Early History of Orissa

SR No.: 006922
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amarchand Mittal
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 506
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 96

THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD
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number of neolithic sites containing numerous flint fragments bearing clear marks of chipping.'
Art of Firing Vessels
The neolithic age saw great advances in civilization not only in improved arms and tools but also in the discovery of the art of firing the vessels constructed by skilful potters out of plastic clay.
The importance of the neolithic site at Baidyapur lies in its association with early pre-historic pottery. Pottery fragments were discovered along with these stone implements on the southern side of the tank. R. D. Banerji selected two particularly thick specimens from a spot, about a foat below the place, where the polished axes and celts were found. The material is coarse mould in which rounded pebbles of limestone were fairly abundant. On breaking one of the pottery fragments, it was found that the wet material had. not been passed through a sieve or even carefully selected. The vessel appears to have been hand-made or at best turned on a hand-lathe. The other specimen was also of the same type and the material was so coarse that it looked like brick piece at first sight. Certain fragments were thin. Banerji picked up one other fragment in which there was a fine red slip on the vase, which possessed a carinated mouth and looked like a cooking vessel. Many such fragments, covered with a red slip, were collected by P. Acharya for the Calcutta Museum. R. D. Banerji was of opinion that the shape of these vessels was nothing new, and had traced similarity with round specimens discovered by him at Mohenjo-daro and by S. C. Roy in the Ranchi district. 1. Vide a Paper read at the Indian Science Congress Session at
Baroda in Jany. 1955–Prehistoric Section, 2. 7.0., 1. p. 40.