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CHAPTER IV OCHRE COLOUR POTTERY AND COPPER HOARD TOOLS

Archaeological excavations and explorations have been done in region under

study by many archaeologists some of them concentrated on specific culture/s&

technology. These scholars are: Smith (1905, 1907),HiranandShastri (1905), R.

Heine-Galdern (1936, 1937, 1907), SturatPiggot (1944, 1950), G.M. Bongard Levin

and D.V. Deopik (1957), B.B.Lal (1950-52, 19554-55, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1979), J.E.

Van Lohizzen-de Leeuw (1960), M.N. Despande (1962,1963, 1964, 1965, 1966,

1967), S.P. Gupta (1963, 1965), Y.D.Sharma (1964), K.N. Dikshit (1967, 1968,

1969, 1970, 1978, 1979), D.P.Agarawal (1971), R.C.Agarawal (1963, 1964, 1967,

1970, 1971), N.R. Benerjee (1964, 1965, 1969), R.C.Sharma (1961, 1963), S.L.M.

Wahal (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972), V.D. Mishra, RomilaThappar (1969), M.D.N. Sahi

(1975, 1976, 1985, 1986), G.R.Sharma (1957, 1958), A.K. Narain (1963, 1964),

R.C.Sharma (1960, 1961), C. Margabandu (1980, 1981), ArunKumar Singh (1992)

and many other archaeologists. These excavations and explorations have brought to

light a large number of sites of the Ochre Coloured Pottery (O.C.P.) culture and

copper hoard tools.

This type of pottery has, however, posed a new problem in Indian

archaeology and history in general and in this region particularly. B.B.Lal (1969:7)

states, ‘Then there is the problem of Ochre Coloured Ware, is it late Harappan? Or,

is it an altogether different industry dominating the Ganga Valley, there being,

however, interactions between these wares and the Harappan? There is another and I

dare say, a no less important aspect of the problem of the Ochre Colour Ware. At a

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number of placessuch asBahadrabad, Nasirpur, Jhinjhana, Hastinapur, Noh,

Ahichchhatra, Atranjikhera, etc., these wares have been noticed to occur

sporadically. Otherwiseclean plain, which imperceptivity merge into natural soil.

Indications are that these deposits may be water-laid. Are we then faced here with a

huge deluge covering hundreds of miles of the Ganga-Yamuna basin?

Chronologically, this deluge may have to be placed some time about the middle of

the second millennium B.C. Again, though there is a strong circumstantial evidence

that this ware may have associated with the Copper-Hoards.”

The evidences indicate that the Upper Ganga plains were no doubt originally

inhabited by the Late Harappansand Ochre Coloured Pottery using people

immediately before the beginning of the 1st millennium B.C. The excavations at

Saipai (Lal and Wahal,1971) and at many other sites by other scholars demonstrate

that this culture was associated with Copper-Hoards. About the cultural association

of the Hoards with O.C.P., however, three major theories are common among the

scholars, which are:

(i) They represent the traces of Vedic Aryans

(ii) Theywere Harappan refugees on the move to the Upper Ganga Valley

(iii) They are the original inhabitants of the Upper Ganga Valley.”

These problems have never been fully investigated by scholars. B.B.Lal

wrote several articles on O.C.P. as well as on the problem of the Copper-Hoards

culture (Lal 1951:20-39; 1954-55; 1968:857-63; 1972:282-87; 1972:49-58).

K.N.Dikshit (1967; 1968; 1979:1-7) and Prof. R.C.Gaur (1969:95-101; 1971:42-50;

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1972:10-12; 1974:53-66) have done a significant research on the problem of the

O.C.P. culture.In addition to these works some other works byMakhanLal(1984),

D.P. Agrawal (2003), Krishan Deva and B.K. Thapar did significant work in putting

archaeological discovery in front of scholars from time to time.

A large number of OCP sites have been excavated by various scholars,

universities and Archaeological Survey of India, which give us details regarding the

material culture and various other socio-economic aspects of this early culture of

Upper Ganga Valley.A brief description of excavated OCP and Copper Hoard sites is

given below:

Map 4.1: Showing distribution of OCP sites in study area along with excavated

sites

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Bisauli

Bisauli is a tehsil headquarter in Badaun District of Uttar Pradesh.The

discovery of Copper-Hoard tools from Bisauli was an accidental case in the year

1936-37. A farmer, named Angan found four copper objects at a depth of hardly a

foot below the surface, while tilling his field. Amongst the four copper objects found

here, two were ‘anthropomorphic’ figure and a harpoon and a celt (Ancient India No.

7, Fig V).

In October 1949, Prof. B.B. Lal visited the site with a view to examine it.

There was a tomb to the west of the field and a pond, each to its north-east and

south-east. The area was almost flat without any sign of a mound. Accordingly, two

trenches were laid out by him in the year 1951, one called A, very close to found-

spot, and another B, nearly a hundred yards towards the south. Trench A, 14 ft. long

and 8 ft. wide, was carried out to a depth of about 3 ft. below the ground level.

Whatever little pottery was obtained came from the top first feet. In trench B, 13 ft.

by 7 ft. no sherd was encountered lower than 2/1/2 ft. from the surface(Lal,

1951:26).

The pottery from these trenches at Bisauli, represented two types: (1) well

fired, red-slipped ware with designs executed in black colour, and (2) ill fired, thick.

Ochre-washed ware mainly bits with worn-out edges. The two varieties were so

much mixed up that it was difficult to conclude (Lal 1951:26).

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RajpurParsu

RajpurParsuis located on the east bank of the Ganga, opposite to Hastinapur

in Bijnore district of U.P. In October 1949, RajpurParsu was reported as s Copper-

Hoard site (Lal 1951:37). Further excavation was planned and resumed at the site by

Prof. B.B. Lal in 1950-51. The excavation brought to light thesettlement of Ochre

Coloured Pottery users one of the earliest settlers of this region.

The excavators described the pottery as ill-fired, thick, ochre-washed and

rolled. The pottery was made of medium-grained clay and was under-fired. Here the

pottery came from a stratum corresponding to a depth of about 30-60 cm. below the

surface. Amongst the copper-hoard types, this site yielded nine flat celts, one

bar celtand six harpoons which are lodged in the State Musuem, Lucknow.The Ochre

washed pottery found at RajpurParsu is likely associated with the copper-hoards

foundat the site. Prof.Lal is of the opinion that the ceramic industries of the lowest

levels at Hastinapur might belong to the same class(Lal 1951:237-39).

Hastinapur

Hastinapur (Lat. 29 09 N, Long. 78 03 E) is located in Mewana tehsil of

Meerut district of U.P.This site was excavated by Prof. B.B. Lal in the year 1950-52.

The excavation was designed mainly to reveal the culture sequence. Here four

trenches, HST-1 to HST-4, varying from 9 to 44 ft. in width and 36 to 590 ft. in

length, were laid across a mound at different points. Two of them, viz. HST-1 and

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HST-2 revealed five occupational periods with a definite break in between each of

them (Lal 1952).

Period-I was represented by a deposit of brown clay which varied from one

feet in thickness and at some places it was even entirely absent, having been cut

away by pits of later periods. The soil was comparatively hard to dig and came out in

clods which occasionally contained ‘rolled’ fragments of a ware which has been

christened as Ochre Coloured Ware made of medium grained clay. The ware was

rather under-fired. It seems to have had a wash of Ochre, Prof.Lal opines, the colour

of which ranged from orange red to deep red. The wash shows a tendency of rub off.

Among the noteworthy shapes found from excavation consist jars, with

slightly splayed-out rims, jar with a horizontally splayed out rims and a deep bowl

with an incurved thickened rim. The frequency of sherds was very limited. No other

structure or antiquities were encountered in Period I. At the site, no copper objects

were found associated with this pottery.

Bahadarabad

Bhadarabad (Lat. 29 55 N, Long. 78 00 E) is situated 13 kms. south-west of

Haridwar. In 1951, some copper objects, comprising of a spear-head, celts, bangles,

etcand some pot-sherds were accidentally discovered by canal-diggers at the site. In

1953,some more copper objects were found here. In 1961-64 Y.D. Sharma examined

the site personally and saw a small hoard of copper objects. The Copper-Hoard and

the red ware made clear sense of the association of OCP and Copper-Hoard.

(Sharma:1972:39).

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Several trenches were laid out at right angles to the channel-bed on both side

of it. After cutting through a thickness of 5.70m., alternating sterile layers of sand

and pebbles were obtained. Shri Y.D. Sharma struck the familiar red ware. The

occupational thickness of this ware at the site was 0.60m. The pottery was extricated

from wet and sticky lumps of hard brownish earth.

According to Shri Y.D. Sharma, the Bahadarabad pottery is red, thick and

inadequately fired and it rubs off easily and compares well in texture and fabric with

the Ochre Coloured Ware of Hastinapur (Sharma: 1972:39).

Among the noteworthy pots, classified according to use and shape, are jars,

bowls, basins, dish-on-stand, pedestalled bowls, small ring stand, lids with a central

knob and small cups or saucers.

Some important Copper-Hoard finds obtained from the excavation consist of

6 flat celts, one shouldered celt, one ring and hooked sword.

Ambkeri

Ambkheri (Lat. 29 44 N, Long. 77 44 E) is situated in Roorkee. This site was

excavated by Shri M.N.Deshpande in 1963-64 (IAR 1963-64:55). Thirteen trenches,

each 5x5 m. were laid out. Excavations revealed an occupational thickness of about

1.25m. divided into five layers of a single culture occupation yielding, the Ochre

Coloured Ware. It is significant to note that the difference between one layer and

another was hard to judge after the moisture was evaporated. One floor-level, at a

depth of 0.60m. with a hearth, was an important discovery at this place. No copper

objects were found in the excavations.

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Here the Ochre Coloured Ware seemed to have been inadequately fired and

was usually bereft of any slip. It would, however, be incorrect to say that there was

no surface-dressing as a few sherds withslip were also encountered. Laboratory test

confirm that the pottery was ill-fired and that the slip was not a homogeneous part of

the fabric.

Among the noteworthy shapes in thick fabric included the large trough,

bowls, dish-on-stand, vases, ring-stands, and basins. A long-necked flask, lids, and

miniature cups were also found.

The washed grey ware presented in thick, medium and thin fabric was found

associated with this pottery. Besides pottery, terracotta animal figurines, cart wheels

with centralhub, terracotta and carnelian beads and stone pestles were also found.

Figure 4.2: OCP from Ambkheri

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Jhinjhana

. Jhinjhana (Lat. 29 30 N, Long. 77 10 E) is situated about 8km. North-west of

Shamli, district Muzaffarnagar of U.P.Shri S.K. Rishi undertook the excavation at

Jhinjhana in the year 1963-64. He located ancient mounds yielding the Painted Gray

Ware. Besides the PGW, a few sherds of Ochre Coloured Ware were also collected

from the site (IAR 1963-64:70).

The scraping of the mound at Jhinjhana revealed from signs the lowest strata

which was 0.60m.in thickness. At this site OCPsherds were found lying random in

section. The types collected are very limited. No painted sherds were found from

here.

The copper-hoards have been reported from Jhinjhana and also from

Nasirpur, and at both these sites the Ochre Coloured Pottery was found. Thus on

circumstantial evidence the O.C.P. and the Copper-Hoard are associated together

(Dikshit 1979:289). At Jhinjhana the random distribution of the sherds was noticed

in the section.

Bargaon

Bargaon is situated on the left bank of river Maskara, a tributary of the

Yamuna, 24km. North of Saharanpur in U.P. Shri M.N. Deshpande undertook

excavation at Bargaon in 1963-64 (IAR 1963-64:56).It was a limited excavation of a

mound at Bargaon. It revealed a 1m. thick occupational deposit yielding Harappan

wares along with the unslipped Ochre-Coloured Ware, of which the slip usually gets

separated from the surface as soon as it is washed or handled.

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The important potterytypes found from the excavation consistof dish-on-

stand, bowl with featureless rim, lid, Harappan goblet, ring-stand, miniature

pedestalled cup, globular flask and vase.

Other Harappan traits were represented by terracotta cakes, faience bangles,

copper rings and chert blades. No structure was encountered in the excavation.

Figure 4.3: OCP Pottery from Bargoan

Ahichchhatra

Ahichchhatra (Lat. 28 22 N, Long. 79 07 E) is situated in Bareilly district of

U.P. Shri N.R. Benerjeeundertook excavation at Ahichchhatra in the year 1964-65

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(IAR 1964-65:40). A few OCP sherds were found in the lowest level at the site, just

below the Painted Grey Ware deposit, but the stragraphic position was not clear. So a

second site was taken up for excavation which was located close to the main mound.

Here Period-I represented by OCP and the total deposit of this period was about

0.60m. thick.

The Ochre Coloured Ware of Period-I was medium to fine in texture, red-

slipped and thin in fabric, though thicker sherds were also encountered in small

numbers. As the slip has invariably disappeared while peeling off of the outer skin, it

is not possible to say whether the pottery was painted or not. The record shapes were

the dish-on-stand, jars,bowls and basins.

Atranjikhera

Atranjikhera situated on the right bankof Kali Nadi, 16km.North of the Etah,

district headquarter of U.P.In 1962-63, Prof. R.C. Gaur started excavations at the site

which continued till 1970-71 (Gaur R.C:1983 ).

Excavations revealed six periods, of which the lower one i.e period-I, was

revealed by Ochre Coloured Ware. It was represented by 1.5 m. thick occupational

deposit, overlying the natural soil. The pottery of this period was made on wheel. At

the site, a few sherds having traces of red slip were also present. Here OCP has a

striking similarity in texture to that found in the excavations from the lowest levels

of Hastinapur and Bahadarabad. A large number of burnt brick-bats were found in

the OCP. levels. The associated pottery belongs to the class of the Ochre Coloured

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Ware with such distinguishing features as indifferent firing, thick and porous

sections, rolled edges and bright ochrous wash which easily rubs off.

Amongst the noteworthy types of shapes are dish-on-stand, pedestal

(apparently of the miniature bowl), handles of different shapes, and vases. This

pottery bears a striking resemblance to that obtained from Hastinapur, Bahadarabad,

Bhatpura, Manpur and Ambkheri. Besides pottery, other find consisted of sandstone

pieces and terracotta bead (IAR 1963-64:47).

Figure 4.4:OCP Pottery from Atranjikhera

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LalQila

LalQila is situated adjacent to village Narainpur, 24km. from Anupsaharon

the Aligarh-Anupsahar road in district Bulandsahar of U.P.

Prof. R.C. Gaur undertook excavation at LalQila in 1968-69 which were

continued till 1971-72 (IAR 1968-69:37).In the course of the excavation,it was

confirmed that LalQuila was a single culture site of Ochre Coloured Ware period. Its

occupational deposit varied from 25cm. to 1.90m. in thickness. The nature of the

deposit of the site was found to be almost similar to that of Atranjikhera. At the site,

three distinct layers could be identified. In one of the cutting, a burnt mud floor,

charred bones of animals as with charcoal pieces and fine pieces of pottery were

found.

At the site, pottery was found to be similarto that obtained from other sites

yielding the OCP ware. Among the common types obtained from sites consist of

vases, bowls, jars and basins. A large number of painted sherds showing designs in

black over a red slipped surface were also found. Other finds include terracotta

bangles, discs, potsherds, a broken crucible, pastels and beads.

The noteworthy shapes include jars, knobbed lids, basins and bowls.

Fragments of different parts of the dish-on-stand indicate that the type was known at

LalQila. Besides other finds, animal-bones were found in large numbers. The cut

marks, present on many of them, suggest that meat was the staple diet. Evidence of

some grains (cereal), suggesting agriculture as a subsidiary occupation, was also

available. The other finds of the excavation included: (i) five objects of copper,

included a fragmentarycelt, a pendant, fragmentary arrow-head, beads, etc; (ii) two

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terracotta human figurines; (iii) sixteen terracotta bangles; (iv) seventeen terracotta

marbles; (v) ten terracotta toy-wheels; (vi) five terracotta discs, and (vii) two small

shallow querns.

Thermoluminescence dating of a few potsherds of the Ochre Colour Ware

from the site, conducted by the Archaeological Research Laboratory at Oxford,

indicates a mean date of 1880 B.C.(IAR 1969-70:39).

At the site, few copper objects were also unearthed. They include a flat piece

of pendent or bead, a piece of an arrowhead, a celt fragment and an inderterminate

copper objects. Other finds obtained are of terracotta which include two unique

human figurines, several bangle pieces, plain and incised balls, wheels and disc

(Gaur 1973:155).

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Figure 4.5: OCP Pottery from LalQuila

Baharia

Baharia is situated about 15.5km. south-westof Shahjahanpurdistrict headquarter of

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U.P.Dr. V.D. Mishra and B.B. Mishra undertook the excavation at this site in the

year 1966-67 (IAR 1966-67:43-44).

At the site, a small trial trench measuring 1.21x 1.21m. was laid out near the

found spot of a Copper-Hoard. At a depth of 1m the natural soil was struck. The total

habitational deposit was constituted by three layers: Layer-I was by 25.4cm. thick,

composed of hard brownish clay; layer-II with a thickness of 45cm. was pale

brownish and sandy, while layer-IIIhad a thickness of 30.48cm.and it wasdark

brownish clay imperceptibly merging with the natural soil. On enquiry, it was learnt,

as the report goes, that the copper implements were found at a depth of

91.4cm.below surface, probably the actual spot falling in layer.

A few pot-sherds, mostly pale red, having a tendency of rubbing off easily

(ochrous in colour), were found sporadically distributed in all the three layers. In

some cases, the sherds bear a white encrustation which does not permit any study of

surface treatment. Among the pottery typesvases, globular vases, vases with splayed

out featureless rim and vases with out-turned externally beaded rim are common.

The ware has striking similarity in pottery texture, fabric and typology with the

similar ware found at Atranjikhera.

The more noteworthy finds, obtained from Baharia during the course of

digging for preparing bricks,were two copper implements, a harpoon and a sword.

The harpoon, measuring 27.5cm.in present form, is well preserved and is a fine

specimen of the type and has a prominent medial rib and tepering blade. The sword

measures 45.48cm. in length (Sharma 1972:43).

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Saipai

Saipai is located in Etwah district of U.P. and is situated about 18km. north

ofEtwahrailway station. It is connected by road which leads to Mainpuri. It is a small

village of farmers.

In August, 1969, the finding of a Copper-Hoard at the Saipai was accidental

during the course of the ploughing up of a field(Wahal 1972:47). In May, 1970, after

trial trench, Shri L.M. Wahal found one hooked sword and one harpoon along with

the Ochre Coloured Ware. With a view to obtain further data, he, again resumed

excavation at the site, accordingly in December, 1970. He took up 20x20m.area for

the excavation. Within it fell the spot from where the hoard had been recovered in

1969. During the course of this excavation, a harpoon was found at a depth of 45cm.

below the surface and a red ware was found there in the associated soil-deposit.

Many sherds of this pottery left an ochrous-colour on the finger at the time of

handling, as was the case of pottery from Hastinapur, Bisauli and RajpurParsu etc.

The noteworthy types included jars, bowls, lids, vases, basins etc. Some pots

with handles and spouts were also unearthed. A number of sherd were treated with

fine red slip akin to Harappan slip which indicates that the pottery has some

similarity with the Harappan pottery (Lal 1972:47).

Amongst other finds from the excavation, mention may be made of querns,

mullers, pounders, pellets and balls of sand stone, a fragmentary blade of chert and

flake of chalcedony. From these deposits were also found bones, including ribs of

bosinsicus, whose domestication is thus suggested. This excavation has for the first

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time provided positive evidence regarding the pottery and other artifacts that went

along with the Copper-Hoards of Ganga Valley(IAR 1971-72: Pl. LIB).

Kaseri

Kaseri is situated about 2 km. north of Mohan Nagar, on the right bank of the

river Hindon in Meerut district of U.P.RomilaThapar and K.N. Dixit jointly

conducted excavation at Kaseri in the year 1969-70(IAR 1969-70:43).

Three trenches were laid out across the mound along the east-west axis (one

each on the top and the peripheral slopes on the west and the east). The excavation

revealed an approximately 3.5m. thick occupation strata. It was represented by six

cultural periods, ranging in date from circa first half of the second millennium B.C.

to the early medieval period.

The thickness of the occupational strata of Period-I is 0.50m. it was

characterized by a few potshedrs of the Ochre Coloured Ware, showing affinities

with the similar ware reported from other sites in the upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab.

There is no visible difference in the natural soil and the Ochre Coloured Pottery

strata except that the latter has yielded some potsherds. AtKaseri, sherds do not

provide any particular shape, except for a type of jar with slightly splayed out or

beaded rims (Dikshit 1979:288).

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Jakhera

The Jakhera site, locally known as ‘Kusak’, is situated on the left bank of

river Kalinadi in district Etah of U.P. It is about 16 km. upstream as the crow flies

from Atranjikhera.

Shri M.D.N. Sahi undertook excavation at Jakhera in the year 1985-86. Six

trenches measuring 10x10m.eachwere laid out. Two trenches were laid out on JKH-I

and four on JKH-II (IAR 1985-86:80).

The occurrence of Ochre Coloured Pottery in the lowest levels, characterised

by the hard yellowish calcareous alluvium of both the mounds was the significant

discovery. In the upper levels of the same deposit the OCP was found mixed with

tiny bits of black and red ware and black slipped ware. The pottery reported from

Jakhera was very small in number and size. It appears as the report states, that the

actual habitational deposit belonging to the OCP culture might be there in close

proximity. Common shapes include vase, jars, bowls and basins.

Daulatpur

Daulatpur (Lat. 29 58 N, Long. 76 58 E) is situated in Bulandshahr district of

U.P.Shri R.C. Gaur undertook the excavation at this place in the year 1984-85 (IAR

1984-85:86).

Here five trenches were laid out in a series from east to west with atotal

length of 50m. Two trenches from north to south has a total length of 20 m. and these

trenches were laid out in L-shapes. The Ochre Coloured Pottery was revealed here.

Gaur opines that this was a camp/temporary settlement. According to excavator, the

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OCP people came to settle temporarily at this place during the rainy seasons to save

themselves from the flood-fury. From northern site no complete pots and good

antiquities were found.

The important finds included sherds of bowls, dishes, basin, vase, jars,

troughs, dish-on-stand, lids including those with knobs, spouts and handles.

Here the spouts, handles, vases and lids are similar to those found at LalQila.

The noteworthy finds are cylindrical troughs on stand having tapering sides. The

pottery of Daulatpur like LalQila, Atranjikhera and Saipai is also devoid of Harappan

influence. Some evidence of successive floors with pot- holes, plaster-pieces

indicates that this site had been a camping ground for quite a long period. The post-

holes indicates that the houses were generally rectangular in shape but some times

semi-circular also. Three floors were traced, (i) one just below the humus (ii) the

other sealed by layer and, (iii) and third one sealed by layer. The brickbats and

plaster-pieces were also found from lower levels. The pottery of Daulatpur are

wheel-made. Among the antiquities, this site revealed stone-balls, weight, querns,

pestles and terracotta balls, beads and wheels.

Pariar

Pariar is situated in Unnao district of U.P.The excavation at Pariar, was

jointlydirected by B.B. Lal and K.N. Dikshit, in the year 1978-79.

The main objective of this excavation was to ascertain the antiquity of the

site. At Pariar there were five trenches (PRR-I to PRR-V) laid out at different places

of the mound. In total, 60 cm. thick deposit was excavated. This deposit yielded

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Ochre Coloured Pottery, black slipped and black and red ware sherds. All these

sherds got washed down to this sandy deposit from some nearby habitation. Some

small fragments of sherds and a sizeable fragment of a jar with horizontally splayed

out rim is also found from the O.C.P. levels (IAR 1978-79:61-62).

Sringaverapura

Sringaverapura is situated, 36 km. upstream of Allahabad on the bank of river

Ganga, in U.P. it is located on the Allahabad-Unnao state highway, approachable

through village Bhagwatipur (near Mansoorabad) by a distance of about 3 km. from

the highway. This is an ancient site sprawling roughly north-south along the left

bank of the river. It lies in the revenue-limits of Singrur village.

This site was jointly excavated by B.B. Lal and K.N. Dikshit in the year

1978-79. This work was taken under the National Project titled ‘Archaeology of the

Ramayana Site’.

The objective of the excavation of this site was to ascertain the existence of

an independent horizon of the red ware industry found in the earliest levels

discovered in the excavation (Lal and Dikshit, 1979:1-4)

A combined cross-section of the mound exposed a sequence of cultures

starting from about the end of the second millennium B.C. up to the early medieval

times. Period-I (circs 1550 to 1000 B.C.) was represented by a yellowish clay

(Labelled layer 19E) which yielded the separate horizon of the red ware industry.

Hence, the ware may be broadly classified into two categories. The first

category of the pottery was made of well-levigated clay and it was nicely potted and

well-fired; and in the second, ware having a coarser texture, somewhat indifferently

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potted and also insufficiently fired. The important pottery find at this site

wasrepresented by jars, bowls, shallow-basins and vases. Some of the fragments are

suggestive of types of the dish-on-stand (?) and bowl or basin. At the site, a few

specimens of lid are also found. While this remains to be seen as to how far it

compares with the Ochre Coloured Ware. It seems to have no typological connection

with the red ware reported from Kakoria in this region. Among the other antiquities

recovered from the site were pottery dishes, with or without a central perforation and

a small fragment of a flake of carnelian.

According to Prof. B.B. Lal and K.N. Dikshit, “one of the major

contributions of the excavation at Sringaverapura is identification in the Mid-Ganga

Valley of a red ware industry which, for all one can say at the moment, is associated

not with any thing eastern but probably with Ochre Colour Ware of the western

Ganga Valley. This would suggest the penetration of the OCW Culture, much further

to the east than it was hitherto known, for example from Saipai in Etawah district.

Though the method of thermoluminescence dating is still in its infancy, the available

dates for the Sringaverapura specimens suggest that the OCP continued in the Mid-

Gnga valley upto the end of the second millennium B.C. This agrees fairly well with

the TL dates for the OCP culture in the western region, for example for sites like

Atranjikhera, Jhinjhana and Nasirpur, etc. which indicate a time-range around 1500

B.C. At Sringaverapur one meets the fag-end of the OCW Culture. However, since at

this site there seems to be the break of occupation after the OCW Culture, one does

not yet know if and in what manner this culture contributed to the subsequent

cultures of the region” (Lal and Dikshit 1979:1-4).

152

Kausambi

Kausambi (Lat. 25 20 N, Long. 81 23 E) is situated on the bank of river

Yamuna, about thirty miles away from Allahabad in U.P.

This site was discovered by Sir Alexander Cunningham in the year 1892. A

small copper celt with narrow cutting edge and tapering, butt-end measuring 12.5

cm. in length, 0.56cm. in width near the tip and 2.26cm. at the base, was discovered

at Kausambi. It is lodged in the British Museum, London (Smith 1905:232).

G.B. Sharma undertook excavation at Kausambi in the year 1957-58 (Sharma

1960). This site yielded an early mixed pottery assemblage from a one metre thick

deposit (Pre-P.G.W. horizon of Period-I). This was broadly divided into three

groups: (i) Group IA was represented by a wheel-madesturdy red ware of well

levigated clay; (ii) Group IB was an equally sturdy grey to buff ware with black slip

on smooth surface which is occasionally painted too; (iii) This Group was a course

black and black-and-red ware, often painted in white on black slipped surface. It was

with the sturdy red ware of the first group IA that the shapeless pieces of the Ochre

Coloured Pottery were noticed by the excavator.

Period-I was represented by three pottery shapes viz. dish-on-stand basin

with externally clubbed rim, and basin with an out turned rounded rim. These pottery

shapes are comparable with the shapes present at Atranjikhera.

153

Mudarpur

Village Madarpur is located in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

Excavation at Madarpur (78° 48'N and 29° 12' 38"E) was conducted by the Agra

Circle of the Survey, under the direction of D.V. Sharma, assisted by Arakhita

Pradhan, V.N. Prabhakar, Atul Bhargava, Chiranji Lai, and Y.P. Agrawal (IAR

2000-01:128-139) after the discovery of 31 copper anthropomorphic figures from

this site. The excavation conduced, was mainly concentrated in the area near find

spot measuring 20 m. x 20 m. The trenches ZA6 Qd 2, ZE2 Qd 2, A6 Qd 4, and A

Qd 1 were laid within a radius of 120 m. from the find spot towards south-east, east

and north-east direction and some trenches were dug at highest point of the site to

know the total cultural deposit and sequence here.

The excavation revealed a single culture OCP and total deposit was 48 cm. A

sterile soil deposit of more than 1.8 m. thick was found over the habitational deposit.

This was because of heavy floods in the region. Same situation was also noticed at

other OCP sites.

The ceramic industry at Madarpur mainly comprised of OCP and its

associated coarse red ware. The pottery is wheel turned and made of well-levigated

clay, fine fabric and smooth core. The pottery was fired adequately. Some sherds

were found decorated with incised geometrical designs in criss-cross pattern and

oblique lines on the exterior. The associated coarse red ware of OCP is sturdy having

coarse fabric and medium-to-thick core. Sand was also used and found mixed with

clay for preparation of this pottery. Hord impressed designs are visible on the

154

exterior portion of the pottery. Appliqué knobbed-lid were also found. The OCP

common shapes include dish, bowl, basin, handi, vase, storage-jar, miniature pot,

lota, lid, bowl with ring-base and dish-on-stand. Some sherds akin to

Harappanpottery such as goblet and perforated. Most of the vases have flared rims

and S-shaped neck, bowls with featureless rim, carinated body, convex sides. Among

the coarse red ware vase, dish bowls handi and jars are common.

In total, 45 antiquities were recovered during the excavations, which

includes, terracotta toycart-wheels, toycart-frame of various sizes were sizes and

sling balls. All these are made of a well levigated clay, well fired, having smooth

surface and fine texture. There were total thirty-seven stone objects of different

shapes and sizes found during excavation. Out of these twenty-seven are broken

fragments of pestles and rest are also probably different parts of grinders and pestles.

The used portion of pestles, in some cases, has become very smooth and properly

grounded. These stone objects are of grey and white colours and made of granite and

quartzite. On a bowl and goblet some letters of Harappan script were found.

155

Table 4.1 List of OCP and Copper Hoard sites in Upper Ganga Valley

S.No Site District Lat. Long. Cultural

Sequence Reference

1 Adinga Mathura 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, PGW,

Hist

IAR 1982-

83: 99

2 Aghiana Saharanpur 77.28333 29.90000 OCP

Joshi et al.

1984: 522,

IAR 1965-

65: 54

3 Ahar Bulandshahr 78.25000 28.41667 OCP IAR 1970-

71:

4 Ahichchhatra Bareilly 79.11667 28.36667 OCP, PGW,

Hist

IAR 1964-

65: 39-42

5 Akrabas Bulandshahr 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, Hist,

Med

IAR 1970-

71:

6 Alipura Saharanpur 0.00000 0.00000 OCP IAR 1967-68

7 Alipura Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000 OCP Srivastava

1982: 54-5

8 Ambkheri Saharanpur 77.76667 29.73333 OCP

ＩＡＲ

1963-64: 56,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

9 Angaikhera Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

A. Ghosh

1989a: 20

156

10 AnwarpurBa

roli Saharanpur 77.66667 30.13333 OCP, Hist

IAR 1964-

65: 44,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

11 Asanwali Saharanpur 77.60000 30.03333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

12 Atranjikhera Etah 78.73333 27.70000 OCP, Hist,

Med

13 BadalKaithw

ada Meerut 0.00000 0.00000 OCP

IAR 1978-

79: 24

14 Badhaikalan Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, Hist,

Med

Srivastava

1982: 57-8

15 Bahadrabad Saharanpur 78.05000 29.93333

OCP &

Copper

Hoard

Y. D. Sharma

1971-72: 39-

42,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

16 Baharia Saharanpur 79.53333 27.50000

OCP &

Copper

Hoard

IAR 1966-

67: 43-4,

G. R. Sharma

157

1971-72: 42-

3,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

17 Baherakhurd Saharanpur 77.66667 30.05000 LH, OCP

IAR 1967-

68:,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

18 Bahupura Saharanpur 77.50000 30.00000 LH, OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 43,

Dikshit

1982a: 114,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

19 Bakaraka

Mound Saharanpur 77.45000 30.00000 OCP, PGW

IAR 1963-

64: ,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

20 Balua Varanasi 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

Dikshit 1968:

50,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

21 BantiKhera Muzaffarnagar 77.43333 29.50000 LH, OCP Dikshit 1981

158

One

: 72,

Joshi et al.

1984: 523

22 BantiKhera

Two Muzaffarnagar 77.45833 29.50000 LH, OCP

Dikshit 1981:

72,

Joshi et al.

1984: 523

23 Baundki Saharanpur 77.61667 30.06667 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

24 Bazidpur Saharanpur 77.60000 30.05000 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

25 Bhatpura Bulandshahr 78.05000 28.53333 LH, OCP

IAR 1960-

61: 66,

Joshi et al.

1984: 523

26 Bhedki Saharanpur 77.60000 29.95000 LH, OCP

IAR 1967-68,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

27 Bholni Saharanpur 77.68333 30.11667 OCP IAR 1964-

65: 44,

159

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

28 Bithur Kanpur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

V. Smith

1905: 232,

B. B. Lal

1951: 24,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

29 BudhaKhera

Ahir Saharanpur 77.70000 29.96667 OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 44,

Joshi et al.

1984: 522

30 Chandan Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000 OCP Srivastava

1982: 133-5

31 Chandausi Moradabad 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

IAR 1966-

67: 81,

K. N. Dikshit

1968: 50,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

32 Chhajpura Saharanpur 77.61667 29.98333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

160

33 ChhaparHeri Saharanpur 77.50000 29.90000 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

34 Chilhera Saharanpur 77.65000 30.03333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Dikshit

1982a: 114,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

35 ChunehtiShe

kh Saharanpur 77.71667 29.90000 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

36 Daudpur Saharanpur 77.60000 30.08333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

37 Daulatpur Bulandshahr 78.18333 28.23333 LH, OCP IAR 1984-

85: 86-8

161

38 Deoti Lucknow 0.00000 0.00000

OCP &

Copper

Hoard

B. B. Lal

1951: 29,

IAR 1978-

79: 101

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

39 Dhaka Shahjahanpur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

B. B. Lal

1951: 27-8,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

40 Dungar Muzaffarnagar 77.36667 29.25000 LH, OCP IAR 1986-

87: 80

41 Fatehgarh Farrukhabad 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

Anderson

1883: 405-

08,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

42 Fatehpur Muzaffarnagar 77.38056 29.46250 PGW, LH,

OCP

Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

43 FatehpurJat Saharanpur 77.51667 29.93333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

44 Fatehpur, Saharanpur 77.53333 29.88333 LH, OCP IAR 1966-

162

Saharanpur 67: 43,

Dikshit

1982a: 115

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

522

45 Gandhauli Sitapur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

IAR 1956-

57: 74,

IAR 1969-

70: 38,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

46 Ghana

Khandi Saharanpur 77.60000 30.06667 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

523

47 Gulariya Budaun 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, LH,

OCP

IAR 1978-

79: 21

48 Hardi Sitapur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

B. B. Lal

1951: 27,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

49 Hastinapura Meerut 78.05000 29.15000 OCP, PGW, Lal 1954-55:

163

Hist, Med 5-151,

Joshi et al.

1984: 523

50 HussainpurB

opada Muzaffarnagar 77.70556 29.35278 OCP, Hist

Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

51 Huzur Nagar Muzaffarnagar 77.66667 29.31667 OCP, Hist Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

52 Indilapur Saharanpur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

B. B. Lal

1951: 29,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

53 Jainer Saharanpur 77.71667 30.03333 LH, OCP Joshi et al.

1984: 523

54 Jainpur Saharanpur 0.00000 0.00000 OCP IAR 1964-

65: 44

55 Jakhera Etah 78.68333 27.85000 OCP, PGW,

Hist

S. B. Singh

1976: 8-9,

IAR 1985-

86: 79-81,

Sahi 1990:

217

56 Jaula Muzaffarnagar 77.41667 29.27917 LH, OCP,

PGW

Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

57 Jhal Muzaffarnagar 77.34722 29.27083 LH, OCP,

PGW, Hist

Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

164

58 Jhinjhana Muzaffarnagar 77.25000 29.50000 OCP, PGW Joshi et al.

1984: 523

59 Kabirpur Saharanpur 77.63333 30.08333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 523

60 Kailaspur Saharanpur 77.65000 29.98333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 521,

523

61 Kamalapur Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000

OCP &

Copper

Hoard

IAR 1978-

79: 101

62 Kamalapur,

Hardoi Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000

Copper

Hoard

Shastri 1915:

4,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

63 Kannauj Farrukhabad 0.00000 0.00000 OCP IAR 1978-

79: 101

64 KaulHeri Saharanpur 77.28333 29.88333 LH, OCP Joshi et al.

1984: 523

65 Kauriaganj Aligarh 0.00000 0.00000 OCP IAR 1965-

66: 84

66 Kausambi Allahabad 0.00000 0.00000 Copper V. Smith

165

Hoard 1905: 232,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

67 Khanjahanpu

r Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000

OCP, PGW,

Med

Srivastava

1982: 70-3

68 Khatauli Saharanpur 77.66667 30.00000 OCP, LH,

OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 44,

IAR 1966-

67: 43,

Joshi et al.

1984: 523

69 KhedaJat Saharanpur 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, LH,

OCP

IAR 1984-

85: 92

70 Kiratapur Bulandshahr 78.25000 28.52778 Copper

Hoard

IAR 1969-

70: 38,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 34-5

71 Kolkikalan Saharanpur 0.00000 0.00000 LH, OCP

Pande&

Ramachandra

n 1971: 39

72 Kridhni Saharanpur 77.50000 29.91667 OCP, LH

IAR1966-67:

43,Dikshit

1982a: 114,

Joshi et al.

1984:

166

521,523

73 Kudana Muzaffarnagar 77.37222 29.42917 LH, OCP,

PGW

Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

74 Kulheri Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, PGW,

Hist, Med

O.P.

Srivastava

1982: 66-70

75 Ladava Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, PGW Srivastava

1982: 104-07

76 Lakhmanti

Kalan Saharanpur 77.63333 30.05000 OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

77 LalQila Bulandshahr 78.25000 28.50000 OCP

IAR 1971-

72: 45-6,

Joshi et al.

1984: 523,

Gaur 1989,

Gaur 1995

78 Madanapur Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

V.N. Misra

1976,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

79 Mahmoodpur Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, Med Srivastava

1982: 75-8

80 Majhadpur Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000 Copper B.B. Lal

167

Hoard 1951: 29,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

81 Mandla Saharanpur 77.65000 30.06667 OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

82 Mandowala Saharanpur 77.75000 30.08333 OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 44, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

83 Mathura Mathura 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

84 MatkiJhrauli Saharanpur 77.58333 30.06667 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

521,523

85 Mohiuddinpu

r Saharanpur 77.63333 30.00000 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

521,523

86 Mujahidpur Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000

OCP &

Copper

Hoard

IAR 1978-

79: 101

87 Mulaheri Muzaffarnagar 77.66944 29.38750 LH, OCP Gaur and Lal

168

One 1992: 378

88 Mulaheri


Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

89

Nakarahiya Sitapur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

K.N.

Dikshit1968:

50,

MakkhanLal

1884a: 36-7

90 Nala Muzaffarnagar 77.27778 29.28889 LH, OCP Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

91 Nasirpur,

Saharanpur Saharanpur 0.00000 0.00000

Copper

Hoard

K.N. Dikshit

1968: 47,

MakkhanLal

1884a: 36-7

92 Niorai Etah 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

Anderson

1883: 396,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

93 Nirpalpur Saharanpur 77.48333 30.01667 LH, OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 44, K.N.

Dishit 1982a:

115, Joshi et

al. 1984: 523

94 Pajrana Saharanpur 77.66667 30.16667 OCP IAR 1964-

65: 44, Joshi

169

95 Pariar Unnao 80.33333 26.58333 OCP, PGW,

Hist, Med

Fuhrer 1891,

V. Smith

1907: 53,

IAR 1953-

54: 53, IAR

1978-79: 60-

1, B.B.

LalandDikshi

t 1982,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

96 Piki Saharanpur 77.60000 30.03333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

521,523

97 Pinjaura Saharanpur 77.55000 29.93333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

521,523

98 Pipalsa Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, Hist Srivastava

1982: 83-6

99

PurBalian


Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

170

et al. 1984:

523

100 Rafiabbad Budaun 0.00000 0.00000 OCP IAR 1978-

79: 22

101 Rajdhana Saharanpur 77.46667 30.00000 OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 44, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

102

ReriMalakpu

r Saharanpur 77.48333 29.91667 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

521,523

103 Sadabad Mathura 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

Srivastava

1973: 41,

MakkhanLal

36-7

104 Saipai Etah 78.96667 26.45000

OCP &

Copper

Hoard

IAR 1970-

71: 38, IAR

1971-72: 46-

7, Wahal

1971-72: 12-

3,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

171

105 Saket Colony Meerut 0.00000 0.00000 OCP IAR 1981-

82: 103

106 SalepurBhok

ri Saharanpur 77.58333 30.03333 PGW, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

107 Sarkari

Kumar Saharanpur 77.55000 30.03333 OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

524

108 SarkariSheik

h Saharanpur 77.60000 30.00000 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

521,524

109 Sarthauli Shahjahanpur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

Joshi et al.

1984: 524,

B.B. Lal

1951: 28-9,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

110 SaruppurTag

a Saharanpur 77.30000 29.93333 OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 54, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

111 Shahabad Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, IAR 1966-

172

Copper

hoards,

PGW, Hist

67: 81, IAR

1965-66,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

112 Shamli-

Shamla Muzaffarnagar 0.00000 0.00000

LH, OCP,

PGW

Gaur and Lal

1992: 378

113 Sheorajpur Kanpur 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

B.B. Lal

1951: 29,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 36-7

114 Sherpur Saharanpur 77.65000 29.88333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

67: 43, Joshi

et al. 1984:

521,523

115 Shikarpur Muzaffarnagar 77.65000 29.38333 OCP IAR 1986-

87: 80

116 Shikarpur-

One Muzaffarnagar 77.49444 29.42778 LH, OCP

Gaur and Lal

1992: 379

117 Shukartal Saharanpur 77.28333 29.91667 OCP

IAR 1965-

66: 54, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

118 Sikri,

Saharanpur Saharanpur 77.63333 29.88333 OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 44, Joshi

et al. 1984:

173

523

119 SingauliTaga Meerut 77.38333 28.91667 LH, OCP K.N. Dikshit

1982a: 115

120 SirsaTher Budaun 0.00000 0.00000 OCP, PGW,

Hist, Med

IAR 1978-

79: 22

121 Tahirpur Saharanpur 77.53333 29.91667 PGW, OCP

IAR 1964-

65: 44, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

122 Tauli Saharanpur 77.45000 29.93333 OCP

IAR 1965-

66: 54, Joshi

et al. 1984:

523

123 Toda Muzaffarnagar 77.53333 29.28333 OCP, PGW,

Hist

Gaur and Lal

1992: 379

124 Unknown Hardoi 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

Mohapatra

1964: 45-7,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 40-1

125 Unknown Etah 0.00000 0.00000 Copper

Hoard

Mohapatra

1964: 45-7,

MakkhanLal

1984a: 40-1

174

Copper hoard tools have a significance position in Indian archaeology in

general and Upper Ganga plains in particular. Copper Hoards tools were reported

from a number of states viz. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajsathan, Madhya Prades,

Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. As most of these objects were recovered in hoards,

hence,theses are called as “Copper Hoard Tools”. The tools recovered from time to

time consist of flat and bar celts, parashu, rings, anthropomorphic figure, harpoon,

antennae sword, hooked spearhead etc. MakkhanLal has divided the entire area

associated with Copper Hoards in three different zones (MakkhanLal 1981:66) viz,

Zone A: Include West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. The tools of this area

includes flat bar and shouldredcelts and double axes.

Zone B: Haryana and Uttar Pradesh falls in this zone and commen tool types

are anthropomorphs, antennae swords, hooked swords, harppon, shoulderedcelts and

bar celts.

Zone C: Rajasthan alone falls in this zone and has yielded flat and bar celts.

Common tool types of the study area discussed below:

Celts

They are of three types such as flat, shouldered and bar. They have generally

a flat or slightly concave ventral side and a convex dorsal side. The flat and

shouldered celts were probably used for cutting trees. Some flat celts had bull

figurines engraved and weigh about 2kg. D.P. Agrawal (1971: 198) examined few

175

specimens and thinks that the bar celts were possibly used for mining or digging hard

surface as their sturdiness and use marks suggest. Lal (1951) found typological

similiarity between stone bar celts and the copper ones particularly in eastern region.

He, therefore, thought that the copper bar celts were derived from the stone ones. It

may, however, be pointed out that the sites yielding stone specimens have not

yielded any copper hoard artefacts, e.g. Sitabhanji, Ban Ashuria, SanthalParganas,

Jashpur, Thakurani. The shouldered stone-celt and bar-celt of the Eastern and South-

East Asian stone tool complexs may not even be very old (Dhani, 1960: 146, 152),

which makes Lal’s view untenable.

Harpoons

The harpoons are like mid-ribbed spearheads with oblique or backward

curving barbs (length ranges from 17 to 44 cm. and their weight ranges from 200 to

1000 gm.). They are of two types: one, which is cut from a thick sheet and

hammered and the other, cast in double mould. In fact, the first type looks very crude

compared to the second. The cast variety demonstrates skill of their smithy and

craftsmanship and it seems that they knew closed casting. It has been found in

association with OCP at Sapai, Etwah in the doab and at Mitathal with late Harappan

material. They might have been used for killing big animals or fish as similar

weapons have been found depicted in a rock shelter at Sohagiahat in Mirpur.

176

Swords

Like Harpoons, there are two varieties of swords (length ranges between 40

and 77 cm.). one is called the antennae sword and the other is hooked sword. The

antennae hilted swords are called so because they have antennae like bifurcations at

the hilt-end and are mostly found from the doab zone. D.P. Agrawal (1971: 199)

thinks that the antennae swords could have been used for killing or wounding big

game by trapping and writes that they are cast with the antennae as one piece and

have long blades with a short hilt, sharp median ridge and their length varies between

42 and 75 cm. The hooked sword have also been reported from the Harappan sites,

e.g. Mohenjodaro, where a hole is used for hafting unlike a hook of doab examples.

The Navdatoli specimens, however, do not have a barb and the median ridge is quite

diffused compared to the Copper Hoard examples. The hooked sword has been found

associated with the other diagnosis types, e.g. the anthropomorphic figure, the

antennae sword and the harpoon at Sathauli, Bahadarabad, Fatehgarh and Niorai.

Rings

Rings associated with the Copper Hoard have been reported from Bhagrapir

(Orissa). As many as 47 rings were discovered from Pondy. Various Harappan as

well as Chalcolithic sites in India have also yielded rings but it is often difficult to

differentiate rings from bracelets. D.P. Agrawal (1971: 199) suggests that the only

criterion for the ring characterizing the Copper Hoards could be their standard

weight. They could be convenient units of metal-weight for the intinerant smiths to

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carry. The number of such rings expended in making a tool would be a useful

measure to determine the barter.

Axes

The double axes were made by cutting away almost circular pieces from the

sides of an oval sheet. Most of the axes have been reported from Parihati, Bhagrapir

and other sites from Orissa and Bengal. These doubles axes, however, are not

associated with any Copper Hoard types. Though typologically similar artefacts were

found from the Harappan sites like Lothal and from a Neolothic site at Hallur but

they cannot be compared (Agrawal, 1971:201). Such specimens are also common at

Chalcolithic sites. The only disnctive type in the eastern group is the bar-celt, which

is generally absent from the doab.

Anthropomographic figure

The most distinctive and enigmatic type is theanthropomographic figure or

anthropomograph. In most of the cases the head portion of this human like figure is

thickened by hammering from the top, hind limbs are plain and arms are generally

incurved and sharpened externally. They appear to have been cut from a plain sheet.

Since these heavy artefacts look like human figures, they are often identified as

ritualistic objects. Their length varies from 23 to 30 cm. and breadth is between 30

and 43 cm. Their average weight is 5kg. Recently a hoard of such

anthropomographic figures has been discovered at Madarpur in Moradabad district

of U.P. They have been hammered and chiselled on either side and the sides are

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thickened. They are on display at the National Museum at Delhi and it has been

claimed that they were found associated with the OCP. In one case, one of the arm

curved upward, which appears to be an interesting feature.

An oblong copper object from the Harappan level of Lothal with a convex

end and two broken side-legs is included by some in the anthropomograph category.

It is plain section and does not have hammered head like the doab ones. In fact, in

the entire Harappan repertoire, this is the only object, which compares with the

Copper Hoards.

It is clear from the above given details that OCP pottery spreads over a vast

area of the Upper Ganga plain. Authors of the so-called OCP cultures lived a simple

life. They lived in simple huts and mud houses. Kiln baked bricks’ fragments have

been reported from AtrinjakhreaKhera and LalQuila but so far no complete brick or

structure has been unearthed from the excavated site. No complete house plan is

been reported from any site, it appears that peoples of this culture live in the housed

mad of wattle and daub and the roof were thatched as is indicated by occurrence of

brunt plaster and mud clots with reed impression and bamboo impressions.

So far as no compressive study of floral and faunal remains is available

which throw ling on the food economy of the OCP peoples. The only evidences

come from Atranjikhera (Chowdhury et al 1977:60). The evidences suggest that

OCP peoples cultivated rice, barley, gram and khaseri. In absence of faunal studies it

is difficult to say about the role of animals in there economy in general and

subsistence pattern particularly. However, consdrining that in the western part of

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study area OCP sites shows influence of Late Harappans, particularly in ceramics,

we can say that probably the Late Harappan economy must influenced them.

OCP pottery includes large trough, bowl like lids, lid with central knob, dish-

on-stand, vases with undercut and flaring rims, ring stand, miniature cup etc. Most of

the pottery is unslipped and not painted but at Atranjikhera and LalQuila some

painted sherds were found, paintings are executed in black over a fine red slipped

surface. Pottery from Atranjikhera, LalQuila and Manpur was found decorated with

incised motifs. Which includes simple notiches, wavy or straight parallel lines, ‘V’

shaped pattern, a row of oblique strokes, zig-zag parallel dashes or straight lines.

This type of incise decoration is akin to the Bara pottery of Punjab and Haryana.

Some shapes of the OCP pottery area are identical to the Late Harappan pottery of

Ghaggar plains.

Regarding the associated find with OCP pottery, copper hoard tools have

been recovered fromSaipai. At Ambkheri some terracotta figurines of humped bull,

toy cart frame and terracotta cakes have been found in excavations. Saipai has

yielded querns, mullers, pallets, chert blades etc. No other artefact has been reported

from excavated sites.

As discussed above OCP people lived a simple life and most of themwere

engaged in agro-pastoral activities as no exotic object has been recovered which can

suggest there long distance trade. This question is still unsolved that from where

these people come from or whether these of were the original inhabitants of the

Upper Ganga Plain. Some copper tools have been reported from Ghaggar basin.

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These tools are typological by similar to the Copper Hoard tools reported from the

area under present study. These tools are generally associated with Ochre Colour

Pottery. In the Ghaggar basin, Mitathal, Bhiwani, and Narnaund had yielded the

typical copper hoard tools such as harpoons, celts and rings. This area was occupied

by the Late Harappans in the second millennium BCE. At Mitathal a broken harpoon

was recovered from the statgraphic context (SurajBhan 1971:2).Even the OCP type

pottery reported from Ganga-Yamuna doab has a lot of similarity with the Late

Harappan pottery of Mitathal-IIB and Bara Culture. The occurrence of the Copper

Hoards and typological similarities in the OCP and Late Harappan pottery of

Ghaggar basin indicate that the OCP of Ganga-Yamuna doab has its antecedents in

the Late Harappan pottery of the Ghaggar basin and later it transformed as an

independent culture.

During the course of exploration a number of OCP sites explored and good

numbers of pottery was collected from the surface out of the 45 are included in the

present study. So far as not even a single colour photograpgs of OCP is available. So

I took close-up photographs so that scholar can class visual them. Illustrated

specimens are discussed below:

Pl. 4.1 Pottery from AsahrafpurKharkari

1. Stem of a dish-on-stand, ochre in colour.

2. Body sherd of a jar, ochre in colour.

3. Body sherd of a vase, ochre in colour.

4. Fragment of a bowl, featureless rim, hemi-spherical profile, ochre in colour.

5. Shoulder fragment of a vase, ochre in colour.

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6. Rim sherd of a jar, having under-cut profile, buff in colour.


Pl. 4.2 Pottery from Bedh Kheri-1

1. Large jar having a beaked rim. There is a sharp ledge on the internal surface

of the rim.

2. Dish sherd of a dish-on-stand having a flaring neck with an overturned rim.

There is a ledge on the internal surface.

3. Dish of a dish-on-stand consists of a deep dish with a flaring neck with a

projecting rim.

4. Lower half of a vase with ovoid body and a concave low disc base.


Pl. 4.3 Pottery from Dhikana

1. Fragments of a vase with tall neck and a globular body.

2. Vase having a globular body and a gently out-curved neck with a beaked rim.

3. Stand sherd of a dish-on-stand having an angular rim.

Pl. 4.4 Pottery from Jhinjhana-1

1. Vase with, an out-curved neck, a roundly projecting rim and a globular body.

2. Fragment of a vase, tall-neck having an out-curved neck with a drooping rim.

3. Vase having an out-curved neck with a undercut rim.

4. Jar having a beaked rim. The external surface is dull orange.

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5. Vase having an out-curved neck with a undercut rim.

6. Body and base sherd of a pedetalled vase having a globular body and a low

pedestal with a roundly thickened rim.


1. Bowl having a shallow body with a sharp carination and an out-curved neck

with a projecting rim.

2. Bowl having a shallow body with a sharp carination and an out-curved neck

with a projecting rim.

3. Jar having a globular body, the external surface of the lower part of the body

is applied with slurry which is shallowly grooved.

Pl. 4.6 Pottery from Mansura

1. Bowl having a shallow body and an out-curved neck with an angularly

projecting rim and a ledge on the internal side.

2. Short-necked vase having an out-curved neck with a beaked rim.

3. Short-necked vase having an out-curved neck with a slightly projecting rim.

4. Fragment of hemi-spherical bowl, with angular feature less rim.

5. Fragment of hemi-spherical bowl, with angular feature less rim.

6. Ring base of jar, looting is visible in section.

7. A deep bowl, with ring base.

8. Fragment of a jar, treated with red slip.

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Pl. 4.7 Pottery from Makandpur

1. Dish of a dish-on-stand having a shallow body and an out-curved neck with a

simple rim.

2. Dish sherd of a dish-on-stand having a shallow body and an out-curved neck

with a simple rim and a ledge on the internal side.

Pl. 4.8 Pottery from Shbga


is applied with slurry which is shallowly wavy grooved.

2. Fragment of a straight side bowl, with flat base.

3. Rim sher of a vase, having under-cut rim.

4. Fragment of a bowl, circular rim.

Pl. 4.9 Pottery from Todi


is applied with slurry which is shallowly grooved.


is applied with slurry which is shallowly wavy grooved.

3. Fragment of a dish of a dish on stand, very sturdy and thick section.


1. Pedestal sherd of a dish-on-stand having an out-curved rim.

2. Stand sherd of a dish-on-stand having an angular rim.

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3. Vase having a gently out-curved neck with a under-cut rim.

4. Jar having a beaked rim.

5. Body sherd, of a vase, having a disc base.

Pl. 4.11 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe

An axe with roughly trapezoidal in plan and slightly concave sides, sharp

cutting edge, butt end flattened, this axe have thin section, very smooth surface,

good state of preservation from Hastinapur.

Pl. 4.12 Copper Hoard tool: Flat celt

An axe with roughly trapezoidal in plan and straight sides, cutting edge is

chipped, butt end flattened, this axe have thin section, very smooth surface, good

state of preservation From Todi.


An axe with roughly trapezoidal in plan and straight sides, butt end flattened,

this axe have thin section, very smooth surface, good state of preservation; From

Todi.

Pl. 4.14 Copper Hoard tool: Flat celt

A Bar celt long tapering sides, having rectangular section, cutting edge is

slightly broken, it is in good state of preservation. In the back end there is a shaft

probably to fix with wooden handle from Sanauli.

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An axe with roughly trapezoidal in plan and slightly concave sides, sharp

cutting edge, butt end flattened, this axe have thin section, very smooth surface,

good state of preservation; from Hastinapur.

Pl. 4.16 Copper Hoard tool: Bar celt

A Bar celt long tapering sides, having rectangular section, cutting edge is slightly

broken, it is in good state of preservation; from Ahichchhatra.

Pl. 4.17 Copper Hoard tool: Bar celt

A Bar celt long tapering sides, having rectangular section, cutting edge is slightly

broken, it is in good state of preservation; from Saipai.

Pl. 4.18 Copper Hoard tool: Harpoon

A harpoon consist number of barbs on the both the sides. There are two turned

hooks near the butt, on both the sides, surface is badly corroded and spalted, some of

the barbs are bent or broke. It is having a mid rib, from Ahichchhatra.

Pl. 4.19 Copper Hoard tool: Harpoon

A copper harpoon, with mid-rib, barbs are circular in section but broken it is in good

state of preservation but broken; from Ahichachhatra.

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Pl 4.20 Copper Hoard tool: Spear head

A copper spear head, in good state of preservationfrom Sanauli

Pl. 4.21 and Pl. 3.22 Copper Hoard tool: Anthropomorphic figurine

A copper Anthropomorphic figurine in good stage of preservation from Hastinapur.

Pl. 4.1 Pottery from AshrafpurKharkari

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Pl. 4.2 Pottery from Bedh Kheri-1

Pl. 4.3 Pottery from Dhikana

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Pl. 4.6 Pottery from Mansura

Pl. 4.7 Pottery from Makandpur

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Pl. 4.8 Pottery from Shbga


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Pl. 4.11 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe from Hastinapur

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Pl. 4.12 Copper Hoard tool: Flat celt from Todi

Pl. 4.13 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe from Todi

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Pl. 4.14 Copper Hoard tool: Flat celt from Sanauli

Pl. 4.15 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe from Hastinapur

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Pl. 4.16 Copper Hoard tool: Bar celt from Ahichchhatra

Pl. 4.17 Copper Hoard tool: Bar celt from Saipai

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Pl. 4.18 Copper Hoard tool: Harpoon from Ahichchhatra

Pl. 4.19 Copper Hoard tool: Harpoon from Ahichchhatra

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Pl. 4.20 Copper Hoard tool: Spear head from Sanauli

Pl. 4.21 Copper Hoard tool: Anthropomorphic figurine (Obverse) from

Hastinapur

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Pl. 4.22 Copper Hoard tool: Anthropomorphic figurine (Reverse) from

Hastinapur

Figure 4.6: OCP Pottery

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