The present book is a comprehensive report of the excavations conducted at a Chalcolithic site of Mahidpur (Dist. Ujjain, M.P.). The mound is locally known as Bhasmatekari; and is situated on the bank of Shipra river. The excavations have yielded the evidence of one of the earliest chalcolithic culture of Malwa. The antiquities collected from excavations have been analysed scientifically into eight Chapters added with a note on the faunal remains collected from excavations. Chapter 1st is an introduction of the site and, in brief, the cultural sequence as revealed by the excavations. The Second chapter is a brief survey of geographical and historical backgrounds of the region. The Third chapter is devoted on the strata and the structures identified during the period of excavations at the site. It gives an idea of the settlement pattern and the types of house they used to build. Chapter Four is more comprehensive as it deals with the various types of pattern and the ceramic industries. The major types of ceramics discussed in this context are the Red-pottery, with painting done by the white-pigments, Black-and-Red ware (painted and plain), Red-slipped ware, Lustrous red-ware and the favourite Malwa ware etc. Chapter Five is devoted on the Blade Industry. A large number of microliths have been collected from all the phases of chalcolithic Mahidpur. These have been analysed and also distributed in tables categorically and period-wise. The Sixth chapter deals with terracotta figurines and other terracotta objects – the ear-disc, studs, stopper, ring, bangles, beads etc. and also the stone-beads. Chapter seven is devoted to deal with the bone-objects like the shell bangles, bone points, saddle-quern, pestle-stones, mullers etc. The metal objects like the copper-bangles, iron-objects and the gold-objects have also been discussed in this chapter. Chapter Eight is an resume. It has been followed by an “appendice†on faunal remains collected from the excavations at Mahidpur. The text is authenticated by the score line drawings, photographs of antiquities and cultural heritage of Mahidpur. It is expected that the text would be a new addition to our knowledge in the field.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ashok Trivedi
Dr. Ashok Trivedi, Senior Reader in the department had been actively planning and directing the archaeological excavations and explorations work for the last 20 years. He has produced half-a-dozen Ph.D. students on various branches of archaeology. His rare research work on the Cultural History of Anupa Janapada is significant. He has published more than three dozens of research papers in various journals of National and International repute.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dhirendra Solanki
Dr. Dhirendra Solanki, Excavation-in-charge in the department, has done P.G. Diploma in Museology from Barakatullah University, Bhopal and Ph.D. in Archaeology from Vikram University, Ujjain. For last 15 years he had been looking after the work of excavations / explorations conducted by the department. He has published more than two dozens of research papers and two books on different aspects of archaeology and history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rahman Ali
Dr. Rahman Ali was born in 1943 in a village Chanakapur, Dist. Gorakhpur (U.P.). He obtained his post-graduate degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Gorakhpur University in 1965. Later, he joined Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Poona (Now Deemed University) and obtained Ph.D. Degree under the guidance of world renowned Professor H.D. Sankalia, Padma Bhushan, from Poona University in 1972. Dr. Ali participated in the scheme of Village to Village Survey sponsored by ASI and UGC, New Delhi and received First Prize for rare discoveries in the field. While stay at Deccan College, Poona Dr. Ali underwent training in Archaeological Excavations and Explorations of Pre-Proto and Historic sites of India under the scholarly supervision of Prof. H.D. Sankalia and his team for a period of ten years. Dr. Ali has written half-a-dozen books on different aspects of art, architecture and archaeology; and written excavation reports of Sodanga and Mahidpur (M.P.). Besides these, many of his research articles on different aspects of art, archaeology and culture have been published in National and International Journals. Dr. Ali is actively engaged with research and other academic pursuits and many of his research scholars are pursuing their research work under his scholarly guidance. Apart from the academic zeal, Dr. Ali is associated with different academic bodies and associations throughout the country and at present he is a Senior Professor in School of Studies in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Vikram University, Ujjain (M.P.).
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