Region Beyond The Coastal Lines (6): Peḍḍabankur

In Telangana region Peḍḍabankur reveal settlements with town planning of a developed order. Peḍḍabankur has megalith burials along with a habitation area^[1]. Peḍḍabankur indicates continuous habitation from Neolithic-Chalcolithic period onwards leading to the cultural remains of the Sātavāhana times. On the basis of reports it can be assumed that two phases of structural developments can be assigned to the site-early period dated to c 250-100 B.C.E and that it continues in the Sātavāhana period-c.50 B.C.E-200 C.E. It may be noticed that there are three huge brick structures -two of them measuring 30 x 40m and the third one 16.80 x 15.80m. It is found that the enclosures have a single gateway either in the north-west or north-east corner. The entrances were broad and intended for vehicular traffic. Inside the enclosures were traces of houses, wells, cisterns etc. The entire complex looks like self sufficient unit^[2]. In addition to the structural remains, the punch-marked silver coins, Roman denari and Sātavāhana coins are discovered which enhances the importance of the place. It was probably a mint centre. A series of square and rectangular cisterns and brick platform with iron slags and two ovens indicate it to be a blackmith’s workshop^[3].