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Terracotta Objects from Nagwada: A Harappan Site in North Gujarat, India
Shushmita Sen 1 1. Department of Archaeology Ancient History, Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja
Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara – 390 002, Gujarat, India (Email: [email protected])
Received: 10 October 2014; Accepted: 31 October 2014; Revised: 19 November 2014 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 2 (2014): 854‐861
Abstract: The archaeological site at Nagwada was subjected to excavations by the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara between 1985 and 1990. On the basis of the material relics recovered from the site it was dated to the Mature Phase of the Harappan Civilization. The paper discusses the terracotta finds recovered from the excavations and seeks to highlight their significance towards reconstructing the socio‐economic life of the contemporary culture.
Keywords: Terracotta, Nagwada, Mature Harappan, Toys, Figurines, Spindle Whorls, Bangles
Introduction The word terracotta has been defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as, ‘a hard kiln burnt clay, unglazed, having brown to reddish colour’. These terracotta objects are delightful mode of manifestations and a powerful source of cultural understanding. This highly evolved form of plastic art could be a powerful medium to reach out to the day to day life of common man and his mode of expression A rich repertoire of terracotta objects is found from the excavations of every site of Harappan civilizations. It is an articulation of different cultural aspects reflecting the socio‐economic, cultural, and artistic traditions of urban and rural society. Hereby a detail study of the terracotta objects from Nagwada has been carried out to understand the people in general.
Nagwada (NGW) Nagwada village (23˚ 24ʹN., 71˚ 41ʹ E) is situated in Dasada Taluka of Surendranagar District in the northwestern area of Gujarat state. The Department of Archaeology and Ancient History of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara carried out excavations at the archaeological site here for five seasons between 1985 and 1990. The excavation brought to light details about the culture as a small village community affiliated to the Mature Harappan phase who had settled in the vast plain of Little
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Rann of Kutch. Among the four Harappan mounds found in Nagwada, Mound I yielded material relics of the mature phase of Harappan culture. This mound is situated in the south of the present village on a relic sand dune, formed close to the northern bank of an ephemeral storm drain called the Vonkadi. Towards the east of the mound there is a large inter‐dune depression where monsoon run off accumulates to form a sweet water pond (Hegde et al. 1986‐ 87).
The entire mound measuring 140 x 110m2, was put under a 10x 10m2 grid. The thickness of the habitation deposits in the cutting varied from 95 to 110 cm, with five distinct layers incorporating four structural phases. The single period occupation is divided into two distinctive periods. – IA and IB. In Period IA there are no substantial habitation deposits, but yielded four symbolic pot burials and two inhumation burials found in the lowermost strata of early deposits. The potteries have close affinity with the pre Harappan pottery found from Amri, Kot‐Diji, and Nal. Post holes and rammed mud floors in the natural soil mark the beginning of structural activity. Period IB is represented by entire upper layers of single cultural habitation. In the second phase rectangular structures built of undressed stones were found. In the third phase there were rectangular structures of molded mud bricks measuring 8 X 16 X 32cm. In the fourth phase rectangular structures were built of rubble stones (Rajesh and Patel 2006‐07: 46‐67). The pottery assemblages are represented by both Harappan and non Harappan types. The typical Harappan pottery though less in number, represent the features of mature Harappan characteristic shapes and paintings having fine Red Ware, Buff Ware, and Chocolate Slipped Ware. The non Harappan types comparable to North Gujarat potteries include Gritty Red Ware, Burnished Red Ware and Burnished Grey Ware. Important antiquities recovered include gold and silver ornaments, copper ornaments and implements, inscribed sealing, agate weights, beads of semiprecious stones and varieties of terracotta objects. Nagwada excavations also throw light on the specialized craft activities like stone bead industry and shell working industry. Radio carbon dates obtained from the site date the upper levels of the period IB to 2180+/‐80 BC (IAR 1985‐86, 88‐89; Hegde et al. 1988: 56‐65; Sonawane and Ajithprasad 1994: 37‐49).
Terracotta Objects Compared to other affiliated Harappan sites of Gujarat, the terracotta objects of Nagwada are less in number. Though less in number, it reveals a wide range of craft activities found from all periods. These are the objects which help us to understand many aspects of the community including socio‐economic and religious significance. Terracotta objects found from Nagwada is realistically well made. These comprises of a variety of objects like household items, toys, ornaments and items for religious practices.
Animal/ Bird Figurines A very few figurines of animals and birds have been recovered from Nagwada. None of the figures could be identified properly. Some of them have been identified as a bird,
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a cat broken by neck and four bulls. They were all damaged and were used by the children for playing. They were made very crudely.
Spindle Whorls More than fifteen pieces of spindle whorls (Fig.1) have been found from Nagwada. The wear and tear on the sides of perforations indicates that they were worked on for spinning cotton and wool. Most of them are found from the pits sealed by layers. Those found from the pits were sometimes broken and some of were fashioned from potsherds. Broken pieces showing the perforation path is very well defined. Sometimes it has a bigger perforation on one side. Their rough and uneven circular edges were smoothened by rubbing. The various sizes of the holes and the number of spin show that weaving was done in plenty. The colour varies from red to chocolate slip seen on these whorls. The diameter measures from 45 to 60mm. The thickness varies from 8 to 15mm. Today the Bharwads, a pastoral community of Kutch and Saurashtra use this type of spinning device for wool known as Takli.
Wheels Wheels found from Nagwada are sometimes broken with hub on one side and sometimes it is fashioned on a pot sherd with simple perforation. Though less in number, it was a significant find from Nagwada. They are all handmade.
Toy Cart Frames Two types of toy cart frames (Fig. 2) were found from Nagwada. The first toy cart type found here has a rectangular shape with five small holes on one side and four holes on the other side. The second variety shows an outline forming the main body. The five specimens found from Nagwada are broken. Most of them have vertical holes along the margin of a longer axis used for fixing poles and the two rows across in the middle were meant fixing the axle with the lashing. There are two or more horizontal holes in the frame which were meant for the yoke. All of them are handmade and well baked. The toy cart frame found from the pit is flat and broken.
Teetotums Teetotums are discs with a central perforation. The perforations are sometimes big and sometimes very small. Similar such objects are also seen in modern times which are meant to be used as toys. Many Teetotums has been found in the excavation of Nagwada. All these are of different diameters ranging from 23mm to 46mm and the thickness ranging from4mm to 15mm.
Discs Potsherds were fashioned into semi circular or circular discs (Fig. 1) by rubbing the uneven border. There are discs without holes, found plenty in number from Nagwada. One of the discs reveals finger impressions. They are well baked and their diameter varies from 40mm to 85mm and the thickness varies from 4mm to 11mm. Their exact function is unknown and may probably have been used as hopscotch.
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Figure 1: Spindle Whorl, Spacer/Button, Ring and Perforated Disc
Figure 2: Toy Cart Frames (Solid Chassis)
Figure 3: Votive Tanks and Goblet Figure 4: Triangular Cakes
Figure 5: Pinched Cakes Figure 6: Crucible Fragment
Figure 7: Bead Figure 8: Sealing
Pellets These are small, solid, spherical shaped terracotta balls which were found in plenty during the excavations at Nagwada. Some of the broken ones were found from the pits. The colour of the pellets is generally red. They vary in different sizes. These objects were either used for decoration purposes or by the children for playing. No decoration is found on the surface of these pellets. They were handmade. They vary in size with diameters ranging from 11mm to 24mm.
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Bangle Pieces The terracotta bangles seem to be popular in Nagwada as they are found in plenty. Most of them are found from pits. All bangles are handmade and well baked. Their colour varies from dark red to light red. Their diameter varies and the thickness measures from 5mm to 10mm. It can be assumed that the bangles with a greater diameter may have been used by women and those which were smaller may have been for children. The bangles are usually round in section and devoid of any decorations.
Beads Beads are important object to make necklaces or other ornaments. Beads of cylindrical (Fig. 7), bi‐conical and spherical shapes have been found during excavations at Nagwada. Some broken beads were recovered from a pit. The beads are red in colour, handmade and well baked. The surfaces of some of the beads are decorated with dots.
Female Figurine The female figurine found from the excavations at Nagwada is small and simple in modeling. The colour of the clay is blackish brown which indicates ill baking. The eyes, ears, mouth and navel are marked by small steatite circular beads inlayed before the clay was fired. The nose is indicated by a small pinch. The breast is shown by placing a small bit of clay lump, of which one is remaining. The figure is broken just below the navel. It is a very unique piece reported from the site (Hegde et al. 1990). It was found on the floor of the house. It measures 55.93mm in length and 17.09mm in breadth.
Clay Sealing One of the important finds from Nagwada is an oblong clay lump bearing positive impressions of a rectangular seal. This unbaked clay sealing (Fig. 8) bears signs all along its upper margin, and an animal motif below representing a charging bull. However there is no indication of its use on any package either in form of impressions of twisted cords tied into knots or hole on its reverse side (Hegde et.al. 1990). The sealing measures 52.17mm in length and 17.72mm in breadth.
Triangular Cakes A lot of terracotta triangular cake (Fig. 4) has been unearthed from Nagwada. Most of them were found broken, but the interesting part is that some of them have varying incisions and impressions marks on them. One of them which is broken, has nail mark decoration, while the other has leaf impression and a star like impression on its surface.
Terracotta Lumps/Mushtikas Four pinched terracotta lumps, mushtika and clay lumps having idli shape (Fig. 5) are found in plenty. They vary in different shapes and sizes and sometimes have rough surface. Their colour too varies from red to dull red. Few of these lumps have mat impressions on them. Six of these lumps have reed impression on them. One of the big clay lump found from the surface, has reed impression. Though it has a very rough surface, the impression is very clearly visible.
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Votive Tanks The terracotta votive tank (Fig. 3) found here has a flat rectangular base with walls on three sides. One side of the wall is broken. It is red in colour and is handmade. It contained Coix lacryma‐jobi seeds when excavated. One broken piece of votive tank has only one intact corner.
Conical Objects Two unidentified conical objects having flat circular top have been found from Nagwada. One of them has a small circular decoration on its side. Most probably they were used as toys. Both the objects are handmade.
Ladle A handmade object which appears like a ladle has also been found from the excavations at Nagwada. This could have been used as a serving scoop either during rituals or as household object. The object measures 33.97mm in length.
Cylindrical Object A well made cylindrical object bend little on one side has also been found here. Its precise nature is not known and it can be speculated that it was possibly the leg portion of a toy figurine.
Lid A well made lid has been found from Nagwada. It is small in size and thus could be used by the children for playing.
Weight A well made terracotta weight has been unearthed from Nagwada. It is cubical in shape and red in colour. One single specimen has been found from here.
Lamp A miniature lamp most probably used by the children for playing purpose has been found. It is handmade and the colour is red.
Stoppers Two stopper like objects has been found from Nagwada. One of them was found from the surface. They are both handmade.
Other objects made of terracotta that have been recovered from Nagwada include are a skin rubber, a wedge, goblet and crucible fragments (Fig.3).
Discussion A close observation of the terracotta objects from Nagwada reveals that they were characterized by simple handmade form. There are instances of the use of wheel and the mould. The clay as well as technique employed might have been the same for manufacturing ceramics and terracotta objects. It is likely that the same clay used for
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the pottery could have been used by the potters and terracotta makers. It is also likely some of the terracotta objects were also made by the potter himself. Majority of the objects are of simple red colour devoid of much surface treatment. The objects were first sun dried and then fired in kilns. The slip or paint was applied subsequently. The decorations consist of pinching, appliqué or incised designs. All the objects of Nagwada are solid as it is one of the method of early manufacturing.
Among the objects of Nagwada the figurine is one of the rare specimens of its kind. Its uniqueness lies in its decoration by pinching out prominent features of the face and wearing steatite bead as ear ornament. Among the animal figures bull was the most popular one. They are found in large number not only from Nagwada but also from other sites. Among the personal ornaments are the beads and bangles found in large number from most of the sites, which were popular and used by the common man. There is no regional variation as such. The crucible and the spindle whorl possess functional characters associated with some industrial and production activities and served as necessary associated tools and instruments. Crucibles are generally used by the goldsmiths or the coppersmiths for melting and casting metals. So the crucible here suggests some kind local working of metals most probably copper. The spindle whorl found from most of the sites provides excellent evidence of the woven fabric. It is quite possible that cotton or woolen threads might have been spun for making fabrics or ropes. Except for the few handmade ones others are made on pot sherds by rubbing the edge and perforating in the middle. The household items include triangular cakes, mushtikas, pinched clay lumps and clay lumps. They are still inscrutable in understanding their use in the ancient society. Once the precise function of these objects is detected properly, they will be a major source towards understanding various aspects of past societies. The clay lumps showing reed impression suggests the pattern of construction of the houses as the wattle and daub method and also the use of reeds and clay lumps in the pottery kilns.One of the most significant finds from the site includes the clay sealing. The clear cut impressions of Harappan letters indicate high technique of craftsmanship and trade network with other communities. The chassis of toy cart frame and the wheels indicate the mode of transportation. The terracotta votive tank recovered from excavations reveal the water management strategies that were vogue in the past. These structures were utilitarian or ritual in nature.
In short, a study of the terracotta objects from Nagwada reveals that the inhabitants had attained mastery in this popular art. The objects though less in number, when put together can be considered as an important find from Nagwada. In the absence of any written records, these objects are invaluable source to reconstruct the socio‐economic life of its contemporary culture.
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