NEO-CHALCOLITHIC ERA POTTERY FOUND ON BHUBANESWAR OUTSKIRTS 

Bhubaneswar, May 22: Archaeologists have successfully unearthed artefacts, which experts believe are 4,000 to 4,500 years old, from a site near Suabarei village, barely 20km from here.

Experts of branch-IV of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar, also claimed that the artefacts belonged to the neo-chalcolithic era.

Historically, chalcolithic era pertains to the copper age.

The ASI archaeologists during excavations have gathered strong evidences such as circular huts, pottery samples, stone axe, polishers, bone points, bone needle, charred animal bones with cut marks, fish bones, ear studs, copper objects, beads and bone arrow heads pointing to an "early stage of the copper age,'' which could be the period of transition from the stone to the copper age.

The site near Suabarei is sandwiched between the valleys of river Daya and a rivulet Gangua.

Daya is a branch of the Mahanadi river system, while Gangua originates from a stream in the Chandaka forests. Gangua flows to meet Daya a few kilometers beyond the excavation site.

Director of the excavation work and deputy superintending archaeologist of the ASI Jeevan Patnaik said: "Various pottery designs with black and red finish is a characteristics of a chalcolithic site. Samples of different shapes of pottery, including miniatures with a smooth finish, crucibles, knobbed lids, basin and several storage jars, were found from the site.''

Pottery designs having nail-tipped, wavy and horizontal lines and reed impressions were excavated.

Cord impressions found on the pottery, according to archaeologists, are also one of the major features of the chalcolithic period.

Patnaik, however, added that findings such as a copper fishing hook, shark teeth and antlers from the site proves that the residents of the area during the era were hunters.

"Two water sources on the two sides and forests and hilly regions on the other would have helped them to get food easily,'' he added.

The excavation work started in February and would continue for another two to three weeks.

"The excavation should normally be over by March-end, but as we started late in February due to the formalities involved in getting the permissions, there has been some delay,'' he added.

The excavations are now being carried out in eight trenches that are up to three metres deep.

Findings from the site will be sent to Birbal Sahani Institute of Paleobotany, Lucknow, for radio-carbon dating to know their exact age.

Archaeologist and professor at Utkal University Sadashiv Pradhan said: "The agrarian community proves an early village-based settlement almost 4,000 to 4,500 years old. Fishing, farming, hunting and discovery of a shark teeth from the site proves that the settlers were also expert in navigation in the nearby Daya river.''

"Shark tooth find also proves that there could be a sea-link or the residents could be making deep-sea voyage as shark, unlike dolphins, are never seen in rivers in coastal areas. Charred animal bones with cut marks unearthed from the site also prove that the people were eating meat products by grilling and roasting them,'' he added.

Former director of Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, Anthropological Survey of India and Indian Museum, Calcutta, and at present professor of Anthropology, Utkal University, Kishore Kumar Basa told The Telegraph: "The excavations at sites around Bhubaneswar at Golabai Sasan, Baanga near Harirajpur and now at Suabarei have proved that there was evolution of well-defined agrarian community in and around the major urban centre such as Sisupalgarh, which emerged much later. The Suabarei site is also more than 4,000 years old.''

A senior ASI archaeologist also added that during the field survey last year, the team from the excavation branch also found many artefacts of neo-chalcolithic era from villages Narahuda and Annlajodi near Tirimal in Khurda district.

"All the findings from the Suabarei and its adjacent locations and possible sites nearby could suggest that the neo-chalcolithic sites might have been spread over a catchments of 50 to 100 kms,'' said professor Sadashiv Pradhan.