Ancient Architecture and Town Planning

(For the Mini Workshop Future of the Past)

Mangalore
22-26 November 2011

Vasant Shinde
Deccan College
Post-Graduate and Research
Institute
Deemed University
Pune
 SOUTH ASIAN STONE AGE CHRONOLGY

ARCHAEOLOGICAL LABEL CHRONOLOGY

Ceramic Phase 8500- 6000 yrs

NEOLITHIC
Aceramic Phase 9000- 8500 yrs

Ceramic Phase 7000- 6000 yrs

MESOLITHIC Aceramic Phase 30000- 8000 yrs

Upper Palaeolithic 40000-30000 yrs

Middle Palaeolithc 80000-40000 yrs
PALAEO- Lower Palaeolithic 1.2 m 80000 yrs
LITHIC
SOUTH ASIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CHRONOLOGY

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARCHAEOLOGICAL LABEL CHRONOLOGY

EARLY HISTORIC 600 BC

PERIOD

NBPW 700-300 BC
Post
Harappan PGW 1200-800 BC
LOCALIZATION ERA 1900-1300 BC

INTEGRATION ERA OR 2600-1900 BC

HARAPPAN PHASE
Harappan
Tradition
EARLY HARAPPAN 3200-2600 BC

Developmental
Stage REGIONALIZATION ERA 5000-2600 BC

EARLY FOOD 7000-5000 BC

Formation
PRODUCING ERA
Stage
NEOLITHIC
Billasurgam Cave
Sanyasulagavi

Major part of the Human life

occupied by Hunting-Gathering
stage . They lived for a short period
either for manufacture or
subsistence purposes in natural
caves or shelters. This was due to
extremely cold climatic conditions.
Traces of their occupation are
found in at such shelters or near
the source of raw materials
Billasurgam Cave
Mogasarayangondi Cave
Mesolithic Period- Very important as
one witnesses switch over from
Hunting-Gathering to Agriculture. Man
began to stay at one place little longer.
Traces of flimsy floors have been
reported from many sites
Mehrgarh

Neolithic Stage- Beginning of

Agriculture due to changing
Climatic conditions, population
rise, etc. Evidence of habitation ,
emergence of proper structural
activities, change in the social
organization, different types of
structures including domestic,
craftmens area, public, religious,
etc.
Cultural Sequence at Bhirrana
1
Plan of Features excavated at Girawad
Period I- Early Harappan features at Farmana
 A number of well made floor levels noticed between the
Early and Mature Harappan phases in Farmanan suggesting
dradual development in the Structural Activities
St. 1
Structural remains and fire-place of the Transitional
Phase from Early to Mature
 FARMANA: A PLAN OF STRUCTURES

Structural Phase- I- Period IIA

Structural Phase-II, Period IIB

Tow structural levels have been excavated: St. Phase- I belong to Period IIA and St. Phase- II of
Period- IIB
Structural Phase-I Period IIA, Locality-3, North of the settlement- Structure Complex 15
 Period-IIA- Structural Phase-I-
Locality-2, East of the settlement
Structure Complexes 8-12 all oriented NW-SE, the pattern which
continues in Period IIB also.
 Structure Complexes 8-9

Period- IIA
Structure Complexes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6: Structural Phase II- Period- IIB, Locality-1
Another Kitchen cum storage of the complex 3
Fire places of different shapes and sizes- Rectangular majority.
Usually pots and jars are associated with them.
 Structure Complex 3

Storage rooms and pits

of the complex
 Kitchen of the
Complex 4

St. Complex 4- Nine rooms (4A to 4I) of which

have been excavated so far
 Rooms for Security?

P A S S A G E
Living and kitchen rooms of the complex 4
WELL PLANNED CITY LAYOUT OF HARAPPAN CITIES AND TOWNS
North Gate
Mohenjodaro, Great Bath area
Mohenjodaro, A part of the city
Crossing of major streets
MATURE CHALCOLITHIC PLANNED SETTLEMENT
EVIDENCE OF PROTO URBANIZATION
PARELLEL WALLS STRUCTURE: GRANERY?
What information we get from the study of structural
remains?

Nature of the settlement, family nature, climatic conditions,

Economic and social conditions, etc.

Fully settled community prefer Rectangular/ Square structures

Whereas semi-nomad ones circular structures-Reasons

Size and nature of construction provide information regarding

Economic conditions.

House of a Chief usually in the central place whereas those of the

Craftsmen on the periphery.

Characteristic of different social organizations

Any Question?