History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (5)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (5)

Today, the last day of the conference had two sessions VII and VIII with the following papers.

09.01.2024, Tuesday – 10.00-11.30 AM Session – VII: Microscopy and compositional study:  this session was chaired by Dr. Mudit Trivedi and the following papers were presented.

Scientific Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics – K. Krishnan: The first compositional analysis of ceramics from the Indian sub-continent dates back to the 1920s. Those were wet chemical analyses that led to the identification of the elemental composition. The 1960s witnessed the application of petrographic methods to study ceramics. However, interpreting those results was difficult and offered many challenges. Therefore, the results of those early studies were presented as additional information in the respective excavation reports or as research notes. Though isolated, problem-oriented studies on ceramics using scientific techniques in recent years have brought out several interesting results that benefitted the scientific discipline and archaeological studies. This paper will present the applications and limitations of scientific analyses of pottery and its relevance to cultural studies through reviews and case studies. For this, studies on ceramics from different Harappan settlements in Gujarat will be presented. He focussed on understanding general issues such as provenance and clay paste preparation techniques. He also elaborated on the applications and limitations of the methods employed and how a balancing interpretation was made to satisfy the archaeological goals

Northern Black Polished Ware: An Ancient Science  – Alok Kumar Kanungo: Ancient sciences often denote to traditional knowledge systems, when the practices involved in the production cycle of the artefact are situated and contextualized to particular geo-cultural zone. When a knowledge system stands apart from its contemporary and remains in action only for a particular time period, that leaves behind more questions than answers. Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) is one such pottery type of India. The paper will deal with this ware’s history, science and technology by mapping the distribution trends of NBPW, and microscopic and elemental composition analyses of a selected sherds.

Some Aspects of NBPW Manufacturing Technologies  – Sidharth Shankar Rai: Potteries are the most fascinating artefacts for archaeometric investigation because separate pottery tradition represents distinct cultural tradition and the development of pottery manufacturing technology indicates societal innovation for producing a better product. Ancient Indian Glazed ware commonly known as Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) in archaeological literature is the iconic black glazed pottery produced in early Historic India from 7th century BCE to 1st century CE in the Ganga Valley. The NBPW has been manufactured in such a way that the gloss of this pottery has remained unaffected after passage of more than 2,500 years. . The production of glaze is a major achievement of ancient craftsmen. It is a result of different processes including the melting and solidification of a variety of vitreous compounds. Seven black coloured NBPW sherds and one ancient brick sample from archaeological site of Kausambi are analysed in order to understand the composition of clay, firing process and nature of the surface of the pottery. The samples are analysed through SEM, EDS and XRD. It is reported that locally available clay is used for pottery manufacturing and pyrolysis of clay minerals is responsible for the sparkling beauty of the NBPW.

From the East to the West: Investigating the Presence of South China Sea Ceramics in South Asia – Aude Favereau: Research on the movement of people and goods from the Mediterranean world to China via South- and South-East Asia aroused a great deal of interest, particularly on cultural exchanges that occurred by the end of the 1st millennium BCE and the beginning of the 1st millennium CE. Evidence of contact between communities in the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea basins during this period highlighted complex cultural interactions involving the exchange of artefacts but also the dissemination of technologies and styles. But what about the circulations from East- and South-East Asia to South Asia? Were there imported ceramics or vessels used to carry commodities? Are South China Sea ceramics known in South Asia? This paper proposes (1) to review the ceramics of South Asia reported in the literature as being potentially linked to the East and to assess what is known about these vessels in South-East Asia; (2) to introduce a selection of ceramic types that circulated widely in the South China Sea and that are also found at sites facing the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar to question whether these types travelled up to South Asia; and (3) to make inferences about interactions and exchange activities during pre- and protohistoric times.

Provenience Unveiled: Exploring Torpedo Jars through Geochemical and Petrographic Analysis – Ritvik Balvally: The regions of West Asia, Arabia, Eastern Africa, and Roman-Byzantine territories had trade connections with China, and India in the 1st millennium CE. Western India was a hub for Indian Ocean trade, especially between 3rd to 10th centuries CE and ceramics; glazed and un-glazed were a major part of this exchange. Torpedo Jars are West Asian transport vessels used for overseas exchange during this period lined with bitumen. But the provenience of these ceramics has so far eluded us. Although attempts have been made to study the bitumen and petrographic analysis of Torpedo Jars separately, the picture is still unclear as to where the Torpedo Jars are exactly manufactured. Thus, this study emphasises a two-pronged approach to bolster data further and infer it to understand the provenience of these ceramics. The geochemical data comprising biomarker and carbon isotopes on chromatographic fractions of the bitumen lining of these Torpedo Jars is compared to oil seep references from different areas in southern and southwest Iran. Data on bitumen collected from numerous Iranian archaeological sites has been used as proxies to complete the investigation. On the other hand, thin-section petrographic studies would help in determining the petro-mineral profile of the ceramics.

The Elemental Composition of Late Medieval Glaze on Ceramics from the West Coast India – Laure Dussubieux: Glaze is a thin layer of a vitreous material fused at the surface of a ceramic. It is applied either for decorative purposes, adding colours and shine to the ceramic paste, or for practical reasons, as it improves the impermeability of the ceramics to liquids. Glazes often have compositions very similar to glass and are either silica or lead-based, with the addition of different alkali or alkali-earth rich ingredients depending on when and where it was produced. Metals and oxides are added to modify the colour or opacity of the glazes. Being able to determine the elemental composition of the glaze is important as it is a way to obtain information about the dating and provenance of the ceramics. In west coast of India, there are several medieval sites which have given evidence of glazed ware of Monochrome variety, and the epicenter of production evidence comes from the Gulf of Khambhat during 14-16th c. CE. This paper will illustrate the study of glaze on ceramics with the case of artefacts found at the site of Bhagatrav in Gujarat, dating from the 14th to 17th c. CE. Several types of glazes were identified based on their compositions: a Celadon from China, two samples possibly manufactured at or around Bhagatrav, two samples possibly produced in Khambhat, Gujarat and two samples with a likely Indian origin, although a more precise place of manufacture cannot be proposed. These results indicate a connection of Bhagatrav with the long-distance trade of the Indian Ocean as revealed by the presence of a ceramic sherd from China, contrasting with more local or regional exchange networks that connected Bhagatrav to Khambhat and possibly other localities nearby.

India was not depicted properly in her slides….

Marine Seismics and its use in Marine Archaeology  – Rajesh Nair: Marine seismic technology is pivotal in underwater archaeology, particularly in exploring submerged ancient civilizations resulting from historical climatic shifts. Given that more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface is covered by vast water bodies, traditional survey methods prove inadequate for visualizing sedimentary layers, human-built structures, and lost cities concealed beneath. Fusing marine seismics with sophisticated seismic interpretation techniques yields a profound advancement in marine archaeology. Seismic attribute analysis adeptly identifies nuanced data variations, hinting at the presence of shipwrecks, submerged edifices, and artefacts. Seismic inversion, in turn, refines data, offering insights into the archaeological site’s age and the preservation status of its relics. Incorporating 3D visualization provides multifaceted perspectives, facilitating meticulous excavation planning. The amalgamation of seismic inversion methodologies with multi-point geostatistics, as exemplified in the Mumbai offshore region (Ambati et al., GGGG, 2021), serves to model subsurface structures and pinpoint anomalies in sedimentary deposits. This comprehensive approach fosters non-invasive investigations, mitigating the need for destructive physical excavations. Not only does it unearth archaeological features, but it also supplies vital information about their attributes and geological context.

Discussion: The questions may be written down and sent to the paper presenters, s announced by the organizers. . In the slides shown by Laure Dussubieux, India was depicted in the truncated form. The organizers could have noted to avoid such depictions. When asked about the holes found in the tripod type ceramics, the paper presenter could not answer, but explained away mentioning that was only hypothesis. In fact, she went to teacher / guide telling that she would better explain. Suggestion was also made to compare the tripod pottery with that of South India. Perhaps, the Thailand researchers my not be knowing about the tripod ceramic potteries fund in the South India.

2.30-4.00 PM Session VIII: Pyrotechnology: The session was chaired by Prof. Ajithprasad P.

Chemical-technological Analysis of the Li People Ceramics of Hainan Island: The Problem of Preserving Pottery Traditions  – Ekaterina Girchenko and Oleg Kardash: This paper investigates the pottery traditions of the Li people of Hainan island in southern China. The Li people till recently, lived isolated in mountainous areas for a long time, so they have preserved many ancient traditions up to the present day. It is a matter of principle for our respondents from the Donghe village not to use modern tools and containers in the ceramic crafts, but to make all the necessary attributes from bamboo, wood and shells. All stages of pottery-making were recorded in the study. Eight samples of clays and ceramic fragments, both fired and unfired, were selected for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis, in order to reconstruct the structure, mineral composition and chemical properties of clays that according to potters were suitable and unsuitable for pottery-making. The chemical research has made it possible to establish temperatures that are quite high for firing over an open fire, which means that the complex structure of the fire pit with coconut shells and branches made it possible to achieve reducing roasting parameters for ceramics over an open fire as if they were fired in a kiln. The results of the experiments are correlated with the archaeological materials, so it is possible to recreate the specific characteristics of ancient pottery.

More ideas on Harappan Stoneware Bangles  – Massimo Vidale: The presentation summarizes what is presently known about the complicated pyrotechnology of Harappan stoneware bangles based on discoveries at Mohenjo-Daro and following important experimental studies during the excavation at Harappa. He went into the technical details of how the bangles were manufactured with the furnace etc. We propose critical considerations of what has been published so far and some new possible interpretations about the firing technology of this amazing and unique class of personal ornaments. He has already published papers and books on the topic individually and also with his colleagues.

On the importance of Technical Ceramics: Archaeometric Analyses and Historical Interpretation of Crucibles, Furnaces, Moulds and Tuyères and a Case Study from Southern Thailand  – Thomas Oliver Pryce: In a traditionally constituted archaeological team, ceramic artefacts fall under the purview of the ceramicist, while metal artefacts lie within that of the metallurgist. However, while the former is usually chiefly concerned with huge amounts of pottery, the latter is often asked to consider technical ceramics, or all ceramics that are not pottery or fragments thereof. This category can include materials from a wide variety of sources: ceramic building materials like adobe, bricks, clay flooring, cob and tile, as well as crucibles, furnaces, hearths, moulds and tuyères from a range of high-temperature industries. Of course, such division of specialist labour is rarely planned as such, and rather it results from the uncertainties implicit in discoloured, degraded, fragmentary and/or vitrified artefacts as they come out of the ground.

And such evaluation must be initiated as they are excavated, as passage via the pot wash can destroy vital information. With this paper, I will give the case study of Khao Sam Kaeo, a 4th-1st c. BCE entrepot and proto-city state in peninsular Thailand, which has produced exceptional evidence for exchanges of raw materials, techniques and even artisans across the Bay of Bengal. In Southeast Asia, there is a class of metal artefacts called ‘Indian high-tin bronze bowls’, due to comparators from the subcontinent with a particular configuration of typo-stylistic, technological, elemental and lead isotopic characteristics. Applying a ‘technological approach’ to these bowls, demonstrating how, where and by whom these artefacts were produced depends upon the associated technical ceramics, in particular vitrified and slagged fragments and globular vessels with a nippled base.

Live potters (Handmade Naga Pottery and Black Pottery of Azamgarh) workshops and kilns for hands-on experiments will be available throughout the conference at KV Ground, adjacent to TTJ Auditorium. Nagaland  – Mrs. Chahang Phom and Ali Phom with Interpreter Mr. Pangtuk Phom and Uttar Pradesh  – Mr. Ramjatan Prajapati and Sohit Kumar Prajapati explained the process. The participants and delegates carefully noted the manufacturing activities carried on for the purpose. The artisans came here for the purpose.

After the paper presentation, the certificates were distributed to some of the participants ad delegates. Alok Kumar Kanungo thanked all who participated and attended the conference and as well as the organizations helped them accommodating to host by providing all facilities. Rajan also thanked all hoping to meet again on some other conference. The Five-day deliberations concluded with the National Anthem.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

09-01-2024

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (4)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (4)

Today, it was raining from the early morning and it continued thereafter also…….

08.01.2024, Monday -10.00-11.30 AM SESSION V: Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental studies: It was chaired by Prof. Kuldeep Bhan and the following papers were presented:

Conservation and Restoration of South Indian Ceramics – Stephen Koob: He had dealt with care, conservation and restoration of South Indian ceramics; detailing, cleaning, choice of adhesive, use of adhesive, treatment and retreatment. The selection and usage of tools for various operations have also been very important in preserving and conserving the objects. About solvable and unsolvable salts, care should be taken in cleaning ceramics. Desalination can be useful for keeping the ceramics in good condition without any further attack. Deionizing tap and such other methods can be used for removing unwanted chemicals deposited on the surface of the ceramics recovered. He also dealt with the restoration for display or publication with practical examples and suggestions. He warned that the potteries, ceramics and similar objects should not be staked, as they might get damaged with their own weight falling on them, as they were already in brittle conditions. Nowadays, modernized electronic and digitized instruments give internal structure of the ceramics and the can be subjected to preservation and conservation processes.

Experimental Reconstruction of a 5th Century Vertical Pottery Kiln, and its Technical Parallels to Harappans – Massimo Vidale: The experimental reconstruction of a Greek kiln of the 5^th century BCE, carried out at the Laboratory of experimental archaeology of the University of Padova, was based on faithful coeval iconographic evidence. It allowed us to appreciate the manifold technical constraints of the yard for the erection of this kind of infrastructure. As the kilns used in Greece and southern Italy between the 6^th and the 4^th centuries BCE have important similarities with Harappan pottery kilns, our experience may provide useful considerations also for the study of Harappan pyrotechnology.

Ethnoarchaeology in the Field: A Cautionary Tale from Potters in Mewar  – Amrita Sarkar: Ethnoarchaeology is an ever-expanding sub-discipline and pottery undoubtedly gets its fair share of attention. However, with recent social and economic trends, it can be seen that opportunities for undertaking certain kinds of ethnoarchaeological study are diminishing. By an interesting coincidence the village of Gilund in Rajasthan, NW India, was host to an important third millennium BCE Chalcolithic settlement of Ahar- Banas Complex in Mewar and at the same time to some of the last indigenous potters still working in 21st c. CE. She showed how the study of prehistoric potters was enhanced by what was learnt from their modern successor and also pointed out that the researcher was only just in time as they will be the last to practice; and in this respect, ethnoarchaeology is itself under threat. The involvement or not involvement of women the pot-making had been natural and not connected with any taboo or gender bias. As the material culture of Indians have been continuously changing, in due course, the pottery-making and related skills might disappear. Even in the traditional rites, rituals and ceremonies, metallic vessels have been replacing the ceramic ware.

11.30 AM -12.00 Hrs – Discussion: There was a discussion about the practical and technical usage of particular clays to withstand the atmospheric and klin temperatures in different cultures. Generation by generation, the potter-makers had / have been forgetting the traditional science and technology followed and practised by them. [the elite researchers have been going on analyzing on the vanishing culture, tradition, heritage and civilization, but, in historiography, they are not pointing out, if such practices of culture, tradition, heritage and civilization are nor preserved, practised and continued.]

12.00- Noon Tea

Ceramic Tradition of Ladakh – P. Anuradha: The Trans-Himalaya Ladakh, a mountainous and rugged terrain, was a vital trade outlet from the Silk Route that connected China with Europe and West and South Asia. Several ancient routes have been discovered in this region. In the recent past, a number of campsites dating to 10000 BCE and 500 CE of ancient travellers have come to light. During their temporary stay, they used ceramics for cooking and serving. According to local belief, during the reign of King Dragspa Bumdle (14^th century CE), the village Likir was assigned to make pottery for the royal as well as the general public. The ceramics have been manufactured in this village and exported to the other parts of Ladakh. However, at present, only a few families are associated with ceramic manufacturing in Likir. In the past, the majority of pottery items were plain and devoid of much decoration. The exquisite and decorative items were reserved for the royals and the elite classes. Over time, this tradition and preferred design have gone through many changes as per the needs of the people. This paper is an outcome of ethnographic documentation, including raw materials used, shapes made as per the usage, and glazing technique of the surviving pottery-making tradition at Likir.

Ceramics in Northeast India: Recent Studies – Manjil Hazarika: The study on ceramics from Northeast India goes back to the 19^th century when several British administrators and researchers contributed through their writings on pottery-making traditions prevalent among various communities. Moreover, sporadic references to these communities are in the Census of India reports published in the last two centuries. Specific studies on the technology, types, artistic features, the community of the potters and their socio-economic background have been dealt with in recent past. centuries. Case studies by anthropologists, archaeologists and historians on the Hiras and Kumars, which are two distinct groups engaged in the manufacture of pottery in Assam, apart from ethnographic accounts of the Naga and Apatani potters have also added significantly to the subject. Pottery from archaeological and historical contexts gained considerable attention with the discoveries of Neolithic pottery during the excavations at Daojali Hading in the Dima Hasao district of Assam in the 1960s. These and pottery from historical sites have provided further details on the craft’s antiquity, chronology, evolution, provenance, and technology. The paper provides an outline of the prehistoric, historical and ethnographic pottery based on our recent studies conducted in Northeast India, especially in parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.

Naga Indigenous Pottery: Disappearing Skills, Knowledge and Vessels – Ditamulu Vasa: This study investigates the most remarkable feature of Naga pottery production: the absolute simplicity of raw materials and tools involved in indigenous and traditional production related to 6 or 7 tribes and districts. She reviewed the manufacturing techniques and tools adopted by the various potters’ communities alongside the ontology of art and clay-winning processes with associated beliefs, taboos, and practices. The number of potters’ communities making traditional ceramic forms using traditional materials and techniques is fast dwindling. However, findings from the ethnographic study conducted among a few surviving potters show the original features handed down transmission of knowledge through generations and analyse the stability and technological changes that have taken place in the pottery community over the last decades. Mainly Female potters controlled this indigenous technology except for the Rünguzu village, where the potters comprised male potters, who had long experiences producing pots, jars, and other clay products.

Ditamulu Vasa showed many examples…..

The next session was chaired by Dr. Peter Johansen and the following papers were presented:

Past and Present of the Pottery Craft of Northeast India – Sukanya Sharma:  From the Northeastern part of India and especially from Assam, the only pottery type known is the Neolithic cord-marked pottery from Daojali Hading dated to 2.7±0.3 ka (LD1728). The ‘Ambari ware’ is the next known type, dated to 1030±105 CE (TF-1019). But the assemblages have no sturdy storage jars or prolific occurrences of a particular design or shape. Pottery found is highly fragmented and mostly of the plain variety. Colours are of different shades of red and black. Medium-sized globular pots, 20-30 cms in height with a rim diameter of 15-20 cms are most common in the Neolithic, Megalithic and Historical period sites. Both handmade and wheel-made traditions existed with certain points of convergence. The paper attempts to map the development of the craft of pottery in Assam starting from a known past through provenance analysis and the theory of utilitarianism. For any tradition to evolve it must be relevant to the community, it has to be continuously recreated and transmitted from one generation to another. Did this fail to happen in Assam as the craft has always co-existed or rather competed with the ‘lignic’ or the bamboo, wood and cane crafts?

Analytical Indexing of the Pottery from 6th to 13th c. CE: Case study of the Ceramics from Ancient Bengal – Lefrancq Coline: In South Asia, the ceramics produced from 5th/6th c. to 13th c. CE are much less known than the ceramics from the so-called Early Historical period (5th/4th c. BCE – 4th/5th c. CE). The lack of well-stratified archaeological contexts and of marker-potteries are some of the reasons. Indeed, the archaeological reports speaks often about ceramics with general terms like “red ware” or “grey ware” without providing a proper description of the technical features making it difficult for the person reading the report to identify the potsherds. Some observations of the archaeologists on the ceramics dated to the period from 6th to 10th c. CE are recurrent like the fact that the ceramics were produced locally and were made for cooking or transport, not for the table service. However, because of the few detailed studies available on the assemblages of this period, it is still difficult to understand the main characteristics of those ceramics and, subsequently to work on provenance studies and trade either local, regional or longue-distance (even if it is known thanks to written sources that trade was well present during that period). The first step is to create an analytical index – either at a regional or pan-Indian scale – that would allow a better understanding of all the technological features of the ceramics in order to easily identify the wares and compare the different assemblages between them. The goal is also to include and enhance the few previous detailed studies. Through this presentation focusing on several case studies (ceramics from ancient Bengal and the Eastern coast of India), I will discuss the different possibilities of classification methods.

Experimental Archaeology and Ethnoarchaeology- Pottery Techniques Perspective – S. Udayakumar: Experimental archaeology is a convenient way of describing the collection of facts, theories and fiction assembled through a century of interest in the reconstruction and function of ancient remains. In this experimental pottery technique research, the author is trying to indicate how experimental archaeology plays a very prominent role in understanding archaeology and ancient technology from a different view. Concerning pottery technique, the author has nailed all stages involved in pottery techniques such as preparation of clay, hand-made pottery, wheel-made pottery, coil method, slab method, moulding method, burnishing, pre-heating the pottery and firing method. This experimental research has three major understandings and interrelated aims. The first aim of this experimental research is to understand the basic approach of making pottery and to observe the techniques and method of pottery in the eyes of an artisan and archaeologist. The second is to identify the method or way of burnishing the pottery, to know the clay moisture during the burnishing of the pottery, and to analyse the outcome of burnishing pottery after firing. Third, to see the role of the firing method in pottery techniques in an open pottery kiln. This experimental research will give the whole light to understanding the pottery techniques. With concern to the ethnoarchaeology approach, the author has undertaken systematic fieldwork of pottery techniques in the parts of Tamil Nadu (Kota pottery, Nilgiris, Manamadurai, Villapuram, Mambedu) and Karnataka (Pottery town and Nandi hills); ethnoarchaeology research will talk about the migration of artisan, materials involved in the pottery making and firing methods.

He also showed how the pottery was made….

4.00-4.15 PM Discussion

How to differentiate pottery of medieval and later medieval period pottery, particularly, when they were found as “surface collection.”  Coline replied that it was vey difficult to do so.

How to differentiate between man-made and wheel-made pottery? Udhyakumar replied that thickness and the wheel impression found at the bottom are for identification. However, if they are plastered sufficiently, then, it is difficult to identify.

Sukanya Sharma was asked about the correlation of the pottery with temperature of different period pottery, she responded affirmatively.

6.00 PM Tea break

SESSION VI: CHRONOLOGIES AND SCIENTIFIC DATING

Chairperson: Prof. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer . He was asking audience to come and sit in the front, as the session was important.

Revisiting Bronze Age Ceramics of Gujarat – Kuldeep K. Bhan: Recent archaeological data suggest that during the Early Harappan (ca. 3200-2600 BCE) and the Early Harappan – Mature Harappan Transition (ca. 2600-2500 BCE), there was a migration of agro-pastoralists of the Indus cultural tradition in the Gujarat region. The routes are not precisely known. But it appears that the people met and interacted with a diverse set of people who were already present in Gujarat, as indicated by the presence of distinct pottery traditions of the Bronze Age of Gujarat. Presence of these pottery traditions had mostly been overlooked. These potteries now have been well documented at the sites of Loteshwar, Nagwada, Padri, Somnath, Rangpur and Lothal – representing, what is usually known as Micaceous Red Ware, Anarta, Padri, Pre-Prabhas and Soarth ceramics. In order to understand the cultural relevance of these wares it is important to understand the spatial and temporal distribution, typological and other cultural material associations that seem to provide most of the information about how to look at these various cultural traditions. Based on the present literature, archaeological data and the typological studies of these wares an attempt is made to hypothesize an Early Harappan Tradition (Regionalization Era Ca. 3300 BCE) was very well prevalent in Gujarat that finally led to the emergence of the complex cultural mosaic that has been known as the Sorath Harappan Domain, (borrowing the terminology of Posshel) during the second half of the third millennium BCE.

Bhan thanked all his gurus, teachers, colleagues etc…..

Tracing the Origins: Investigating Chalcolithic Ceramic Traditions in Gujarat, India – Rajesh S.V: Marine seismic technology is pivotal in underwater archaeology, particularly in exploring submerged ancient civilizations resulting from historical climatic shifts. Given that more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface is covered by vast water bodies, traditional survey methods prove inadequate for visualizing sedimentary layers, human-built structures, and lost cities concealed beneath. Fusing marine seismics with sophisticated seismic interpretation techniques yields a profound advancement in marine archaeology. Seismic attribute analysis adeptly identifies nuanced data variations, hinting at the presence of shipwrecks, submerged edifices, and artefacts. Seismic inversion, in turn, refines data, offering insights into the archaeological site’s age and the preservation status of its relics. Incorporating 3D visualization provides multifaceted perspectives, facilitating meticulous excavation planning. The amalgamation of seismic inversion methodologies with multi-point geostatistics, as exemplified in the Mumbai offshore region (Ambati et al., GGGG, 2021), serves to model subsurface structures and pinpoint anomalies in sedimentary deposits. This comprehensive approach fosters non-invasive investigations, mitigating the need for destructive physical excavations. Not only does it unearth archaeological features, but it also supplies vital information about their attributes and geological context.

Relative Chronology, Ceramic Typologies and Communities of Practice: Historicizing Ceramic Consumption Practices in South Deccan Mortuary Ritual – Peter Johansen: Since its inception, South India’s cultural history sequence has been reliant upon a ware-based ceramic typology to order its relative chronology. Radiocarbon and stratigraphic analyses have demonstrated that the hard chronological lines between archaeological cultures and their periodicity are more fluid than commonly acknowledged. A re-evaluation of Neolithic mortuary ritual, and its associated ceramic consumption practices, point to the very early production and use of slipped and polished ware pottery – e.g., black-and-red ware, as serving vessels in localized South Indian funerary contexts. These findings trouble the epistemological foundations of South India’s ware-based relative chronology and point to important theoretical and methodological problems with the use of ‘archaeological cultures’ as analytical units that seek to understand cultural practices and deep history. This paper will discuss the development of ceramic consumption practices in Neolithic and Iron Age mortuary ritual practices in the South Deccan. It argues for an approach to chronology, and indeed history that focuses on ceramics in the context of particular communities of practice through which social relations and meaning were negotiated and distributed through particular cultural activities rather than simply using ceramics as imprecise markers of time and the proxies of totalizing, ahistorical archaeological cultures.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

08-01-2024

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (2)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (2)

06.01.2024, Saturday academic proceedings: The session II was about “Graffiti and inscribed potshred” chaired by Prof. Massimo Vidale held between 10-11 AM with the following papers:

Ceramic Chronologies of Tamil Nadu: An Overview by K. Rajan and R. Sivanantham: Rajan presented the paper, delving upon the following: In recent years, Tamil Nadu witnessed tremendous progress in field archaeology. The recent excavations conducted at Pattaraiperumpudur, Vadakkupattu, Perumbalai, Budhinattam, Kodumanal, Vembakottai, Keeladi, Algankulam, Adichanallur, Sivagalai, Korkai and Thulukkarpatti supported with intensive explorations provided certain basic information on the ceramic sequences.

The ceramics are unearthed in two contexts, one from the settlement which is used in day-to-day life and another from the graves, mostly ritual in nature. Though both settlement and grave met with black-and-red ware, but it needs to be understood in the given contexts. Likewise, our understanding of the stratigraphic positions of various kinds of ceramics, namely white painted black-and-ware, plain black-and-red ware, black slipped ware, russet coated ware, rouletted ware, NBP and other wares such as torpedo jar, amphorae, Arretine, Turquoise Glazed pottery, etc., encountered in Early Historic Tamil Nadu need to be analysed in the backdrop of inscribed potsherds.

More than 10,000 graffiti inscribed potsherds and more than 1500 Tamili (Tamil-Brahmi) inscribed potsherds have been unearthed to date. These were engraved with personal names on the shoulder portion of the pot, a social context marker. In the same way, there is a region-specific ceramic such as russet-coated ware, which are found only in Kongu region of Tamil Nadu.

However, its presence in other regions reflects its commercial or cultural contacts. Thus, they attempted to understand the contextual position of each ware and their stratigraphical and chronological settings based on the data collected both from excavations and explorations.

He started cautiously what is early historic, iron, or Neolithic – is a big issue as for as the Tamilnadu is concerned, yet conclude with the following results:

Megalithic – 7000-3000 BCE

Iron Age – 3000-700 BCE

Early historic – 700-300 BCE

When the north India was enjoying copper age, south India Iron age and were contemporaries

The Tamilnadu early historic period goes much before Asokan  period.

Ceramics in the Indus Tradition: Technology, Gender and Ideology – Jonathan Mark Kenoyer: The long trajectory of pottery making documented at the sites of Mehrgarh, Nausharo and Harappa provide a unique opportunity to understand the changes in ceramic technology over time in the Indus Tradition. During the Regionalization Era, or Early Harappan Phase (5500-2600 BCE) the production of pottery in Baluchistan and the Punjab regions will be examined in terms of its association with household crafts and later household industry. During the Harappa Phase of the Integration Era (2600-1900 BCE) Indus ceramic production became quite diversified and involved a wide range of production modes, from household industry to mass production of common wares for use in the urban context. There is also evidence for highly controlled workshops producing elite symbols of power, such as stoneware bangles. Various types of production were involved in these different workshops, including hand building, coil and slab construction, moulds and carved pottery. The firing was also carried out in different types of kilns, including covered pit kilns, updraft kilns and high firing reduction furnaces. During the Late Harappan Phase or Localization Era (1900-1300 BCE) new production technologies, pottery styles and kilns were introduced. The role of women, men and children in ceramic production over time will be examined using comparisons with ethnographic data as well as the study of fingerprints and footprints on pottery. The production of pre-firing and post-firing graffiti on pottery as well as pottery decorative motifs will also be discussed to show the possible role of women in the development of writing and ideological symbols that became important during the Harappa Phase.

11-11.30 AM – Address  by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director – IIT Madras: He could not come, because of his pfeoccupation.

Prof. Amitabh Pande, Director – Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya MoU Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department and Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute: The MoU documents exchanged between the parties.

11.30-12.00 Noon Tea and Inauguration of Live Potters’ Workshops: The workshop was conducted demonstrating how the man-made and wheel-made potteries were manufactured.

12.00-1.30 PM Third session Tradeand Culture contact:  The third session was chaired by Prof. K. Krishnan and the following papers were presented:

The Manifestation of Rouletted Ware – Dayalan Duraiswamy: [not presented today] Rouletted ware is a deluxe ware of the early historic period. The continuous rolling motion of the roulette produces the patterns. These decorations are found on black, grey, red and black-and-red wares. The distribution pattern of rouletted ware in India shows a concentration all along the eastern coast, mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This pottery is also reported from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Oman and Yemen – a strong association of the ancient maritime trade centres. Thus, it is important evidence for exchange between South and Southeast Asia from the 3^rd century BCE to the 3^rd century CE. Initially, this pottery and/or rouletted technique was thought to have come from the Mediterranean. However, later evidence substantiated that the pottery was produced somewhere in Asia. He discussed the probable origin, evolution and diffusion of the ware, the nature of the fabric, types of rouletted or chattered decoration, and its regional variation, dealing with the comparative study of the geochemical analysis and the archaeological data of the pottery from various sites.

Impact of Roman Wares on Indian Early Historic Ceramics Repertoire: Stratigraphic, Visual and Typological Analysis  – Sunil Gupta: Dealing with the occurrence of Mediterranean pottery in the stratigraphy of Early Historic sites in western and southern India, he started comparing with the IVC. Mortimer Wheeler observed in his report on the excavations at Arikamedu, the coastal trading station on the Tamil coast, that the ‘uninterrupted’ occurrence of Mediterranean amphorae in the Arikamedu strata signified regular Roman sea trade in the BC-CE transition as compared to the ‘spasmodic’ Ptolemaic ventures to India. Similarly, another well-known archaeologist, M.S. Subbarao of M.S. University of Baroda, was of the view that the appearance of the fine Red Polished Ware at a certain point of the Early Historic horizon in western India was indicative of Roman trade contact, the allusion being that the fine RPW derived from the deluxe Roman red wares. H.D. Sankalia voiced the same opinion as Subbarao, dividing the Early Historic stratigraphy at the site of Nevasa on the basis of the appearance of Mediterranean amphorae and the Fine Red Polished Ware. He  emphasized that the initial separation or demarcation of Mediterranean derived red wares in Early Historic India is stratigraphic more than visual or typological. From this stratigraphic understanding, it is possible to examine closely the various Roman red ware and amphorae imports as well as a range of fine red wares which appeared suddenly on the western coast of India and triggered a red ware tradition which permeated into northern and peninsular India. In fact, the red fabric techniques were adopted in the terracotta tradition, with Roman inspired doubled moulded figurines appearing in western India. He intended to demonstrate with the aid of stratigraphic profiles, drawings and photographs and some site videos played in the workshop.

Ceramics and Interactions in the Early Historic Indian Ocean Region  – Selvakumar V: Ceramics is one of the well-preserved materials indicating long-distance cultural interactions. Ceramics were traded as commodities and also they were used as storage containers for commodities. Ceramic wares and other glass wares were used by the sailors and traders and some of them were also probably traded. Amphora jars were used for the transport of wine, olive oil and fish sauce. They are distributed across several sites in South Asia. Similarly, West Asian ceramics such as TGP and ovoid jars are found at several sites. Rouletted ware and associated ceramics are one of the widely distributed ceramics materials of Indian origin. Inscribed ceramic sherds are also distributed across the Indian Ocean suggesting the nature of the individuals who travelled across. Terra sigillata is reported from a few sites in South Asia. These ceramics are mostly found in coastal port sites and market centres. He discussed the patterns in the distribution of ceramics in the Indian Ocean region with a specific focus on South Asia.

He responded to the querries:

How these goods were imported and exported so that they were available at the different places?

Scientific analysis done on the ceramics point to a common source.

Changing colour of the ceramics – oxidation and reduction for ging red and black colous.

The significance of black and red colour potteries.

Next session was chaired by Sunil Gupta.

Introducing Diversity in South and Southeast Asia Cultural Exchange: Combined Analyses of Ceramic and Ornament Technological Systems Bérénice Bellina and Aude Favereau: Research on commercial exchanges has long been dominated by texts and exotic imported products, leading to a homogenous and elitist view of the groups involved; commonly mercantile and/or religious elites. More rarely have studies focused on imported common/everyday craft products or those produced locally and involving exogenous stylistic and/or technical elements (i.e., ’hybrid’ products), which are indicative of different modes of interaction. Moreover, studies of different assemblages are often compartmentalized: local vs imported, ceramic vs ornaments. However, every configuration of industry provides different information, such that the comparative analysis of technical systems enriches interpretations. This is particularly the case for pottery and stone ornaments omnipresent in ports and their hinterlands. This paper offers a diachronic synthesis of comparative studies of the different categories of ceramic and ornament assemblages from Southeast Asian ports and related to South (imports, hybrid, inspired), providing a chrono-technological sequence spanning almost a thousand years. Do the proportions of the different categories of imports vs hybrids vary over time? Are there changes in the production systems (raw materials, technologies used, etc.)? If so, what can be inferred about the South and Southeast Asian groups using them and their cultural interactions? This research shows how cross-fertilising studies of the technical systems of ceramic assemblages and finery enrich our understanding of both South and South-East Asian groups, the exchanges they had with each other and how they evolved over time.

From the East to the West: Investigating the Presence of South China Sea Ceramics in South Asia – Aude Favereau: Research on the movement of people and goods from the Mediterranean world to China via South- and South-East Asia aroused a great deal of interest, particularly on cultural exchanges that occurred by the end of the 1st millennium BCE and the beginning of the 1st millennium CE. Evidence of contact between communities in the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea basins during this period highlighted complex cultural interactions involving the exchange of artefacts but also the dissemination of technologies and styles. But what about the circulations from East- and South-East Asia to South Asia? Were there imported ceramics or vessels used to carry commodities? Are South China Sea ceramics known in South Asia? She proposes –

(1) to review the ceramics of South Asia reported in the literature as being potentially linked to the East and to assess what is known about these vessels in South-East Asia;

(2) to introduce a selection of ceramic types that circulated widely in the South China Sea and that are also found at sites facing the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar to question whether these types travelled up to South Asia; and

(3) to make inferences about interactions and exchange activities during pre- and protohistoric times.

Torpedo Jars of Mesopotamian Origin at Vadnagar – A Tale of Interaction During the 1st Millennium CE– Abhijit S. Ambekar, Ananya Chakraborty and Amol Kulkarni: Recent excavations at Vadnagar have identified certain ceramic traditions dating back to the 1st millennium CE. This period witnessed the appearance of new wares such as Red polished ware, Coarse grey ware, Black burnished ware, and among imported ceramic types -Torpedo jar sherds and turquoise glazed ware (both non-Indian in origin). Among these, the latter distinct ceramic types indicate a relationship of the Indian subcontinent with the Western world (including Mesopotamia) and its overall cultural and economic connections through seaborne trade. The significant quantity of torpedo sherds discovered across various locations and cultural layers at the site highlights a considerable demand and supply to Vadnagar. Torpedo jars had likely served as vessels for transporting liquid commodities such as wine, oil, or other valuable food items over long distances. The presence of such a large number of torpedo jar specimens not only entails substantial import demands but also implies the affordability of the inhabitants residing in an urban centre such as Vadnagar. These findings collectively indicate a sense of prosperity among the town’s residents and direct or indirect commercial ties with neighbouring regions and the Western world over a millennium.

Next Stephen Koob chaired the session – IV, “Terracotta, stoneware glazing and residue analysis,” and the following papers were presented.

A Matter of Colour: An Insight into the Colouring Technologies of Indian Glazed Ceramic Tiles -Maninder Singh Gill: Glazed ceramic tiles in medieval to pre-modern India were coloured and decorated using a relatively restricted palette of colorants. The glaze colorants were typically oxides of metals – either natural minerals or synthetic products – of which the oxides of cobalt and copper were the most frequently used to obtain shades of blue. Other colorants used include oxides of manganese for purples and synthesised compounds of lead and tin for yellows and greens. The colorants were added to a fritted glaze or, at times, painted over the ceramic tile body, before the firing sequence. Published results of scientific investigations indicate that the colorants and colouring technologies have specific distinguishing regional characteristics. This paper, which combines available analytical findings with evidence in historical records, enables inferences to be drawn on the original materials and technologies of glaze colouration, and assists in elucidating artisanal practices that were being followed for the glazing of ceramics at that time.

Which Way Forward for South Asian Ceramic Sociology? Three Vignettes from Medieval Mewat – Mudit Trivedi: Ceramics encode and mediate relationships. Through these mediations these ordinary objects influence and determine our social relationships. They inform how we cook, eat and store foods and shape our notions of self, other and relation. South Asian studies of ceramics have attended to distinct aspect of Ceramic Sociology in several different ways: through detailed ethnoarchaeological studies of production communities, through equally detailed studies of the skills and learning demanded in standardized production, through discussions of the role of caste in ceramic production, use, exchange and formal variation and by developing multivariate techniques for the recovery of distinct sociological patterns of ceramic use. Yet, a typological, formal and technical focus often outweighs the potential of ceramic sociology in South Asian archaeology. This paper will provide a review of ceramic sociology in the context of both South Asian archaeology and archaeological theory more widely. It will then review exemplary case studies. In addition, drawing upon fieldwork in the region of Mewat (Rajasthan), which provides insight into profound ceramic changes over the medieval era it poses and explores the following questions: What is a midden? What architectural arrangements inform ceramic social relationships? How do we understand the coming of glazed wares?

Ceramic Residue and Indian Archaeology, the Past, Present and the Future – Kalyan Sekhar Chakraborty: Since its first application in the 1970s, lipid residues absorbed and adherent to the surface of unglazed ceramic vessels have provided crucial information on foodways and ceramic utilization. Ceramic residue analysis is a technique that extracts and analyses the microscopic and molecular remains of food items to reconstruct the nature of food items that were once processed, stored, served, and consumed in unglazed ceramic vessels. Despite the robustness of this technique and its successful application across the world, its application in Indian Archaeology is far from adequate. In those few attempts where ceramic residue analyses were incorporated into Indian archaeology, they were primarily carried out abroad. In this presentation, he discussed the current status of its application, how this technique has solved some of the pertaining questions related to Indian archaeology, the future of this technique, and whether we should mainstream ceramic residue analysis in Indian archaeological investigation.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

06-01-2024