The present Book is a comprehensive report of the excavations conducted at a Chalcolithic site of Mahidpur (Dist. Ujjain, M.P.). The mound is locally known as Bhasmatekari; and is situated on the Bank of Shipra river. The excavations have yielded the evidence of one of the earliest chalcolithic culture of Malwa. The antiquities collected from excavations have been analysed scientifically into eight Chapters added with a note on the Faunal remains collected from excavations.
Chapter 1st is an introduction of the site and, in brief, the Cultural sequence as revealed by the excavations. The Second chapter is a brief survey of geographical and historical backgrounds of the region.
The Third chapter is devoted on the strata and the structures identified during the period of excavations at the site. It gives an idea of the Settlement Pattern and the types of house they used to build.
Chapter Four is more comprehensive as it deals with the various types of pattern and the Ceramic industries. The major types of Ceramics discussed in this Context are the Red-pottery, with Painting done by the white-pigments, Black-and-Red ware (painted and plain), Red-slipped ware, Lustrous red-ware and the favourite Malwa ware etc.
Chapter Five is devoted on the Blade Industry. A Large number of microliths have been collected from all the phases of chalcolithic Mahidpur. These have been analysed and also distributed in tables categorically and period-wise. The Sixth chapter deals with terracotta figurines and other terracotta Objects “the ear-disc, studs, stopper, ring, bangles, beads etc. and also the stone-beads. Chapter seven is devoted to deal with the bone-objects like the shell bangles, bone points, saddle-quern, pestle-stones, mullers etc. The Metal objects like the copper-bangles, iron-objects and the gold-objects have also been discussed in this chapter.
Chapter Eight is an resume. It has been followed by an appendice on faunal remains collected from the excavations at Mahidpur.
The text is authenticated by the score line drawings, photographs of antiquities and cultural Heritage of Mahidpur. It is expected that the text would be a new addition to our Knowledge in the field. |
