An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.442

v2.c45.442

**Savalda** (21°31'; 74°19'), Dt Dhule, on the left bank of the Tapti, 20 km n.-e. of Nandurbar, a Tahsil headquarters and a railway station, where four Chalcolithic sites, sites 1 to 4, were discovered in 1958-9 (*IAR 1958-9*, p. 24) in the course of exploration. Of these, sites 1 and 4 are heavily eroded, the sparse cultural remains scattered in the form of microliths and painted potsherds on the surface of yellow silt. Site 2 is 60 m long and 30 m broad with about 60 cm thick occupational deposit from which were recovered the Savalda Ware [11.12], buff ware and Jorwe Ware [11.11]. Also noticed was an extended burial associated with bowls of Black-and-red Ware [11.15.3] akin to those in the Chalcolithic burials at TEKWADA on the Girna opposite BAHAL. The most important is Site 3, a small low mound e. of the village, measuring 120 m long and 60 m wide. It was here that for the first time the distinctive features of a class of painted ware, earlier found at CHINCHODA and other sites in the Dt, were confirmed and hence the ware was designated as Savalda Ware (Sali, 1963, pp. 207-10). Of medium-to-coarse fabric, the Ware is treated with a slip which has turned light-red, orange, pink, brown, chocolate, buff and their shades. The painted motifs chiefly in black and occasionally in purple, brown and red include, besides linear patterns, stylized fish, peacock, flying birds, arrows; arrowheads, saw-like motifs, fish-hooks and plant motifs. The types are: the high-necked jar with squat body; dish; platter; dish-on-stand; trough or basin; bowl; ring-stand; and lid. Apart from the Savalda Ware the site has also yielded late Harappa red ware [11.4], buff ware and Jorwe Ware.