Navdatoli

Navdatoli
नव्दातोदी
Nawdatodi
Ancient Village
Navdatoli
Coordinates: 22°09′43″N 75°34′59″E / 22.162°N 75.583°E / 22.162; 75.583Coordinates: 22°09′43″N 75°34′59″E / 22.162°N 75.583°E / 22.162; 75.583
Country India
State Madhya Pradesh

Navdatoli refers to both a modern day village and a chalcolithic era settlement located on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh in central India.[1] The ancient village was inhabited through four stages each defined by types of pottery.[2] The site was excavated between 1957 and 1959 over two seasons.[1] Both the village and the site are located roughly a mile south of the modern day town of Maheshwar.

Archaeology

Ceramic goblet from Navdatoli, Malwa, 1300 BCE.[3]

The archaeological site was defined by 4 distinct mounds and excavated by researchers from Deccan College.[1] Mounds I, II, and III were partially excavated in 1957-1958.[1] Mound IV was completely excavated over two seasons which lasted from 1957-1958 and 1958-1959.[1] Numerous rectangular and circular structures were uncovered which contained most of the artifacts that were found.[4] The houses were mostly one room and were made of wattle and daub that were whitewashed with lime.[4] Llime was also used on the floors in an effort to reduce the number of insects inside each house.[2] The wattle of the houses were made of either acacia or conifer and were interwoven with bamboo.[4] Most houses had a fireplace and a stone slab that was used for grinding and mashing grain.[4] Pottery of varying styles including Malwa, Jorwe, black and red ware, cream slipped ware, and grey ware were also commonly found within houses .[1][4] Similarities between Navdatoli pottery and certain Iranian ceramics have led some to believe the area was colonized by immigrants from the northwest.[1] Given the size and number of residences found, along with the length of time the area was occupied, it is estimated that on average roughly 150 individuals lived in the village in its earliest stage.[4] Evidence of domestic animals including Indian cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs were also found.[1]

Lithic Production

In the roughly 20,000 square feet that were excavated, over 30,000 blades, cores, and flakes were found at the site, leading archaeologists to believe the site was a production area for lithic tools.[4] Nearly all of the tools were made of chalcedony from the nearby Narmada River.[4] The same method of production was used throughout the occupation of the site and it appears that each household made their own tools, often the case of other sites from the same time period and within the same area.[4] Blades found at Navdatoli were often longer than those found at other sites within the same time period.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hamlin, Carol (Aug 1973). "Chalcolithic Navdatoli: The Excavations at Navdatoli, 1957". American Archaeologist, New Series. 75 (4): 1115–1117.
  2. 1 2 Ghosh, A. (1958). "Excavation at Navdatoli". Indian Archaeology, A Review. 1957-1958: 30–32.
  3. ↑ PHGCOM (2008), Goblet from Navdatoli, Malwa, ca. 1300 BCE, retrieved 2018-03-14
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sankalia, H. D. (June 1967). "The Socioeconomic Significance of the Lithic Blade Industry of Navdatoli, Madhya Pradesh, India". Current Anthropology. 8 (3): 262–268.
  5. ↑ Ghosh, A. (1960). "Indian Archaeology, a Review": 28.
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