā*) and a water-pot (*loṭā*). The design is sometimes whitish-grey, which is obtained by blocking the design from the application of the slip. Other associated wares in these levels are plain grey ware, Black-slipped Ware [11.13] and dusty-red ware. The former two cover the same shapes as the PGW, but the vessels of the dusty-red ware are largely used for cooking and storage, such as the frying pan, cooking pot (*hāṇḍī*), large bowl basin, water pitchers and storage jar.