Explorations at Gopalpur, District Nayagarh, Coastal Orissa

Sushanta Kumar Kar, Kishor K. Basa1 and P.P. Joglekar2

Archaeological Survey of India 1 Department of AnthropologyBangalore Circle Utkal University5th Floor, F Wing Bhubaneshwar 751 004Kendriya SadanKoramangalaBangalore 560 034

Department of ArchaeologyDeccan CollegePune41l006

Introduction

Several Neolithic sites were discovered around Pallaharaand Kantala (Angul District) during a recent surveyconducted by the Department of Anthropology, UtkalUniversity, Bhubaneshwar. The prehistoric site ofGopalpur was one of them (Kar 1992; Tripathi and Kar1993). It was surveyed during 1995-1996 (Kar 1995-96).

Three sites (Fig. 1) have yielded importantChalcolithic evidence in Orissa (for a general review seeBasa 1994,1997): Sankerjang, Angul District (Dash 1986;Yule et at. 1990), Kuanr, Keonjhar District (Ray 1993) andGolbai Sasan, Khurda District (Sinha 1993; Sinha inpress). The Neolithic culture in Orissa is however, morewidely distributed. While Dash (1987) studied theNeolithic of Orissa from the viewpoint of distribution,typology and raw materials used, Behera (1992a) arguedthat the Bonaigarh Neolithic complex had a pebble toolcomponent and that Sulabhdihi in Bonaigarh was a richNeolithic celt manufacturing centre using dolerite as theraw material (Behera 1992b). Prior to this evidence,Baidyapur in Mayurbhanj District had yielded Neolithicmaterial in association with pottery and rice grains(Banerjee 1930: 39-40). A small-scale excavation atKuchai by B.K. Thapar in 1960s yielded the Neolithicartefacts made by the grinding and polishing technique, acoarse grit-tempered Red Ware (in some cases applied andshowing incised and finger-tip decoration) and orange-brown ware (Thapar 1985: 45). '

Site of Gopalpur

Gopalpur village (20° 01' 52" N; 85° 21' 19" E) is situated72 km south of Bhubaneshwar, in Nayagarh District (Fig.l).'The small mound located near the village on itsnorthern side is locally known as Jagati. It is oriented inN-S direction and it is approximately 140 m long, 115mwide and 9 m high. A small stream locally called the

Khatiari flows from west to east cutting through the moundand exposing a section that contains a variety of artefactssuch as celts, potsherds, burnt clay fragments, fragments ofrubbing stones and bones.

Lithic Remains

The celts are of two types: those made on dolerite andthose on basalt (Fig. 2), and they also occur in two sizes.The larger celts are triangular in shape (maximum length,breadth and thickness are 11.5, 6.5 and 1.5 cm respec-tively). The smaller celts are trapezoid and flat (maximumlength, breadth and thickness are 5.5,4.5 and 1.5 cmrespectively). Several fragments of celts as well as piecesof dolerite chunks were also found at Gopalpur. Explora-tion of the environs of the site yielded a few fragments ofrubbing stones, pestles, querns and perforated stones (Fig.3). These might have been used for sharpening weapons •and grinding food grains, while the perforated stones mayhave been used as a free wheel under the bamboo screen offish traps.

Pottery

A large number of potsherds, mainly wheel-turned, havebeen noticed at the site (Fig. 4-6) and include Red Ware,Red Slipped Ware, a dull red ware, Gray Ware, CreamSlipped Ware, Chocolate Ware, Black-and-Red Ware andBurnished Black Ware (a possible prototype of NBP ware).A few sherds are handmade and perhaps some were madeon a turn table. The main shapes include the vase, thehandi, dish, shallow dish, bowl, ring-based bowl, tumbler,lid and miniature pot.

Animal Remains

The animal remains at the site are represented by a^small— thirty seven bones — collection made from the surface.Thirty one were identifiable and revealed that even such a

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MADHYA PRADESH

1 GOLBAI SASAN

2 GDPALPUR

3 SANKERJANG

4 DUNRIA

5 KUANR

6 BAGDHA PINDAANDHRAPRADES

Fig. 1: Distribution of Neolithic-Chalcolithic sites in Orissa

small collection represents 2 domestic (cattle and buffalo)and 4 wild species (nilgai, chital, wild pig and rhinoceros).The total weight of the bones was 2.593 kg and most of thefragments were large, including the unidentified pieces(Table 1).

Although this is a surface collection of bones, itrepresents a variety of the skeletal elements of cattle (Fig.7) and buffalo (Fig. 8). The former include a femur, apartially charred tibia, two distal fragments of the humerus(one with a cut mark) and a fairly complete portion of theleft mandible. Buffalo bones (6) include a fragment ofcranial (frontal) bone, a proximal portion of a radius, acomplete patella (knee cap), a broken mandible, a completefirst phalanx and partially charred proximal portion of ametacarpal bone.

Fourteen bones were identified as Bos/Bubalus since itwas not possible to decide the exact species status. Thesebones include two complete molars of the upper jaw, onerib fragment, two cranial bones, a fragment of pelvic bone,a cut portion of the vertical ramus of a mandible, twonearly complete vertebrae with fused central plates, one

distal fragment of a humerus, a metapodial without thedistal unfused epiphysis, one tooth (possibly a lowerpremolar) and two distal fragments of either a tibia or ahumerus fashioned as tools. One of these tools is like aborer/point whose tip has been fire hardened and the otherhas been fashioned into a side scrapper.

Wild animals are represented by only six bones (Table1). The wild pig is represented by the proximal portion ofthe ulna bearing a cut mark perpendicular to the long axis.Other wild animals are nilgai (two metatarsals); chital (onefragment of the antler (Fig. 9, right), and one mandiblefragment); and rhinoceros represented by a nearly completesecond phalanx (Fig. 9, left).

It is possible to estimate the fat-free carcass weightand height of the cattle based on the measurement of thedistal portion of the humerus (Noddle 1973). It waspossible to measure a few bones (Table 2). Studies on thetwo humeri (GPL1 and GPL 4) from Gopalpur give usestimates of the fat-free carcass weight of the cattle to be147 and 151 kg respectively. This indicates that cattle atGopalpur were at least of a medium-built variety. Also the

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Explorations at Gopalpur, District Nayagarh, Coastal Orissa

2. 3

Scm

fr:\

&*-<?

Fig. 2: Celts from Jagati (Gopalur): 1 and 4 large type; 2, 3 and 7 small type; 5 celt fragment; 6 celt of chipped type

Table 1: Gopalpur: animal species identified

Species

Bos indicus

Bos/Bubalus

Bitbalus bubalis

Boselaphus tragocatnelus

Axis axis

Sus scrofa

Rhinoceros unicornis

Number of identified specimens

Unidentified (UF)

(cattle)

(buffalo)

(nilgai)

(chital)

(wild pig)

(rhinoceros)

NISP

5

14

6

2

2

1

1

31

6

Weight (g) Weight/Fragment (g)

970

561

605

200

65

12

40

2543

50

194.00

40.07

100.83

100.00

32.50

12.00

40.00

82.03

8.33

Total 37 2593 70.08

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1 , 1 1 1 1 1o 1 2 3 1 5 cm

Fig. 3: Gopalpur: perforated stones

12

\6

18

CM.

Fig. 5: Gopalpur: pottery; 16 and 18 High necked jar (Red Ware);17 High necked jar (Cream Slipped Ware); 19 Cord impressionson Red Ware sherds

13

Fig. 4: Gopalpur: pottery; 12 high-necked jar (Cream-slippedWare); 13 high-necked jar (Black and Red Ware); 14 bowl(burnished Black Ware); 15 high-necked jar (Red-slipped Ware)

general size of the bones suggests that cattle of a medium-heavy build also could have existed at Gopalpur.

Other Remains

Although the villagers here have collected copper and ironimplements, no metal implements were recovered by usfrom the surface during our explorations at and aroundGopalpur. However, evidence for iron smelting has beenfound during the explorations at Dangala and Gothapada,on the southeast and south of the modern village ofGopalpur. A few pieces of iron slag and terracotta pipes(Fig. 10) were found scattered in these three areas.

On the eastern side.of the modern village, two ancientsculptures both made on Khondalite were found on thesurface: one is a Mahishamardini (150 cm long and 75 cmwide) and the other a headless Dhyani Buddha. At thenearby village (1 km eastwards) of Ramchandrapur Sasan,remains of some ancient temples were also noted duringour exploration.

Comments

Golbai Sasan (20 km from Gopalpur by road towards thesoutheast) is one of the most important excavated sites inthis region. Here three cultural phases have been identified

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1HHExplorations at Gopalpur, District Nayagarh, Coastal Orissa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * )

20

21

22

0

23

? . . . . .CM.

Fig. 6: Gopalpur: pottery; 20 Vase (Grey Ware); 21 Vase (Chocolate Ware); 22 Handi (Grey Ware); 23 Basin (Grey Ware)

— Period I: Neolithic, Period Ha: Osteo-Chalcolithic, andPeriod lib: Ferro-Chalcolithic (Sinha 1993, Sinha in press).It may be useful to compare this evidence with that fromGopalpur although the latter is only a surface collection.Like Golbai Sasan Period I, Gopalpur has yieldedNeolithic celts and querns. The pottery of the two sitesfrom Period I (i.e. red and grey ware) is also comparable.Black-and-Red Ware found at Gopalpur Period HA issimilar to that found at Golbai Sasan Period Ha in respectof shapes. Based on the remains of pottery, it can be saidthat Gopalpur was also a Neolithic-Chalcolithic site likethat of Golbai Sasan. A preliminary description of animalbones at Golbai Sasan (Sinha in press) indicates thathumped cattle, sheep and goat were present. In addition tothe bones of domestic animals at Gopalpur, bones ofseveral types of wild animals have been found. However,unlike Golbai Sasan, Gopalpur has not provided evidenceof a rich bone tool industry.

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Prof. K.C. Tripathi for his encourage-ment during various stages of the exploration and Mr.Shrikant Pradhan for preparing the drawings.

References

Banerjee, K.D. 1930. History of India, Volume I. Calcutta:Prabsi Press.

Basa, K.K. 1994. Problems and Perspectives in Archaeol-ogy of Orissa, India. Occasional Paper No. 4.Bhubaneshwar: Utkal University.

Basa, K.K. 1997. Archaeological Heritage, in Comprehen-sive History and Culture of Orissa Vol. 1 (P.K.Mishra Ed.), pp. 18-45. New Delhi: KaveriBooks.

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Fig. 7: Gopalpur: cattle bones

Fig. 8: Gopalpur: buffalo bones

i 2 3

Fig. 9: Gopalpur: wild animal bones; left: rhinoceros phalanx,right: antler of chital

Fig. 10: Fragments of terracotta pipes

Behera, P.K. 1992a. The Pebble Tool Component of the.Bonaigarh Neolithic Complex, Orissa, Man andEnvironment 12(2): 57-63.

Behera, P.K. 1992b. Sulabhdihi: a Neolithic Celt Manufac-turing Centre in Orissa, Pumtattva 22: 124-132.

Dash, R.N. 1986. Sankerjang- a Chalcolithic Site in Orissa,Orissa Historical Research Journal 32: 99-125.

Dash, R.N. 1987. Neolithic of Orissa, Unpublished Ph.D.Dissertation, Bhubaneshwar: Utkal University.

Ghosh, Al.C. 1969-70. On the Neolithic Pottery of EasternIndia, Journal of the Oriental Institute 19: 333-339.

Kar, S.K. 1992. Surface Survey Around Tangi-Chandpur-Gopalpitr- Golbai Complex, Orissa. UnpublishedM.A. Dissertation, Bhubaneshwar: Utkal Univer-sity.

Kar, S.K. 1995-96. Further Exploration at Gopalpur,Orissa, Pumtattva 26: 105-106.

Kar, S.K. 1996. Gopalpur: a Phase of Chalcolithic Culturein Orissa. Unpublished M.Phil. Dissertation.Bhubaneshwar: Utkal University.

Noddle, B.A. 1973. Determination of the Body Weight ofCattle from Bone Measurements, inDomestikationsforschung und Gerschichte des

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Explorations at Gopalpur, District Nayagarh, Coastal Orissa

Table 2: Gopalpur: measurements (mm) of animal bones

No.BoneSpeciesMaximum distal widthWidth of the trochlea

No.BoneSpeciesMaximum distal widthMaximum distal thickness

No.BoneSpeciesLength of the capitulumWidth of the capitulum

No.BoneSpeciesLengthWidth

GPL1HumerusBos indicus78.0669.00

GPL 7TibiaBos indicus56.2142.00

GPL 8FemurBos indicus56.7742.82

GPL 6Upper MolarBos/Bubalus30.2713.36

GPL4HumerusBos indicus76.0071.44

No.BoneSpeciesLengthWidth

No.BoneSpeciesMaximum lengthProximal widthProximal thicknessDistal width

GPL 3Mandible with pm4, ml and m2Bos indicuspm4 19.00 ml 24.12 m226.12

9.95 12.55 12.00

GPL 9First PhalanxBubalus bubalis51.4528.5228.8228.15

No.BoneSpeciesLengthWidthThickness

GPL 11PatellaBubalus bubalis65.6859.0034.30

No.BoneSpeciesLength of m3Width of m3

GPL 10Mandible with only third molarBubalus bubalis30.2713.36

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No. GPL 5Bone RadiusSpecies Bubalus bubalisMaximum proximal width 71.00

No. GPL 2Bone MetatarsalSpecies B. tragocamelusMaximum distal width 40.57Distal thickness ' 27.40Thickness of the trochlea: lateral part 18.68Thickness of the trochlea: medial part 28.00

Haustiere (J. Malolcsi Ed.), pp. 248-260, Budap- Thapar, B.K. 1985. Recent Archaeological Discoveries inest: Akademiai Kiado. India. Paris: UNESCO.

Ray, Ranjana 1993. Discovery of a Chalcolithic Site near Tripathy, K.C. and S.K. Kar 1993. Microlithic Industry ofthe Source of River Baitarani, Orissa, Journal of Tangi, Orissa, Manav 4: 151-155.the Indian Anthropological Society 28: 97-101. Yule p RK Rath and R Hojgaard 1990 Sankerjang- a

Sinha, B.K. 1993. Excavation at Golbai Sasan, District Metal Period Burial Site in the DhenkanalPuri, Orissa, Puratattva 23: 48-50. Uplands of Orissa, in South Asian Archaeology

o- u r,^ n „_ N <- ,u • o * u- . • ov n, /9S7 (M. Taddei Ed.), pp. 581-584. Rome:Sinha, B.K. (In Press). Golbai, a Protobustonc Site on the MFO' Coast of Orissa, in Archaeology of Orissa (K.K.Basa and P. Mohanty Eds.).

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