[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v2.c45.291 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.291 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.291 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c45.291](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.291) Then followed a very rich early historical culture, labelled Rang Mahal culture, after the site of Rang Mahal¹ about 3 km up Suratgarh. The sites further up are numerous and some are of huge dimensions, those down Suratgarh being smaller. The late medieval fort of HANUMANGARH itself stands on a PGW-Rang Mahal mound. BHANWAR-THERI, MANAKSAR, PILIBANGAN not far from KALIBANGAN, RANG MAHAL, itself, BADOPAL and AMARPURA on the confluence of the Sarasvatī and DṚṢADVATĪ, now reportedly damaged by a canal, are some of the leading sites of the culture. Considerable quantities of brickbats indicate the existence of baked-brick houses. Large terracotta plaques of both religious and secular subjects from RANG MAHAL¹ (\*Progress Rep., ASI, W. Circle, 1920-1\*, pp. 112-15) formed the decoration of the facades of the places of worship, here as at Badopal; they betray late Gandhāra and early Gupta influences. In addition terracotta figurines and Kushan, late Kushan and Yaudheya coins are plentiful and are indicative of the date of the culture. Of these sites RANG MAHAL¹ has been excavated (Rydh, 1959). The pottery of the culture \[11.24\] is distinctive both in shapes and paintings, and some shapes, e.g., the internally knobbed lid, are reminiscent of the Harappa shapes, if in a modified form, as though an atavistic process was at work. The same remark applies to the liberal use of faïence \[16.6\], particularly in bangles, in the culture. - [Previous: v2.c45.290](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.290) - [Next: v2.c45.292](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.292) - [Up: v2.c45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.291](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c45.291) · Pramāṇa