The trial excavation at the site of Phupgaon was carried out to have a better understanding of th... more The trial excavation at the site of Phupgaon was carried out to have a better understanding of the nature of the Iron Age settlement in the Purna River basin. This site is located close to the famous Chalcolithic site of Tuljapur Garhi. The cultural remains unravelled include occupational floors, burnt patches, antiquities like terracotta male torso, beads made of semi-precious stones, and iron and copper objects, etc. The ceramic assemblage comprising of Black-and-Red ware, Red burnished ware, and Black burnished wares are distinct to the Wardha and Wainganga valleys and reveals the possibility of a regional variant of ceramic manufacturing in the Iron Age realm of Vidarbha.
Through an ichthyoarchaeological approach, 452 fish skeletal elements were identified to taxonomi... more Through an ichthyoarchaeological approach, 452 fish skeletal elements were identified to taxonomic levels from 1220 fragments of fish bones from the excavation of Harappan settlement at Kanmer in Gujarat datable to c. 2600-1900 BCE. Nine fish families were identified which include Latidae, Bagridae, Sparidae, Ariidae, Siluridae, Carcharhinidae/Dasyatidae, Cyprinidae, Haemulidae and Sciaenidae. This paper presents aspects of fish utilization at Kanmer which include the diversity of fish species used, the temporal changes in fish consumption, the spatial distribution of fish, the pattern of fish processing, fishing environments and their reflections on climatic changes. At the site, the marine fishery was dominated along with the parallel existence of freshwater fishery and the latter was intensified during the late part of the occupation. The pattern of fish processing, preservation and distribution was observed from the bone modification evidence and fish skeletal element distribution. Furthermore, the fish remains reveal information regarding the fishing environments and implications in the climatic changes in the region of Gulf of Kachchh. Significantly, this study contributes to the overall understanding of the subsistence (animal and plant-based) of the Harappans at Kanmer, in addition to emphasising the potential of ichthyoarchaeological studies in the South Asian region. Such approaches, so far, have been lacking in this region despite the presence of fish bone assemblages from excavations in significant quantities.
addition to reporting Harappan ceramics, he also reported the presence of chert blades from the s... more addition to reporting Harappan ceramics, he also reported the presence of chert blades from the site (IAR 1965-66: 14-16). The site is approximately 1.258 ha in size, and is located on a confluence zone of two rivers. The site was excavated for three seasons (2010-2013) jointly by the Deccan College, Pune and the Gujarat State Department of Archaeology, Gandhinagar (Shirvalkar and Rawat 2012; Shirvalkar et al. 2015). Three seasons of excavations at the site revealed the evidence of a multi-roomed residential structure in the central portion of the site along with a fortification wall all around the site (Fig. 3). The excavated ceramic assemblage (of typical Mature Harappan as well as regional Sorath Harappan types) and material culture such as spherical weights, terracotta beads, and construction style of structures indicate that the site belonged to the Late Mature Harappan period. Based on these evidences, the site can be dated between 2300 BCE and 2100 BCE (Shirvalkar and Rawat 2012-13: 77). Archaeozoological Methods The excavated trenches at Kotada Bhadli yielded a large number of bones, teeth, shells and a single otolith. During the three principal field seasons at Kotada Bhadli, an effort was made to collect these faunal remains uncovered during excavations. The bones, however, were hand-picked and no sieving procedure was conducted to collect the bones. The bones were packed, properly labelled and transported to the Archaeozoology Laboratory, Deccan College, Pune. The present faunal analysis was carried out at this laboratory. In the first step of analysis, the skeletal elements were cleaned with water by using a soft brush and dried in the shade. After drying, the fragments broken during transportation and unpacking were immediately mended. All bone packets were then studied using the standard protocol developed at the Archaeozoology Laboratory of Deccan College, Pune. In the beginning, from each collection (archaeological context), skeletal fragments were sorted into broader groups such as bones of axial skeletal system (ribs, vertebrae and skull) and appendicular skeletal system (clavicle, scapula, pelvis, long bones, metapodia, carpals, tarsals and phalanges). Clason's (1972) method of counting the specimens was followed, in which ancient fragments of a single skeletal element (whenever recognized) were not treated as separate entities. Identification of the animal bones recovered from Kotada Bhadli was achieved primarily through the use of basic distinguishing markers (unpublished observations) derived from the comprehensive reference collection of animals skeletons housed at the Deccan College Archaeo-zoology Laboratory. All specimens were assigned to the most specific taxonomic category that was possible within the limitations of the available reference collections and observable morphological variations. When necessary, help was taken from published distinguishing keys, e.g. Schmid Abstract Kotada Bhadli-a Late Mature Harappan site, is located in the Nakhatrana Taluka, District Kachchh, Gujarat. The site was excavated jointly by Deccan College, Pune and the Gujarat State Department of Archaeology, Gandhinagar for three consecutive seasons (2010-2013). The excavated archaeo-zoological data from this site provided an opportunity to look into the nature of animal-based subsistence strategies during the Late Mature Harappan period in Gujarat. The primary archaeozoological data presented in this paper derives from more than 50,000 fragments of animal bones excavated from the site. These predominantly comprise of domestic mammals, particularly cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat. While a wide array of wild animals have also been identified, their proportion in the overall assemblage is very low. With low percentages of wild game, animal husbandry emerges as a central activity, complemented by hunting and fishing. Small game hunting, mainly of Indian hare was also identified.
Until the beginning of the nineties of the last century, almost nothing was known about the separ... more Until the beginning of the nineties of the last century, almost nothing was known about the separate cultural status of an Iron Age phase in the archaeological profile of Odisha. It was during the excavation of Golbai Sason in the coastal plains of Odisha that, for the first time, a Ferro-Chalcolithic phase, overlaying a full-fledged Chalcolithic deposit, was recognised. Subsequently, intensive exploration and a series of test excavations conducted in different parts of the Middle Mahanadi Valley region of Odisha brought to light a distinct cultural horizon overlaying the Chalcolithic and underlying the Early Historic cultural deposits. Chronologically, the Iron Age in the region spans between the latter half of the second millennium BC and the second half of the first millennium BC. While the ceramic and other associated cultural features indicate a clear departure from the preceding Chalcolithic phase, some of the earlier cultural traits continued into the Iron Age phase. The late phase of this culture was marked by megalith building activities and the proliferation of graffiti marked potteries. Significantly, some of the graffiti marks resemble with that of Brahmi alphabets. The present paper intends to highlight the chrono-cultural aspects of the Iron Age phase in the Middle Mahanadi Valley of Odisha.
Present article is an attempt to understand the economic conditions during the reign of the Weste... more Present article is an attempt to understand the economic conditions during the reign of the Western Kshatrapas through their silver coins. A total of 168 coins of 14 different kings were taken into the consideration for the work and their silver content is discussed. Statistical analyses have been done to get quantitative support to the inferences drawn. The paper also investigates fineness of the coins of different Western Kshatrapa rulers, to understand political and economical stability of that particular ruler.
The archaeological site of Vadnagar (23° 47' N; 72° 39' E) is located in tbe Mehsana district of ... more The archaeological site of Vadnagar (23° 47' N; 72° 39' E) is located in tbe Mehsana district of Gujarat. The presence of Early Historic period ceramics (Red Polished Ware) at Vadnagar were first reported by S.R. Rao in 1952. Recent excavations at the site by the Directorate of Archaeology, Gujarat State revealed five major periods at the site. The present paper deals with faunal remains recovered from the first period (formative stage of the settlement) at the site. The faunal assemblage analyzed from this period revealed the evidence of 18 species of animal comprising 10 species of mammal, one species of bird, one reptile, and five species of molluscan shell.
At most of the archaeological sites in India remains of large bovid species such as cattle (Bos i... more At most of the archaeological sites in India remains of large bovid species such as cattle (Bos indicus), buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are found. However, being closely related species, it is difficult to separate these three large bovid species. For secure identification osteological keys based on distinguishing markers are essential. This article describes the keys prepared for distinguishing among the three large bovid species based on the hind limb bones. This work forms a part of fundamental research needed to elevate level of archaeo-faunal identification.
The present paper presents a fulI report ofthe analysis conducted on the faunal remains excavated... more The present paper presents a fulI report ofthe analysis conducted on the faunal remains excavated from the Megalithic burial-cum-habitation site of Malli, located in Tiroda Taluka of Gondia District, Maharashtra. It is important to note that Malli is the only excavated site in the Upper Wainganga ..iValley. Atotal of 5195 animal skeletal fragments were analysed, that includes faunal material re-i.5 covered from the Megalithic burials as well as the habitation site. The animal skeletal fragments-from the habitation site of Malli represent the remains of animals as a component in the full-fledged protohistoric subsistence system. This subsistence system involved the utilisation of both domestic and wild animals. However, the proportion of wild animals relative to the domestic was very small. 'j This shows that wild resources did not play a major role in the subsistence activities of the inhabit-' ants at the site. The animal skeletal fragments recovered from the Megalithic burials revealed the partial burials ofcow/ox and goat/sheep.
The paper deals with the analysis of the faunal remains recovered from the Iron Age deposits at B... more The paper deals with the analysis of the faunal remains recovered from the Iron Age deposits at Badmal, located in Western Odisha. Badmal (21º 6' 22''N; 84º 03' 37'' E) locally known as Asurgarh, lies around half a kilometre south-west of the village of similar name. The site was subjected to limited excavation in 2002-03 by Sambalpur University at two different localities where two periods of occupation (Iron Age and Early Historic) were unearthed. The faunal material (n = 641) from both these localities was classifi ed, examined, photographed and quantitatively analyzed at the Archaeozoology Laboratory at Deccan College, Pune following the well-established internationally standardized procedure. The faunal assemblage at the site revealed presence of both domestic (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, and dog) and wild mammals (nilgai, sambar, spotted deer, panther, hare, porcupine, and mongoose). In addition, one reptilian species of Indian sawback turtle was identifi ed. The proportion of wild animals relative to domestic ones was much smaller. While Odisha is one of the most important areas for understanding past human-animal-environment relationship, the region is lesser known for bio-archaeological datasets. Therefore, the present paper provides a window of opportunity to look into the nature of animal-based subsistence activities of the Iron Age people in this region.
The trial excavation at the site of Phupgaon was carried out to have a better understanding of th... more The trial excavation at the site of Phupgaon was carried out to have a better understanding of the nature of the Iron Age settlement in the Purna River basin. This site is located close to the famous Chalcolithic site of Tuljapur Garhi. The cultural remains unravelled include occupational floors, burnt patches, antiquities like terracotta male torso, beads made of semi-precious stones, and iron and copper objects, etc. The ceramic assemblage comprising of Black-and-Red ware, Red burnished ware, and Black burnished wares are distinct to the Wardha and Wainganga valleys and reveals the possibility of a regional variant of ceramic manufacturing in the Iron Age realm of Vidarbha.
Through an ichthyoarchaeological approach, 452 fish skeletal elements were identified to taxonomi... more Through an ichthyoarchaeological approach, 452 fish skeletal elements were identified to taxonomic levels from 1220 fragments of fish bones from the excavation of Harappan settlement at Kanmer in Gujarat datable to c. 2600-1900 BCE. Nine fish families were identified which include Latidae, Bagridae, Sparidae, Ariidae, Siluridae, Carcharhinidae/Dasyatidae, Cyprinidae, Haemulidae and Sciaenidae. This paper presents aspects of fish utilization at Kanmer which include the diversity of fish species used, the temporal changes in fish consumption, the spatial distribution of fish, the pattern of fish processing, fishing environments and their reflections on climatic changes. At the site, the marine fishery was dominated along with the parallel existence of freshwater fishery and the latter was intensified during the late part of the occupation. The pattern of fish processing, preservation and distribution was observed from the bone modification evidence and fish skeletal element distribution. Furthermore, the fish remains reveal information regarding the fishing environments and implications in the climatic changes in the region of Gulf of Kachchh. Significantly, this study contributes to the overall understanding of the subsistence (animal and plant-based) of the Harappans at Kanmer, in addition to emphasising the potential of ichthyoarchaeological studies in the South Asian region. Such approaches, so far, have been lacking in this region despite the presence of fish bone assemblages from excavations in significant quantities.
addition to reporting Harappan ceramics, he also reported the presence of chert blades from the s... more addition to reporting Harappan ceramics, he also reported the presence of chert blades from the site (IAR 1965-66: 14-16). The site is approximately 1.258 ha in size, and is located on a confluence zone of two rivers. The site was excavated for three seasons (2010-2013) jointly by the Deccan College, Pune and the Gujarat State Department of Archaeology, Gandhinagar (Shirvalkar and Rawat 2012; Shirvalkar et al. 2015). Three seasons of excavations at the site revealed the evidence of a multi-roomed residential structure in the central portion of the site along with a fortification wall all around the site (Fig. 3). The excavated ceramic assemblage (of typical Mature Harappan as well as regional Sorath Harappan types) and material culture such as spherical weights, terracotta beads, and construction style of structures indicate that the site belonged to the Late Mature Harappan period. Based on these evidences, the site can be dated between 2300 BCE and 2100 BCE (Shirvalkar and Rawat 2012-13: 77). Archaeozoological Methods The excavated trenches at Kotada Bhadli yielded a large number of bones, teeth, shells and a single otolith. During the three principal field seasons at Kotada Bhadli, an effort was made to collect these faunal remains uncovered during excavations. The bones, however, were hand-picked and no sieving procedure was conducted to collect the bones. The bones were packed, properly labelled and transported to the Archaeozoology Laboratory, Deccan College, Pune. The present faunal analysis was carried out at this laboratory. In the first step of analysis, the skeletal elements were cleaned with water by using a soft brush and dried in the shade. After drying, the fragments broken during transportation and unpacking were immediately mended. All bone packets were then studied using the standard protocol developed at the Archaeozoology Laboratory of Deccan College, Pune. In the beginning, from each collection (archaeological context), skeletal fragments were sorted into broader groups such as bones of axial skeletal system (ribs, vertebrae and skull) and appendicular skeletal system (clavicle, scapula, pelvis, long bones, metapodia, carpals, tarsals and phalanges). Clason's (1972) method of counting the specimens was followed, in which ancient fragments of a single skeletal element (whenever recognized) were not treated as separate entities. Identification of the animal bones recovered from Kotada Bhadli was achieved primarily through the use of basic distinguishing markers (unpublished observations) derived from the comprehensive reference collection of animals skeletons housed at the Deccan College Archaeo-zoology Laboratory. All specimens were assigned to the most specific taxonomic category that was possible within the limitations of the available reference collections and observable morphological variations. When necessary, help was taken from published distinguishing keys, e.g. Schmid Abstract Kotada Bhadli-a Late Mature Harappan site, is located in the Nakhatrana Taluka, District Kachchh, Gujarat. The site was excavated jointly by Deccan College, Pune and the Gujarat State Department of Archaeology, Gandhinagar for three consecutive seasons (2010-2013). The excavated archaeo-zoological data from this site provided an opportunity to look into the nature of animal-based subsistence strategies during the Late Mature Harappan period in Gujarat. The primary archaeozoological data presented in this paper derives from more than 50,000 fragments of animal bones excavated from the site. These predominantly comprise of domestic mammals, particularly cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat. While a wide array of wild animals have also been identified, their proportion in the overall assemblage is very low. With low percentages of wild game, animal husbandry emerges as a central activity, complemented by hunting and fishing. Small game hunting, mainly of Indian hare was also identified.
Until the beginning of the nineties of the last century, almost nothing was known about the separ... more Until the beginning of the nineties of the last century, almost nothing was known about the separate cultural status of an Iron Age phase in the archaeological profile of Odisha. It was during the excavation of Golbai Sason in the coastal plains of Odisha that, for the first time, a Ferro-Chalcolithic phase, overlaying a full-fledged Chalcolithic deposit, was recognised. Subsequently, intensive exploration and a series of test excavations conducted in different parts of the Middle Mahanadi Valley region of Odisha brought to light a distinct cultural horizon overlaying the Chalcolithic and underlying the Early Historic cultural deposits. Chronologically, the Iron Age in the region spans between the latter half of the second millennium BC and the second half of the first millennium BC. While the ceramic and other associated cultural features indicate a clear departure from the preceding Chalcolithic phase, some of the earlier cultural traits continued into the Iron Age phase. The late phase of this culture was marked by megalith building activities and the proliferation of graffiti marked potteries. Significantly, some of the graffiti marks resemble with that of Brahmi alphabets. The present paper intends to highlight the chrono-cultural aspects of the Iron Age phase in the Middle Mahanadi Valley of Odisha.
Present article is an attempt to understand the economic conditions during the reign of the Weste... more Present article is an attempt to understand the economic conditions during the reign of the Western Kshatrapas through their silver coins. A total of 168 coins of 14 different kings were taken into the consideration for the work and their silver content is discussed. Statistical analyses have been done to get quantitative support to the inferences drawn. The paper also investigates fineness of the coins of different Western Kshatrapa rulers, to understand political and economical stability of that particular ruler.
The archaeological site of Vadnagar (23° 47' N; 72° 39' E) is located in tbe Mehsana district of ... more The archaeological site of Vadnagar (23° 47' N; 72° 39' E) is located in tbe Mehsana district of Gujarat. The presence of Early Historic period ceramics (Red Polished Ware) at Vadnagar were first reported by S.R. Rao in 1952. Recent excavations at the site by the Directorate of Archaeology, Gujarat State revealed five major periods at the site. The present paper deals with faunal remains recovered from the first period (formative stage of the settlement) at the site. The faunal assemblage analyzed from this period revealed the evidence of 18 species of animal comprising 10 species of mammal, one species of bird, one reptile, and five species of molluscan shell.
At most of the archaeological sites in India remains of large bovid species such as cattle (Bos i... more At most of the archaeological sites in India remains of large bovid species such as cattle (Bos indicus), buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are found. However, being closely related species, it is difficult to separate these three large bovid species. For secure identification osteological keys based on distinguishing markers are essential. This article describes the keys prepared for distinguishing among the three large bovid species based on the hind limb bones. This work forms a part of fundamental research needed to elevate level of archaeo-faunal identification.
The present paper presents a fulI report ofthe analysis conducted on the faunal remains excavated... more The present paper presents a fulI report ofthe analysis conducted on the faunal remains excavated from the Megalithic burial-cum-habitation site of Malli, located in Tiroda Taluka of Gondia District, Maharashtra. It is important to note that Malli is the only excavated site in the Upper Wainganga ..iValley. Atotal of 5195 animal skeletal fragments were analysed, that includes faunal material re-i.5 covered from the Megalithic burials as well as the habitation site. The animal skeletal fragments-from the habitation site of Malli represent the remains of animals as a component in the full-fledged protohistoric subsistence system. This subsistence system involved the utilisation of both domestic and wild animals. However, the proportion of wild animals relative to the domestic was very small. 'j This shows that wild resources did not play a major role in the subsistence activities of the inhabit-' ants at the site. The animal skeletal fragments recovered from the Megalithic burials revealed the partial burials ofcow/ox and goat/sheep.
The paper deals with the analysis of the faunal remains recovered from the Iron Age deposits at B... more The paper deals with the analysis of the faunal remains recovered from the Iron Age deposits at Badmal, located in Western Odisha. Badmal (21º 6' 22''N; 84º 03' 37'' E) locally known as Asurgarh, lies around half a kilometre south-west of the village of similar name. The site was subjected to limited excavation in 2002-03 by Sambalpur University at two different localities where two periods of occupation (Iron Age and Early Historic) were unearthed. The faunal material (n = 641) from both these localities was classifi ed, examined, photographed and quantitatively analyzed at the Archaeozoology Laboratory at Deccan College, Pune following the well-established internationally standardized procedure. The faunal assemblage at the site revealed presence of both domestic (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, and dog) and wild mammals (nilgai, sambar, spotted deer, panther, hare, porcupine, and mongoose). In addition, one reptilian species of Indian sawback turtle was identifi ed. The proportion of wild animals relative to domestic ones was much smaller. While Odisha is one of the most important areas for understanding past human-animal-environment relationship, the region is lesser known for bio-archaeological datasets. Therefore, the present paper provides a window of opportunity to look into the nature of animal-based subsistence activities of the Iron Age people in this region.
Secondary products like traction, milk and wool, etc. are those subsistence products from living ... more Secondary products like traction, milk and wool, etc. are those subsistence products from living animals which do not require the killing of an animal. The use of such products represents diversified and intensified animal husbandry systems. Additionally, secondary exploitation strategies not only expand the resource base but also subsistence surplus in the societies. The adoption of these secondary products in the economy also leads to a complexity in both settlement patterns and social organisation. This paper addresses several issues related to the exploitation of secondary products of cattle at the Harappan site of Kanmer, Gujarat. Metrical data and harvesting profiles of cattle at Kanmer reveal that these animals were not only herded for their meat, but also for their secondary products from the earliest phase of the Harappan occupation at the site.
Nature provided man with all the basic requirements for his existence which is one of the reasons... more Nature provided man with all the basic requirements for his existence which is one of the reasons why nature was respected. The early civilisations valued nature and nature worship was common in those times. After coming in contact with plants people began to realise their significance and how they could be of great benefit to them. There are also some evidences relating to nature worship in the Indian subcontinent around 3000 BC as well as admiration for nature as a source of medicine. This perhaps was the reason that these plants began to be protected seriously.
The site of Kanmer, a Harappan site, located in Rapar taluka of Kachchh district of Gujarat, Indi... more The site of Kanmer, a Harappan site, located in Rapar taluka of Kachchh district of Gujarat, India was subjected to excavation during 2005-2009 for four consecutive seasons jointly by the Institutes of Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India; Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India and Research Institute of Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto, Japan. The excavations at the site revealed various occupational phases of the Harappan period, in addition to yielding a large number of skeletal elements of animals. An archaeozoological project at Kanmer was developed with its primary purpose to document the inhabitants’ utilisation of domestic and wild taxa, to examine variability and change in that utilisation, and to look at the nature of the animal-based subsistence strategies at this site and beyond. This research culminated into a Ph.D. dissertation, which the author successfully defended at Deccan College, Post Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed to be University), Pune, India in March 2012. Now, the same has been presented here in the form of this book to make this research accessible to a wider audience.
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