Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c16.s3.t6: Dāimābād
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c16.s3.t6
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Dāimābād
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Dāimābād is located on the left bank of the Pravara river, a tributary of Godāvarī 18 km south-east of Shrirampur. The occupation deposit varies from place to place. The site was discovered in 1958 by B.P. Bopardikar followed by excavation of M.N. Deshpande which revealed only three phases. In 1974 there was the chance discovery of a cache of four solid bronze figures at the site. This find necessitated further excavation at the site; so in 1974-75, S.R. Rao renewed the excavation of the site and got the same three periods of the earlier excavation. But the excavations by S.S. Sali for four seasons (1975-76 to 1978-79) have obtained evidence for a succession of five Chalcolithic Cultures. Each of these is characterized by a distinct class of painted pottery. The cultural sequence is:
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| Phase | |
| I | Savalda Culture |
| II | Late-Harappan Culture |
| III | Buff and Cream Ware Culture |
| IV | Malwa Culture |
| V | Jorwe Culture |
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Dhavalikar (1982: 361-66) concludes that the hoard of four Dāimābād bronzes: an exquisite chariot pulled by a pair of bull-horse ‘unicorn’s, an elephant, a rhinoceros and a buffalo — corresponded to the Late-Harappan period (2000-1800 BC). These exquisitely cast pieces were probably imported from some Late-Harappan site in Sind or Gujarat to the colony of Daimabad.
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D.P. Agrawal and his co-workers (1978) have analysed the elemental composition of the bronzes and found that the materials are low arsenic alloys.
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While they suggested that the items might belong to historical period, it may be recalled that arsenic alloying was common in the Harappan artefacts. The physiognomy of the man driving the chariot, the unicorns partly resembling bulls and partly horses, the rhinoceros are all clearly Harappan features not earlier encountered in the Deccan. Sali’s discovery (Possehl, 1982: 175-84) of the button-shaped seal and potsherds with Indus scripts conclusively prove the Post-Harappan nature of the settlement.
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The bronzes were provided with wheels. The animals must have played an important role in the religious life of the Harappans probably serving as vāhanas of deities. The figure driving the chariot has been compared with Paśupati. This tradition was followed right throguh Malwa and Jorwe Culture in Daimabad and other sites.
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During Phase V or the Jorwe Culture era, Dāimābād became the largest Chalcolithic site (30 hectares) in Maharashtra. The Jorwe Ware of Phase V at Dāimābād comes with all its characteristic types and painted designs. The Jorwe types from the earliest Phase V levels are deep red in colour and have a shiny surface, linked by some to Lustrous Red Ware. In addition there is Burnished Grey Ware and the hand-made thick coarse ware. Structural levels were exposed in this phase. Among the important finds from the Jorwe phase is a unique terracotta covered by a coat of red ochre with the figure of a deified sage and three consorts united with him. There is also a terracotta cylinder seal with a scene of a procession moving through the jungle. There is a horse drawing a cart followed by a deer, looking majestically to the rear. In front is an animal, perhaps a camel with a long neck. The previous excavation by Deshpande revealed few more things from this phase. These are microlithics, stone mace-heads, pottery, spindle whorls, beads of semi-precious stones, a gold coil; two terracotta human figures and a terracotta dog were also found. The date of c. 1400 BC for the end of the Malwa and the beginning of the Jorwe appears to be consistent with the C-14 determination of 1400 BC obtained from Inamgaon for the beginning of the Jorwe Culture there. (Possehl, 1982: 175-80)