Part 7 - Ceramics and Pottery of the Vārāṇasī region

A huge ceramic assemblage reported from the whole of the middle Gaṅgā plains pointed to a busy and developed potter’s industry. In the middle Gaṅgā plains at large the art of making earthen utensils and other articles started with the beginning of the Neolithic age. An initial handmade ceramic tradition was replaced by a potter’s wheel.

The earliest ceramics of the middle Gaṅgā plains which may be dated to the Neolithic phase mainly constituted of ordinary Red Ware, Rusticated Ware and corded Ware. Rice husk and chaff were used as degraissant and pottery types were mainly bowls of a large variety. These were sometimes decorated with painted motifs. Such painted motifs as evidenced from the ceramic collection of Chirand or Senuwar were linear designs of criss-cross lines or concentric circles. At Imlidih-Khurd these motifs were dots and dashes made by a creamish red tinge on an otherwise red surface. Post firing, geometric patterns are also carved in those potteries. The cord–impressed ware of Imlidih-Khurd, Narhan, Bhunadih showed that chemically they contain much silica and less alumina. The coarse and fine varieties can be obtained by changing the ratio of these two elements. During oxidization a temperature of 850-900 degree C was a necessity. Variety in ceramic traditions and pottery types was clearly visible in the Chalcolithic times. Barring a few sites, Red, Black and Red, Black Slipped Ware and even Grey Ware potteries were reported from other sites of the middle Gaṅgā plain. These are mostly wheel turned though handmade specimens are also found.

Another feature of the Black and Red Ware of the middle Gaṅgā plains was they were painted with dull-white, cream, brownish and some shades of red over the black surface of the exterior or interior. The paintings were basically linear designs of wavy lines, straight and oblique strokes, dots, semi-circle etc. The painted variety of Black Slipped Ware was located at Rajghat, Prhaladpur, Khairadih, Sohgaura, Taradih etc. Rice husk, sand or mica were occasionally used as degraissants. Main potteries of this time consisted of bowls, basins, dishes, vessels and vases.^[1] In the whole of eastern Uttar Pradesh a rich and varied ceramic industry can be noted. An evolution in style and technique of ceramics comes in the form of how they were fired and from handmade to wheel turned.

In the Neolithic phase potteries are generally illfired and had a grey core. The same tradition was followed in the Chalcolithic period and a burgeoning ceramic industry was reported. Style and techniques amply speak about care and attention that were employed in the making of these potteries and naturally engaged many people in this industry. No doubt, it was an important industry grown in the middle Gaṅgā plain. At Vārāṇasī too, this is one industry that was present in all periods. Even in the earliest period advanced skills were achieved by the presence of a class of skilled craftsmen and methods of firing done in open kiln, closed kiln and inverted firing. Along with utensils, children’s toys, toiletries, ornaments were produced. In the next phase even greater skill and efficiency were achieved. By that time NBPW not only makes its arrival but also becomes fairly widespread. It was an esteemed item of export. So the potters were not only catering to the local needs but manufacturing for the purpose of export too. They were sent to as distant places like Taxila. After the NBPW phase the potter’s craft slowly regressed as an art and ceased to be a principal economic activity.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The Jātaka or Stories of The Buddha’s Former Births, Vol.II, no.156, Alīnacitta Jātaka, translated from the Pāli by W.H.D. Rouse, Edited by E.B. Cowell, Delhi, Motilal Banarasidass Publishers Private Limited, 1990, pp.13 -17.