A History of Agriculture in India v1.c22.s3.t7: Fruits
A History of Agriculture in India v1.c22.s3.t7
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Fruits
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Ber (*Ziziphus nummularia*). Carbonized fruits of ber (*Ziziphus nummularia*) were found at Navdatoli (1660-1400 B.C.), and also from Kaun-dinyapur, Ter, and Inamgaon (Vishnu-Mittre) (Fig. 126). Wild ber grows all over India and Pakistan. In the food-gathering stage, it provided a fruit diet to the hunters. Its fruit is eaten fresh and is also sun-dried for storage.
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Amla (*Emblica officinalis*). Carbonized seeds of amla (*Emblica officinalis*) dated 1600 B.C. were found at Navdatoli (Vishnu-Mittre). The amla fruit is rich in vitamin C. It is pickled and candied. Its medicinal Fig. 129. Seeds of sorghum, gram and other crops from prehistoric sites Top row, left: *Eleusine coracana*, Hallur, Karnataka, 1800 B.C.; right, impressions of *Sorghum* spikelets on a pots-herd from Ahar, Rajasthan Middle row, left: *Sorghum* sp., carbonized grains from a charred mass, Bhatkuli, Maharashtra, fifth century B.C.; right, *Dolichos biflorus*, Tekkalakota, Karnataka, 1780 B.C. Bottom row, left: *Cicer arietinum*, Bhatkuli, Maharashtra, fifth century B.C.; right, carbonized fruits of *Ziziphus nummularia* from Malva-Jorwe site, Inamgaon, Maharashtra (After Vishnu-Mittre)
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[Figure: Fig. 130. Finger-millet, or ragi (Eleusine coracana), is commonly grown in Karnataka as a food crop Fig. 131. Seeds of crops from early historical site of Ter, Osmanabad, Maharashtra First row, left: *Hordeum* sp.; right, *Triticum sphaerococcum* Second row, left: Carbonized spikelets of rice from a charred mass; right, spikelets of *Oryza sativa* Third row, left: *Paspalum scrobiculatum*; right, *Pisum sativum* Fourth row, left: *Lens culinaris*; right, *Ricinus communis* Fig. 134. *Antheraea mylitta*, the tusser silk moth (female). Below are the cocoons from which silk is spun out (Courtesy: Indian Silk Board)
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Fig. 132. Reconstruction of the Chalcolithic village of Navdatoli, c. 1500 B.C. The inhabitants of Navdatoli lived in rounded huts raised on thick wooden posts. Around the framework were bamboo screens coated with clay and lime (After H.D. Sankalia)
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Fig. 133. Life and death at Nevasa, Chalcolithic, c. 1300 B.C. In the foreground is a potter's hut. Spouted pot and vessel with flaring mouth are his products. The corpse of a child is being buried enclosed in a pitcher. On a slab are polished stone-axes (Reconstruction by H.D. Sankalia)
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[Figure: Fig. 135. Copper implements from Navdatoli (Madhya Pradesh), 1400 B.C., Nevasa (Maharashtra) and Jorwe (Maharashtra)
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Fig. 136. Seeds of pulses First row: *Lens culinaris* and *Vigna radiata* Second row: *Vigna mungo* and *Cajanus cajan* Third row: *Lathyrus sativus* and *Cicer arietinum* Fig. 137. Seeds of crops from Navdatoli-Maheswar First row: *Triticum aestivum* and *Vigna mungo* Second row: *Vigna radiata* and *Lens culinaris* Third row: *Lathyrus sativus* and *Linum usitatissimum* Bottom: *Pisum sativum* value can be judged from the fact that it is one of the three ingredients of triphala, an Ayurvedic medicine and tonic.
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Fig. 138. Isometric reconstruction of Chalcolithic village, Inamgaon, District Pune, c. 700 B.C. Houses were rounded and had straw roofs supported by wooden poles (After H.D. Sankalia)
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Fig. 139. *Sorghum bicolor*
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Fig. 140. A bronze chariot with a cult figure, possibly Pasupati, Shiva, from Daimabad, Ahmadnagar District, Maharashtra, of the Chalcolithic period, c. 1300 B.C. (Courtesy: National Museum, New Delhi; Archaeological Survey of India)
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Fig. 141. A pot from Inamgaon with engraving of a cart drawn by zebu cattle (After H.D. Sankalia)
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The farmers of Inamgaon cultivated wheat, barley, kulth, mung and peas. A large mud embankment on a stone foundation for diverting flood water in the Ghod River through a channel dug for the purpose was also discovered at Inamgaon. According to Dhavalkar⁶, this is the earliest evidence of irrigation in India.
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⁶ Dhavalkar, M.K. "First Farmers of Maharashtra," in Dawn of Civilization in Maharashtra (Ed. K. Khandalavala)