Anarta tradition

The Anarta tradition or Anarta ware is a chalcolithic culture tentatively dated between c. 3950 BCE to 1900 BCE based on radio carbon dates from Loteshwar and Gola Dhoro.[1] The sites associated with it are located in Gujarat, India.

Anarta Tradition

Geographical range	South Asia (Gujarat)
Period	Chalcolithic
Dates	c. 3950 BCE to 1900 BCE
Major sites	Loteshwar, Datrana
Preceded by	possibly Mesolithic peoples
Followed by	Harappan Civilization
Defined by	P. Ajithprasad and V. H. Sonawane

Nomenclature

During the earlier excavations at Surkotada, the ceramics of this culture were described as the coarse red or gray "local" ware. P. Ajitprasad and V. H. Sonawane described these non-Harappan ceramics from north Gujarat as the "Anarta ware". Anarta is a historical name of north Gujarat. The name later applied retrospectively to this type of ceramics found from other sites.[2]

Geographical range

The core area of Anarta tradition is located in north Gujarat having 67 sites while four sites are reported from Kutch and three sites from Saurashtra regions. The Padri Ware is not very different from the Anarta tradition. So if it is considered as the Anarta tradition, its ten sites in Saurashtra can be added to the Anarta tradition.[1][2][3]

Sites and association with Harappans

The ceramics similar to the Anarta tradition was first reported from Surkotada with Classical Harappan (IA, IB and IC periods) ceramics. When Nagwada in Surendranagar district was excavated, this distinctive regional type of ceramics were first recognized where it was associated with Pre-Urban and Urban Harappan artifacts. The Anarta tradition was recognized as an independent culture when Loteshwar in Patan district was excavated in 1991-92. These ceramics are also associated with Pre-Urban Harappan Sindh Type Pottery/Burial pottery (Amri Nal type) found at Motipipli and Datrana and with Pre-Prabhas pottery at Datrana. These ceramics are also compared and found similar to the Padri Ware. These ceramics are also found in the association of the Classical Harappan and Sorath Harappan elements at Gola Dhoro (Bagasara) in Saurashtra and Shikarpur in Kutch. These ceramics are also found Rangpur IIC period. They are not found associated with Post-Urban Harrapan artefacts at any sites.[1][2][4] Other sites are Panchasar, Santhli, Lothal, Zekhada, Rojdi and possibly Desalpur.[2] These sites are concentrated in Patan, Mehsana and Banaskantha districts in north Gujarat.[3] These sites in north Gujarat are located in sand dunes which may have provided fresh water from its interdunal depressions and pastures for animals. These people may have originated from the early Mesolithic people settled here.[3] The lived alongside other "aboriginal" hunter-gatherer people.[5]

Ceramics

The Anarta ceramics include gritty red ware, fine red ware, burnished red ware and burnished grey/black wares. The pottery from this tradition are hand or slow wheel made and are coarse and well-fired. The vessel forms include straight or convex sided bowls with incurved rims; basins with thick flaring rim; pots or jars with flaring rim, narrow neck and bulging body. These vessels are treated with red slip with paintings in red, black and white.[1][2][6]

References

1. K., Krishnan; S. V., Rajesh (2015). Dr., Shakirullah; Young, Ruth (eds.). "Scenario of Chalcolithic Site Surveys in Gujarat". Pakistan Heritage. Department of Archaeology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan. 7: 4–5 – via Academia.edu.
2. Suzanne, Harris (2011). Mobility and Variation in Chalcolithic North Gujarat, India (Ca 3600 – 1800 Bc) (Thesis). University of Pennsylvania. pp. 101–106. Publicly accessible Penn Dissertations. Paper 359.
3. SV, Rajesh (2011). "I. Introduction". A Comprehensive Study of the Regional Chalcolithic Cultures of Gujarat (Ph.D.). Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. pp. 3–4, 168–169 – via Academia.
4. Rajesh, S.V.; Krishnan, K (2014-01-01). Chalcolithic Cultures of Gujarat (c. 3950 – 900 BCE): An Appraisal In "Pracyabodha – Indian Archaeology and Tradition (Professor T.P. Verma Festschrift Volume I)". p. 198. doi:10.13140/2.1.2989.3925. ISBN 9789350501450.
5. Stone, Elizabeth C. (2007-12-31). Settlement and Society: Essays Dedicated to Robert McCormick Adams. ISD LLC. p. 313. ISBN 978-1-938770-97-5.
6. Shirvalkar, Prabodh Suhas (2008). "Pre and Early Harappan Cultures of Gujarat with Special Reference to Gulf of Cambay Region". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 68/69: 411–415. ISSN 0045-9801. JSTOR 42931224.