Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s5.2

v1.c11.s5.2

While digging in the HR areas of Mohenjo-Daro, Marshall found few houses. In the House VII of this area a pottery kiln came to light. It has an oval plan and is surrounded by a thin wall of a single course of burnt bricks. The kiln is 7 ft long and has a narrow mouth. At the further end is a little wall curved at the top, the exact purpose of which is not clear. The inner surface of the structure was badly burnt and cracked owing to firing and its bottom was covered with a layer of cinders or slag. For the rest the structure was filled with brickbats, potsherds etc. Marshall found near the mouth of the furnace two or three half baked betel-leaf-shaped clay plaques, and so he thought that it is not impossible that the kiln was used for baking objects of this kind. Another kiln of about the same size but circular in shape was recognised by Marshall among the building exposed by Vats in the VS areas, but its function was not clear to the excavator.