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Roman Amphora:
This well levigated light cream-colored ware is the well known Roman import in India. They had a black incrustation on the inner part. This was examined chemically. It represents resinous substance formed as a result of sedimentation from the liquid that was stored in that pot. The analysis also showed that these resins are probably sedimentation of wine that was brought in large quantities in such amphorae. This pottery has been found from many sites in Gujarat.94
I have found sherds of roman amphorae from my site. Barring one sherd, the bottom of an amphora, which is red and has a fine red slip on the external surface, all other sherds are light cream-colored. The red sherd does not have black crust on the inner surface but all the cream colored amphorae have it.
The two concave sherds the part of the wall of the vessel are 14 and 16 mms thick respectively.
A handle 39mms by 24mms by 120 mms has the same fiber and color as that of the other cream colored fragments is also recovered.
The cream-colored bottom portion of amphora, a 76 mms beak like straight projection has 15 mms thick wall. It too has black sedimentation on the inner surface. Spouted Vessels:
The Spouted vessels have been reported from Tape Gawra, Susa, Giyan, Hissar Sialk and other Mesopotamian sites in earlier context then Indian Sites. They are dated in the Late Uruk age, which
according to Prof. Childe falls in 3200BC. But the Indian sites yielding Spouted Vessels do not go earlier then 2000BC. Thus there is a gap of almost 1000yrs. They were introduced during the upper Neolithic age in India. They were used for religious or ritualistic purpose. Making of Spouted vessel dose not end in Neolithic age. They have been found in the 6th Cent.BC context at Rajgir, from a rubbish pit belonging to Sunga kushan period at Chandreketughar and from potteries of 6th to gth
cent. AD at Rajghat.95 The spouts are recovered from excavations of Nagra, Dev Ni Mori, Somnath, Shamlaji.
I have found many spouts of different shapes sizes and colors from my site.
An almost half fragment of a spouted vessel 71 mm long and 41 mm tall with a small 10 mm long spout of red colored sandy clay.
A wide mouthed with 22mm internal diameter Red Polished Ware spout 66mm on lower side and 42mm on upper side
A fragment of a small mouthed (5 mm) long (50 mm) cylindrical spout of RPW.
4 black colored spouts 3 red spouts 3 sandy clay spouts.
94 95
Excavation report of Dr. R.N. Mehta et all RC Prasad Sing and references there in, spouted vessels in India.
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