An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c46.314

v2.c46.314

**Tilwara** (25°52′; 72°50′), Dt Barmer, on the left bank of the Luni, the microlithic site lying on a low sand-dune 2 km s.-w. of the village in the old bed of the river, excavated by V.N. Misra of the Deccan College and L.C. Leshnik of the Univ. of Heidelberg (*IAR 1967-8*, p. 39). The microlithic industry prevailed through the deposit, which has been divided into two phases, the lower one regarded as Mesolithic [4.5]. The greatest concentration of microliths was between 20 and 35 cm below surface, the main types consisting of backed blades, obliquely blunted blades, lunates triangles, points and a few trapazes of fine workmanship. Between 20 and 30 cm trapezes of fine workmanship. Between 20 and 30 cm Quartz, quartzite, chert and rhyolite were the raw materials, quartz being available in the river-bed and the other materials in the Malani formations, a few km e. of Tilwara. Several district floor levels were found. A large number of stones placed at varying distances, some probably making the outlines of a circular hut, were met with. Pottery was noticed throughout the deposit but was more abundant down to 15 cm from surface, just above the horizon that had a concentration of micro-liths. It was wheel-made and consisted of two wares—grey and red. Wide-mouthed grey-ware *hāṇḍīs* of various sizes, with incised designs on their flat rims, had a thin dull-grey slip and a darkish core and had sooted bottoms, indicating their use as cooking vessels. The red ware, with a pale-red slip and reddish core, was represented by the *loṭā*-like vessel and shallow dish. The faunal remains [15.1.5] belonged to the domesticated cattle and sheep/goat and molluscan shells. See 9.2.