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 foundspot, 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 CopperHoard 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-onstand, 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, redslipped 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 postholes 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 MidGnga 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).

151

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.

152

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

153

exterior portion of the pottery. Appliqu 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.

154

Table 4.1 List of OCP and Copper Hoard sites in Upper Ganga Valley
Cultural
S.No Site

District

Lat.

Long.

Reference
Sequence

Adinga

Mathura

0.00000

OCP, PGW,

IAR 1982-

Hist

83: 99

0.00000

Joshi et al.
1984: 522,
2

Aghiana

Saharanpur

77.28333

29.90000 OCP
IAR 196565: 54
IAR 1970-

Ahar

Bulandshahr

78.25000

28.41667 OCP
71:

Ahichchhatra

Akrabas

Bareilly

Bulandshahr

79.11667

0.00000

OCP, PGW,

IAR 1964-

Hist

65: 39-42

OCP, Hist,

IAR 1970-

Med

71:

28.36667

0.00000

Alipura

Saharanpur

0.00000

0.00000 OCP

Alipura

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

0.00000 OCP

IAR 1967-68
Srivastava
1982: 54-5

1963-64: 56,

Ambkheri

Saharanpur

77.76667

29.73333 OCP
Joshi et al.
1984: 522

Angaikhera

Hardoi

0.00000

155

Copper

A. Ghosh

Hoard

1989a: 20

0.00000

IAR 1964AnwarpurBa
10

65: 44,
Saharanpur

77.66667

30.13333 OCP, Hist

roli

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
IAR 196667: 43,

11

Asanwali

Saharanpur

77.60000

30.03333 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
522

OCP, Hist,
12

Atranjikhera

Etah

78.73333

27.70000
Med

BadalKaithw

IAR 1978Meerut

13

0.00000

0.00000 OCP

ada

14

Badhaikalan

79: 24

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

OCP, Hist,

Srivastava

Med

1982: 57-8

0.00000

Y. D. Sharma
1971-72: 39OCP &
15

Bahadrabad

Saharanpur

78.05000

29.93333 Copper
Hoard

42,
MakkhanLal
1984a: 34-5,
Joshi et al.
1984: 522

OCP &
16

Baharia

Saharanpur

79.53333

27.50000 Copper
Hoard

156

IAR 196667: 43-4,

G. R. Sharma

1971-72: 423,
MakkhanLal
1984a: 34-5
IAR 196768:,
17

Baherakhurd

Saharanpur

77.66667

30.05000 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
IAR 196465: 43,
Dikshit

18

Bahupura

Saharanpur

77.50000

30.00000 LH, OCP

1982a: 114,
Joshi et al.
1984: 522
IAR 1963-

Bakaraka

64: ,
Saharanpur

19

77.45000

30.00000 OCP, PGW

Mound

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
Dikshit 1968:

20

Balua

Varanasi

0.00000

Copper

50,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 34-5
21

BantiKhera

Muzaffarnagar

77.43333

157

29.50000 LH, OCP

Dikshit 1981

: 72,
One

Joshi et al.
1984: 523
Dikshit 1981:

BantiKhera
22

72,
Muzaffarnagar

77.45833

29.50000 LH, OCP

Two

Joshi et al.
1984: 523
IAR 196667: 43,

23

Baundki

Saharanpur

77.61667

30.06667 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
IAR 196667: 43,

24

Bazidpur

Saharanpur

77.60000

30.05000 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
IAR 196061: 66,

25

Bhatpura

Bulandshahr

78.05000

28.53333 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 523
IAR 1967-68,

26

Bhedki

Saharanpur

77.60000

29.95000 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
IAR 1964-

27

Bholni

Saharanpur

77.68333

30.11667 OCP
65: 44,

158

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
V. Smith
1905: 232,

28

Bithur

Kanpur

0.00000

Copper

B. B. Lal

Hoard

1951: 24,

0.00000

MakkhanLal
1984a: 34-5
IAR 1964BudhaKhera
29

65: 44,
Saharanpur

77.70000

29.96667 OCP

Ahir

Joshi et al.
1984: 522
Srivastava

30

Chandan

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

0.00000 OCP
1982: 133-5
IAR 196667: 81,

31

Chandausi

Moradabad

0.00000

Copper

K. N. Dikshit

Hoard

1968: 50,

0.00000

MakkhanLal
1984a: 34-5
IAR 196667: 43
32

Chhajpura

Saharanpur

77.61667

29.98333 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
522

159

IAR 196667: 43,

33

ChhaparHeri

Saharanpur

77.50000

29.90000 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
522

IAR 196667: 43,

Dikshit
34

Chilhera

Saharanpur

77.65000

30.03333 LH, OCP

1982a: 114,
Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
522
IAR 196667: 43,

ChunehtiShe
35

Saharanpur

77.71667

29.90000 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.

kh
1984: 521,
522
IAR 196667: 43,
36

Daudpur

Saharanpur

77.60000

30.08333 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
522
IAR 1984-

37

Daulatpur

Bulandshahr

78.18333

28.23333 LH, OCP

85: 86-8

160

B. B. Lal
1951: 29,
OCP &
IAR 197838

Deoti

Lucknow

0.00000

0.00000 Copper
79: 101
Hoard
MakkhanLal
1984a: 34-5
B. B. Lal

39

Dhaka

Shahjahanpur

0.00000

Copper

1951: 27-8,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 34-5
IAR 198640

Dungar

Muzaffarnagar

77.36667

29.25000 LH, OCP

87: 80
Anderson
1883: 405Copper

41

Fatehgarh

Farrukhabad

0.00000

0.00000

08,
Hoard
MakkhanLal
1984a: 34-5

42

Fatehpur

Muzaffarnagar

77.38056

PGW, LH,

Gaur and Lal

OCP

1992: 378

29.46250

IAR 196667: 43,

43

FatehpurJat

Saharanpur

77.51667

29.93333 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
522

44

Fatehpur,

Saharanpur

77.53333

161

29.88333 LH, OCP

IAR 1966-

Saharanpur
67: 43,
Dikshit
1982a: 115
Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
522
IAR 195657: 74,

45

Gandhauli

Sitapur

0.00000

Copper

IAR 1969-

Hoard

70: 38,

0.00000

MakkhanLal
1984a: 34-5
IAR 196667: 43,
Ghana
46

Saharanpur

77.60000

30.06667 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.

Khandi
1984: 521,
523

47

Gulariya

Budaun

0.00000

OCP, LH,

IAR 1978-

OCP

79: 21

0.00000

B. B. Lal

48

Hardi

Sitapur

0.00000

Copper

1951: 27,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 34-5
49

Hastinapura

Meerut

78.05000

162

29.15000 OCP, PGW,

Lal 1954-55:

Hist, Med

5-151,
Joshi et al.
1984: 523

HussainpurB
50

Gaur and Lal

Muzaffarnagar

77.70556

29.35278 OCP, Hist

opada

1992: 378
Gaur and Lal

51

Huzur Nagar

Muzaffarnagar

77.66667

29.31667 OCP, Hist

1992: 378
B. B. Lal

52

Indilapur

Saharanpur

0.00000

Copper

1951: 29,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 34-5
Joshi et al.
53

Jainer

Saharanpur

77.71667

30.03333 LH, OCP

1984: 523
IAR 1964-

54

Jainpur

Saharanpur

0.00000

0.00000 OCP
65: 44
S. B. Singh
1976: 8-9,

55

Jakhera

Etah

78.68333

OCP, PGW,

IAR 1985-

Hist

86: 79-81,

27.85000

Sahi 1990:
217

56

57

Jaula

Jhal

Muzaffarnagar

Muzaffarnagar

77.41667

77.34722

163

LH, OCP,

Gaur and Lal

PGW

1992: 378

LH, OCP,

Gaur and Lal

PGW, Hist

1992: 378

29.27917

29.27083

Joshi et al.
58

Jhinjhana

Muzaffarnagar

77.25000

29.50000 OCP, PGW

1984: 523
IAR 196667: 43,

59

Kabirpur

Saharanpur

77.63333

30.08333 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 523
IAR 196667: 43,

60

Kailaspur

Saharanpur

77.65000

29.98333 LH, OCP

Joshi et al.
1984: 521,
523

OCP &
IAR 197861

Kamalapur

Hardoi

0.00000

0.00000 Copper
79: 101
Hoard
Shastri 1915:

Kamalapur,
Hardoi

62

0.00000

Hardoi

Copper

4,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 34-5
IAR 197863

Kannauj

Farrukhabad

0.00000

0.00000 OCP
79: 101
Joshi et al.

64

KaulHeri

Saharanpur

77.28333

29.88333 LH, OCP

1984: 523
IAR 1965-

65

Kauriaganj

Aligarh

0.00000

0.00000 OCP
66: 84

66

Kausambi

Allahabad

0.00000

164

0.00000 Copper

V. Smith

Hoard

1905: 232,
MakkhanLal
1984a: 36-7

Khanjahanpu
67

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

OCP, PGW,

Srivastava

Med

1982: 70-3

0.00000

IAR 196465: 44,

68

Khatauli

Saharanpur

77.66667

OCP, LH,

IAR 1966-

OCP

67: 43,

30.00000

Joshi et al.
1984: 523

69

KhedaJat

Saharanpur

0.00000

OCP, LH,

IAR 1984-

OCP

85: 92

0.00000

IAR 1969-

70

Kiratapur

Bulandshahr

78.25000

Copper

70: 38,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

28.52778

1984a: 34-5
Pande&
71

Kolkikalan

Saharanpur

0.00000

0.00000 LH, OCP

Ramachandra
n 1971: 39
IAR1966-67:
43,Dikshit

72

Kridhni

Saharanpur

77.50000

29.91667 OCP, LH

1982a: 114,
Joshi et al.
1984:

165

521,523

73

Kudana

Muzaffarnagar

77.37222

LH, OCP,

Gaur and Lal

PGW

1992: 378

29.42917

O.P.
OCP, PGW,
74

Kulheri

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

0.00000

Srivastava
Hist, Med
1982: 66-70
Srivastava

75

Ladava

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

0.00000 OCP, PGW

1982: 104-07
IAR 196667: 43, Joshi

Lakhmanti
76

Saharanpur

77.63333

30.05000 OCP
et al. 1984:

Kalan

523
IAR 197172: 45-6,
Joshi et al.
77

LalQila

Bulandshahr

78.25000

28.50000 OCP
1984: 523,
Gaur 1989,
Gaur 1995
V.N. Misra

78

Madanapur

Hardoi

0.00000

Copper

1976,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 36-7
Srivastava
79

Mahmoodpur Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

0.00000 OCP, Med

1982: 75-8

80

Majhadpur

Hardoi

0.00000

166

0.00000 Copper

B.B. Lal

Hoard

1951: 29,
MakkhanLal
1984a: 36-7
IAR 196667: 43, Joshi

81

Mandla

Saharanpur

77.65000

30.06667 OCP
et al. 1984:
523
IAR 196465: 44, Joshi

82

Mandowala

Saharanpur

77.75000

30.08333 OCP
et al. 1984:
523

83

Mathura

Mathura

0.00000

Copper

MakkhanLal

Hoard

1984a: 36-7

0.00000

IAR 196667: 43, Joshi

84

MatkiJhrauli

Saharanpur

77.58333

30.06667 LH, OCP

et al. 1984:
521,523
IAR 1966-

Mohiuddinpu
85

67: 43, Joshi

Saharanpur

77.63333

30.00000 LH, OCP

et al. 1984:
521,523
OCP &
IAR 1978-

86

Mujahidpur

Hardoi

0.00000

0.00000 Copper
79: 101
Hoard

87

Mulaheri

Muzaffarnagar

77.66944

167

29.38750 LH, OCP

Gaur and Lal

One

1992: 378

Mulaheri
88

Gaur and Lal

Muzaffarnagar

77.66944

29.38750 LH, OCP

Two

1992: 378

89

K.N.
Dikshit1968:
Copper
Nakarahiya

Sitapur

0.00000

0.00000

50,
Hoard
MakkhanLal
1884a: 36-7
Gaur and Lal

90

Nala

Muzaffarnagar

77.27778

29.28889 LH, OCP

1992: 378
K.N. Dikshit

Nasirpur,
Saharanpur

91

0.00000

Copper

1968: 47,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

Saharanpur

1884a: 36-7
Anderson

92

Niorai

Etah

0.00000

Copper

1883: 396,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 36-7
IAR 196465: 44, K.N.
93

Nirpalpur

Saharanpur

77.48333

30.01667 LH, OCP

Dishit 1982a:
115, Joshi et
al. 1984: 523
IAR 1964-

94

Pajrana

Saharanpur

77.66667

30.16667 OCP
65: 44, Joshi

168

Fuhrer 1891,
V. Smith
1907: 53,
IAR 195354: 53, IAR
OCP, PGW,
95

Pariar

Unnao

80.33333

26.58333

1978-79: 60Hist, Med

1, B.B.
LalandDikshi
t 1982,
MakkhanLal
1984a: 36-7
IAR 196667: 43, Joshi

96

Piki

Saharanpur

77.60000

30.03333 LH, OCP

et al. 1984:
521,523
IAR 196667: 43, Joshi

97

Pinjaura

Saharanpur

77.55000

29.93333 LH, OCP

et al. 1984:
521,523
Srivastava

98

Pipalsa

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

0.00000 OCP, Hist

1982: 83-6

PurBalian

Gaur and Lal

Muzaffarnagar

99

77.66667

Two

29.35611 LH, OCP

1992: 378

169

et al. 1984:
523
IAR 1978100

Rafiabbad

Budaun

0.00000

0.00000 OCP
79: 22
IAR 196465: 44, Joshi

101

Rajdhana

Saharanpur

77.46667

30.00000 OCP
et al. 1984:
523

102
IAR 1966ReriMalakpu

67: 43, Joshi

Saharanpur

77.48333

29.91667 LH, OCP

et al. 1984:
521,523

Srivastava

103

Sadabad

Mathura

0.00000

Copper

1973: 41,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

36-7
IAR 197071: 38, IAR
1971-72: 46OCP &
7, Wahal
104

Saipai

Etah

78.96667

26.45000 Copper
1971-72: 12Hoard
3,
MakkhanLal
1984a: 36-7

170

IAR 1981105

Saket Colony

Meerut

0.00000

0.00000 OCP
82: 103
IAR 1966-

SalepurBhok
106

67: 43, Joshi

Saharanpur

77.58333

30.03333 PGW, OCP

ri

et al. 1984:
523
IAR 1966-

Sarkari
107

67: 43, Joshi

Saharanpur

77.55000

30.03333 OCP

Kumar

et al. 1984:
524
IAR 1966-

SarkariSheik

67: 43, Joshi

Saharanpur

108

77.60000

30.00000 LH, OCP

et al. 1984:
521,524
Joshi et al.
1984: 524,

109

Sarthauli

Shahjahanpur

0.00000

Copper

B.B. Lal

Hoard

1951: 28-9,

0.00000

MakkhanLal
1984a: 36-7
IAR 1966SaruppurTag
110

67: 54, Joshi

Saharanpur

77.30000

29.93333 OCP

et al. 1984:
523

111

Shahabad

Hardoi

0.00000

171

0.00000 OCP,

IAR 1966-

Copper

67: 81, IAR

hoards,

1965-66,

PGW, Hist

MakkhanLal
1984a: 36-7

Shamli112

Muzaffarnagar

0.00000

LH, OCP,

Gaur and Lal

PGW

1992: 378

0.00000

Shamla

B.B. Lal

113

Sheorajpur

Kanpur

0.00000

Copper

1951: 29,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 36-7
IAR 196667: 43, Joshi
114

Sherpur

Saharanpur

77.65000

29.88333 LH, OCP

et al. 1984:
521,523
IAR 1986-

115

Shikarpur

Muzaffarnagar

77.65000

29.38333 OCP
87: 80

Shikarpur-

Gaur and Lal

Muzaffarnagar

116

77.49444

29.42778 LH, OCP

One

1992: 379
IAR 196566: 54, Joshi

117

Shukartal

Saharanpur

77.28333

29.91667 OCP
et al. 1984:
523
IAR 1964-

Sikri,
118

Saharanpur

77.63333

29.88333 OCP

65: 44, Joshi

Saharanpur
et al. 1984:

172

523
K.N. Dikshit
119

SingauliTaga

Meerut

77.38333

28.91667 LH, OCP

1982a: 115

120

SirsaTher

Budaun

0.00000

OCP, PGW,

IAR 1978-

Hist, Med

79: 22

0.00000

IAR 196465: 44, Joshi

121

Tahirpur

Saharanpur

77.53333

29.91667 PGW, OCP

et al. 1984:
523
IAR 196566: 54, Joshi

122

Tauli

Saharanpur

77.45000

29.93333 OCP
et al. 1984:
523

123

Toda

Muzaffarnagar

77.53333

OCP, PGW,

Gaur and Lal

Hist

1992: 379

29.28333

Mohapatra

124

Unknown

Hardoi

0.00000

Copper

1964: 45-7,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 40-1
Mohapatra

125

Unknown

Etah

0.00000

Copper

1964: 45-7,

Hoard

MakkhanLal

0.00000

1984a: 40-1

173

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

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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 SouthEast Asian stone tool complexs may not even be very old (Dhani, 1960: 146, 152),
which makes Lals 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.

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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, dishon-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.

7. Body sherd of a jar, ochre 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.
5. Body sherd of a jar, ochre in colour.

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.

Pl. 4.5 Pottery from Jhinjhana-1

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

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

1. Jar having a globular body, the external surface of the lower part of the body
is applied with slurry which is shallowly grooved.
2. Jar having a globular body, the external surface of the lower part of the body
is applied with slurry which is shallowly wavy grooved.
3. Fragment of a dish of a dish on stand, very sturdy and thick section.

Pl. 4.10 Pottery from Todi

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.

Pl. 4.13 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe

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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Pl. 4.15 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. 4.16 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

187

Pl. 4.4 Pottery from Jhinjhana-1

Pl. 4.5 Pottery from Jhinjhana-1

188

Pl. 4.6 Pottery from Mansura

Pl. 4.7 Pottery from Makandpur

189

Pl. 4.8 Pottery from Shbga

Pl. 4.9 Pottery from Todi

190

Pl. 4.10 Pottery from Todi

Pl. 4.11 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe from Hastinapur

191

Pl. 4.12 Copper Hoard tool: Flat celt from Todi

Pl. 4.13 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe from Todi

192

Pl. 4.14 Copper Hoard tool: Flat celt from Sanauli

Pl. 4.15 Copper Hoard tool: Shouldered axe from Hastinapur

193

Pl. 4.16 Copper Hoard tool: Bar celt from Ahichchhatra

Pl. 4.17 Copper Hoard tool: Bar celt from Saipai

194

Pl. 4.18 Copper Hoard tool: Harpoon from Ahichchhatra

Pl. 4.19 Copper Hoard tool: Harpoon from Ahichchhatra

195

Pl. 4.20 Copper Hoard tool: Spear head from Sanauli

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

Hastinapur
196

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

Hastinapur

Figure 4.6: OCP Pottery

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