Malli An Early lron Age Site, Gondia District, Vidarbha Region, Maharashtra

Vol. XL. No. 1' 2015

Environment

Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary studies

V.G. Sontakke, Man and Enyironment XL(7): 43-53 [20151. O Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quatemary Studies

Malli: An Early lron Age Site, Gondia District, Vidarbha Region, Maharashtra Virag G. Sontakke Department of Archaeology, Government of Maharashtra, Nagpur E-mail: viragsontakke@gmail. com

' I I '

Abstract Early IronAge in Vidarbha is associated with the Megalithic culture and use of iron on a large scale. The cultural remains Bvidence sugges of Early Iron Ag astem part. This cultr.rral region is m the east and Wardha VaJley in the west. The ardhaeological site of Malli, discovered by the author, is the first megalithic excavated in GondiaDistrict during 2010-11 and again in2012-13. Large number of megaQltQ lithic monuments with typological difference and inner layouts added extra significance to the site. Excayation carried out on the habitation mound brought to light ancient habitation remains. Eight megaliths chosen for excavation revealed hitherto less known type of inner architecture in Vidarbha.

Introduction Gondia District is located in the north eastern part of Maharashtra and is bordered by Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh on eas?and norlh respectively, and Bhandara and Chandrapur Districts of Maharashtra to the west and south respectively. Gondia is known as the rice bowl region, and is the centre of timber trade and other forest produce (Dixit 1986: 192). Gondia District is drained'by the Wainganga River. Upper Wainganga Valley forms a part of WardhaWainganga Basin which further constitutes the Mdarbha Plain (Singh 1971). Wainganga Basin is enclosed by higher lands on three sides which carve out a distinct regional entity separated from the hilly Satpura on the north, the Maharashtra Plateau on the west and Chhattisgarh Basin on the east. District Bhandara (of which Gondia was a part) was called the "lake district" of Maharashtra, because there were 580 large and 13,158 small and medium-sized tanks, scattered all over the district (Bhandara District gazetteer 1979).Every village of Gondia possesses more than two tanks all around the village. Significantly, Gondia District also occupies a pride position in the mineral map of India. The district is also rich in forest cover and minerals of the region include coal, manganese, limestone, chromite, bauxite and iron ore (Singh 1971). Though substantial research has been carried out in the central Vidarbha, especially in Nagpur District, the researches in the neighbouring Gondia District, have been documentary and meagre. Antiquity of the Gondia District goes back to the prehistoric times as proved by the discovery ofprehistoric tools in excavations at Kachgarh caves (Sharma 2005). Excavation carried out in the caves has given stratified evidence of Middle Palaeolithic and

Upper Palaeolithic specimens. Recently Naranje (2005, 2013) explored the district and discovered two new Iron Age/Megalithic burials sites in the Gondia District (Naranje 2005,2013). But compared to the tremendous potentiality this region has, so far in accordance with the discovered sites, very little intensive work has been carried out. The present article is an analysis of the results of the excavations at Malli, Gondia District. The megalithic burial-cum-habitation site of Malli (21" 19' 22" N;79" 54' 24" E) was discovered during an intensive survey by the author. It is located in the Tiroda Taluka of Gondia District (Figs. 1-2). Megaliths at Malli are located in the south-eastern side ofthe present village surrounded by ponds and non-perennial rain gullies. Intensive documentation carried out at Malli brousht to light 396 megalithic burials. Habitation deposit at Malli is located on the left bank of Chorkhambara River which is a tributary of River

Received :22-01-2015

Modified :24-04-2015 Accepted : l7-05-2015

Fig. 1: Location map of Malli

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Wainganga. The habitation mounds are located opposite to the burials and separated by a small stream. In total five mounds were documented and surface survey revealed that these mounds had Early Iron Age cultural affrnity. These mounds were situated at varying distance from the river bank. The whole upper Wainganga Valley is known as the rice belt and thus most of the habitation area has been disturbed by agricultural practices. Currently, the area of ancient habitation is under cultivation. However, few mounds were still in good state of preservation giving a fair idea about depositional process ofthe site.

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Aim and objectives Malli is not only the first megalithic burial-cum habitation site found in the Gondia District, but the first megalithic site excavated in the region. Therefore, it was necessary to focus on tracing antiquity of the megalithic burials, the architectural variations, disposal of dead, finding relation and similarity with the Megalithic culture of Vidarbha as known from other sites, understanding of settlement pattern, raw material usage pattern and provenance, socioeconomic and religious condition of the concerned period.

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Megaliths at Malli show a great variety of burial type and architecture. The survey carried out at Malli brought to light 396 megalithic burials of different types. Main burial types include Stone circles, Cairn circles, Cists, Menhirs' Dolmens and Cap Stone. Other than numerous typological variations megaliths of Malli are also significant for their variations, in their inner architecture since such types are not commonly met with in other parts of Vidarbha' Megaliths from Malli can be thus categorized on the basis of their inner architecture as single cist inside the stone circle, double cist inside the stone circle, multiple cists inside the stone circle, cist inside the cairn circle, menhir inside the stone circle and dolmen inside the stone circle. Due to various types of burials having typological differences, the site was divided into four localities. Eight burials were taken up for excavation from different localities taking various observations into consideration' Three burials (Megaliths 1-3) were excavated from locality I and five burials (Megaliths 4-8) were excavated from

locality II.

Malli: An Early Iron Age Site, Gondia District,

tr4darbha Region, Maharashtra

Excavation: Burials Megalith I This megalith was small in size as compared to others and was surrounded by other megaliths. Diameter of the circle was 5.70 m north-south and 5.90 m from east-west. Total 23 lateritic stones were employed for the construction of the circular periphery of the megalith (Fig. 3). Total depth attained in this burial was 115 cm in south-west quadrant. Semi-compact brownish to black soil mixed with small quartzite and other stones were identified as the main filing,component of the circle. It had a thickness of 20 cm. Black sandy-pebbly lateritic deposit formed the lowermost stratum on which the circle rests. Megalith I revealed a recta4gular cist made of schigt slab in the northeast quadrant. Jlwas placed at the distarice of one metre towards north ftom the central peg. Upper edge of this cist was found only at 4 cm below the surface. It measured 50 x 50 x 20 cm orientation of the cist was east west. Skeletal remains of anirqals have b*een found from this burial. Megalith 2 This megalith is a double stone circle type of burial situated towar.dq'south of Megalith 1. Diameters of the outer circle was 8.80 m norlh-south and 10.00 m east-west. The circle was erected upon lateritic soil. Brownish soil, devoid of any stone filling, was identified as the foremost deposit of the megalith. The double chamber cist found in a centre of the circle was divided into two parls (Fig. 4). Cistla (southern) was exposed completely in the south-east quadrant whereas Cist-lb (norlhern) was partly

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exposed in south-east and north-west quadrants. Central cist was divided in two chambers by a row of dressed stones in the middle sharing a common wall in the rear. It measured 403 cm (east-west) from outer and 316 cm from inner periphery. Three orlhostats were erected verlically on natural soil. Front pillar-like stones were purposely cut from the top to half portion. Two flat horizontal slabs were found in front of the cist. The slab on the southern side measure d 120 x 90 x 10 cm while, the norlhern slab measured 90 x 100 x 7 cm. Both the slabs were properly placed at the same depth and rested on a well-prepared surface. This burial also had animal skeletal fragments.

Megalith

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This megalith was located in the same cluster at a distance of 40 m away from Megalith 2. This was a stone circle with a double peripheral boundary having a lateritic cist in the centre. Diameters of the circle measured 11.50 m from north-south and 71.25 m east-west. The main cist of the circle was located in the centre of the circle having east-west orientation (Fig. 5). Orthostats were made of dressed lateritic stone erected straight into the natural soil at a depth of65 cm from the ground level. Four dressed lateritic stones were used as orthostats in the southern side (115 x 30 x 70 cm) and two stones were erected on the northem side (115 x25 x64 cm). A large dressed lateritic stone was used as the resting stone. The entrance of the cist was square at base and half cut at the top similar to that in Megalith 2. Significantly, both the entrance stones had almost the same measurement for instance; southern entrance stone was 40 x 25 x 80 cm while the northem entrance stone measured 40 x 25 xl5 cm. A huge capstone

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measu?irig'250 x 170 x 25 was placed over the orthostats. Flat horizontal slab was found in front of the main cist. Fragmentary skeletal remains were found inside a coarse red ware pot which was covered by a lid and was placed over a huge lateritic block. The burial pots were placed over a nafural surface Bones inside the pot were found in completely brittle condition and could not be identified. Other evidence of bones was found in same circle below the flat stone slab which was found mixed with the lateritic soil. No other antiquity remains were

found inside the cist or circle.

Megalith 4 This burial was situated in locality IV away from other excavated megaliths. This was a stone circle with triple enclosing circles comprising with a cist in the centre' Diameter of this megalith was 10.70 m (north-south) and 10.80 m (east-west). All four quadrants were dug up to a depth of80 cm (Fig. 6). The central cist of Megalith 4 was somewhat different from other cists at Malli. This cist was not completely finished. Two stones lying over the natural surface probably represented the entrance ofthe cist but the usual remaining box-like structure was absent. However, the whole architecture exemplifies that the cist had east-west orientation. Three small sub-cists were found on rear side of the main centre cist. Sub-cist I was located towards the north of the main cist adjacent to the peripheral boulders. A schist stone slab was found in front of the cist probably meant to close the opening of the seemingly box-like structure. Sub-cist 2 was located 40 cm south from subcist 1. Just like sub-cist 1 a horizontally placed stone slab was found in front of the cist. Sub- cist 3 was located z+o

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towards the south of the main cist adjacent to the southern peripheral boulders. The architecture of this sub-cist was similar to other excavated sub-cists of the circle. All these had east-west orientation and all were made of dressed lateritic stones. Few pieces of ceramics were found in the excavation consisting ofpots ofcoarse red ware. However, no skeletal or other remains were found inside the megalith.

Megalith 5 This megalith was located in an isolated position at locality II. This circle was made out of lateritic and metabasalt stones. It is imporlant to note that this was the only metabasalt stone circle found in this locality. Peripheral boulders of south-east portion of the circle were missing' Diameters of the circle were 6.60 m and 7.90 m northsouth and east-west, respectively. Very flimsy deposit was observed inside the stone periphery. No distinctive type of inner architecture was noticed inside the burial. No antiquities were found. Main ceramic type included coarse red ware and micaceous red ware'

Megalith 6 This was the biggest circle (diametet 27.30 m) at Malli situated in locality II with a deposit of 140 cm. This cairn circle was made of lateritic stones. Huge stones were employed for construction of the burial. Some of the peripheral boulders (total79) were dressed and were cut properly. Outside the circle and adjacent to the peripheral boulders, about a two metre thick deposit of small to medium-sized pebbles was noticed' This represented a deliberate attempt of buttressing the huge outer peripheral stones to stop inclining on to the outer side. The area was paved by small to medium-sized stones at the same depth as the peripheral stone. Inside the circle, at a depth of25 cm from the outer stone an alignment was noticed in the nofih-west and

Malli: An Early lron Age Site, Gondia District, Wdarbha Region, Maharashtra south-west quadrant ofcircle near the peripheral boulders. This stone alignment was running east-west and then took a sharp turn toward the north. Schist and sand stones were purposely used for this alignment. It was observed that this area had remains of many micaceous red ware and course red ware pottery. Large pots such as jar, basins, globular pot constituted the main shapes. The surface of micaceous red ware was gritty as the soil was mixed with lateritic gravels. Large flakes of mica could be seen in the section. Other than ceramics, no other remains were found. However, a he3vily crusted crude fragment of iron was found

Mesalith

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circle was-inade of various stones (mainlv conglomeratel-Diameter of the circle was 5. 1 5 m eastwest and 4.80 m norlh-south. A total of 24 slabs were used for the peripheral boundary. All these slabs were erected vertically like menhirs and. were inclined towards the inner side of the cirCle 1Fig. 7).' A significant finding of the excavation was a cist inside the circle near the southern peripheral stones. This rectangular cist+neasured 105 x 80 x 4l cm. The cist was filled by light brown loose soil. Orthostats of this cist were erected vertically in the natural soil. These orthostats were

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made of schist, conglomerate and sand stone and paced in a east-west orientation. One white cist slab was also found horizontally placed in front ofthe central cist. Interestingly, pottery was found over this horizontally placed slab thus indicating that it denoted some kind of an offering platform. Besides coarse red ware, black ware pottery, a single animal bone fragment was found inside the cist.

Megalith 8 Peripheral stones of megalith 8 were not fully exposed at the surface and only edges of stones were visible over the surface just like Megalith 7. Diameter of the circle was 5.55 m east-west and4.l0 m north-south. Total depth achieved in this burial was 4J cm. This stone circle did not yield any specific inner architecture like cist and horizontal

Fig. 7: Megalith

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Fig.8: Megalith

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stone slab (Fig. 8). However, two vertically erected slabs were found at the centre of the circle. These slabs were small as compared to peripheral stones.

Excavation: Habitation mounds Out of five habitation mounds, excavations were carried out at Mound 2 and Mound 5 due to their intact nature as compared to other. Trench A and trench B were 10 x 10 m and Trench J and D were 2

x2

m.

Trench A Total depth achieved in this trench was 2. 90 m from surface level (Fig. 9). Stratigraphically, no occupational break was observed indicating a continuity of habitation at this location. Howeveq on the basis of ceramic assemblage, the deposit of Early Iron Age period has been divided in two phases. Phase I is identified in lowermost strata of the trench A found in Layers 77 to 20 (65 cm deposit) and Layer 16 to Layer 2 formed Phase II (2,30 m deposit). The lower level deposits were characterizedby white ashy soil mixed with charcoal and compact clay material. However, a thick ashy deposit was observed only in the norlhern portion of the trench. Semi-compact to loose deposit of ash mixed with small pieces of charcoal had compact red soil patches probably indicating some kind of burning activity. Thin Black-and-Red ware is a characteristic feature of the (lower) phase. It had a thin section and made a metallic sound when struck with others. Red ware with fine bright pinkish red slip is the main associated ware of Blackand-Red ware. Main characteristic feature of this ware is painted designs in black colour. Sporadic evidence of white painted designs were also found. Black bumished ware with high burnishing is seen from in the phase of the lower strata. The red burnished ware is also reporled from the lower deposit of this phase. Less occurrence of micaceous red ware as compared to Black-and-Red ware has been observed here. The most imporlant feature is the variety of painted designs on Black-on-Red ware consisting of comb pattern, verlical strokes, horizontal bands, diamond A1

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shapes and square full of lines. Due to the limited area excavation less evidence of structural activity has

noticed in this phase. Series of habitation layers were generally noticed in norlhern area of trench A. The ceramic industry was represented by Black-and-Red ware with slight thick sides than observed in the lower deposit, red bumished ware, black burnished ware, red ware, coarse red ware and micaceous red ware of medium to fine fabric. Two different activities in same trench (were observed during the excavations. For instance, the northem area of the trench revealed successive habitation floors while the southern area gave indications of plausible remains of industrial activity. Variety of iron objects and stone objects were recovered from this phase (Phase II).

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Trench B Total l0 habitation layers were identified here in a cultural deposit of 2.65 m (Fig. l0). The whole deposit was divided in two periods on the basis of material culture and ceramic assemblage. Layer I to 6 relate to habitation deposit of Early Iron Age culture, while the lowermost deposit yielded a ceramic free microlithic assemblage. The microlith bearing deposit was composed of compact soil of light brown to yellow colour mixed with small gravels of laterite and composite silt. Microlithic assemblage was non-geometric in character consisting generally ofblades, flakes, thumb scrapers, cores etc. These tools were made mainly using chert (Fig. ll , please see inside.front cover). The Early Iron Age cultural deposit in this trench bears similarities with the upper deposit of trench A. One of the floor levels was characteized by small river pebbles used as a base over which comoact brown clav with lime

Malli: An Early Iron Age Site, Gondia District, Vidarbha Region, Maharashtra plastering rested. Evidence offloor levels, burning patches and ashy deposit are found in same level. Abundant pottery was recovered from the top layers which includes course red ware in large quantity followed by micaceous red ware, black bumished ware and Black-and-Red ware. Trench D and

J

Two trial trenches were excavated in 20 10- I I . Both these trenches gave evidence of Early Iron Age cultural material. The layers assigned to this period provide evidence of successive layprs of composite ashy deposit mixed with charcoal-bits and soft clay earth. The ceramic industry was represented by Black-and-Red ware, black burnished ware, red ware and mi,caceous red ware of medium to fine fabric. Towards the uliper layers of the trench, quantity of black burnished wart-and red ware increased.

edge of the hearth was l0 cm thick. A compact white layer was observed at the base of this hearth. Scanty remains of a whitish floor probably due to lime plastering were noticed adjacent to the hearth. Greyish ashy deposit with large amount of charcoal was found from the corresponding layer. Similar kind of evidence was also found in the same trench at a depth of 226 cm. This "U" shaped hearth too was east-west oriented (48 cm north-south and 4l cm eastwest) and had an opening to the east. The hearth ryas found adjacent to the west facing section and scanty remains of flooring were also found (Fig. 13, please see inside front cover).

Ceramics (Figs. l4-16) Varieties of ceramics were found in the habitation and burial excavations. Ceramics found in the burial and

Structural Remains Evidence of a floor bearing impressions of

a bamboo wall (perhaps bamddos erected- vertically adjacent to each other) was noticed in trench B at a depth of 94 cm. This evidence suggests that the size of house was more than three metres. Different kind-qof floor levels such as lime floors, soil floors, floor with thick solid base, reuse of floor, etc. were noticed during excavations (Fig. l2). Due to burning or firing activity many floors tumed into solid red patches. A total of five hearths were found at Malli. In trench B, just 16 cm below the present surface, remains of a hearlh (49 cm east-west and 44 cm) were found. This hearth was "U" shaped and had an opening to the east. A complete hearlh (50 cm north-south and 35 cm east-west) ofcharacteristic brick red colour was found in trench D at a depth of 187 cm. The opening of the hearlh faced east. The

Fig. 12: Plan offloor, trench A

Fig. l4: Ceramics: Black-and-Red ware, Micaceous red ware, red ware

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Antiquities A limited number of antiquities were found during the excavation. As stated earlier, out ofeight excavated burials only one has given evidence of crude iron pieces. Most of the antiquities were found from the habitation deposit. Antiquities mainly are iron objects (Fig. 17), a few copper objects and stone objects. Iron objects can be categorized into agricultural tools, weapons, household implements, and those used for carpentry and various other purposes.

Common iron objects were chisels, axes, sickles, spikes, knives, daggers, arrowheads, bar-chisels, adzes, etc. Stone objects include mullers, pounders and saddles and querns. A few stone beads of agate and camelian were also encountered in the habitation.

Fig. 15: Ceramics found from megaliths the habitation, however, show some similarities; slight variation with reference to shapes, surface treatment, nature of clay and firing technique have been observed. Generally, ceramics found in megalithics are micaceous red ware, course red ware and rarely black ware. The pottery found in the megalithic burials is more coarse and gritty as compared to those found in the habitation. Though, not much rim portions were found during excavation, it seems that globular pots with flaring rim was much vogue in micaceous red ware, pot and jar in coarse red ware and bowls mainly of black ware. Ceramics found in the habitation were finer and consist of a wide variety of wares and shapes. Red ware was the main ware found in the habitation throughout the period of occupation. Occunence of Black-and-Red ware from base to top deposit is also noteworthy. Black-on-Red ware had graffiti marks. Black bumished ware with medium thick variety (3-5 mm) was the main associate ware of Blackand-Red ware and was found in the habitation. Micaceous red ware with mica flakes and less gritty surface was also documented from the habitation. The common pottery shapes included a variety of dishes and bowls, jars, basins, and globular pots with 50

Culture sequence Excavations at Malli revealed a two-fold culfure sequence. Period I is associated with microlithic assemblage which belongs to non-ceramic deposit. The main deposit of the excavation at Malli was identified as belonging to the Early Iron age. Period I was associated with microlithic assemblage

found stratigraphically at lower levels than Early Iron Age deposit. The site has reporled sequentially cultural deposit from Microlithic levels to Early Iron Age/Megalithic Culture. Within the microlithic assemblages, different series ofartefacts starting from the raw materials nodules to finished tiny backed tools were also found. Locally available chalcedony was extensively used for production ofboth flake and blade tools and occasionally agate and chert were also used for the same. The tool types are mostly blade-based: blade tool, backed blade, backed point, simple blade, micro-blade, core, core scrapper, end scrapper, flake, flake-blade, lunate, point, retouched blade, retouched point, trapeze, utilized flakes, raw material nodules and debitage. Blades were obtained both by direct, indirect percussion and pressure techniques on crypto-crystalline minerals. Different shapes of cores have been found, i.e. pyramidal, conical and cylindrical. The core platforms were well prepared to detach blades. The microliths at Malli were both geometric and non-geometric in character. However, the microliths are not associated with any of the ceramic-using culture. No microliths were obtained from other excavated trenches like A, D and J, or the burials.

Malli: An Early lron Age Site, Gondia District, Vidarbha Region, Maharashtra

II

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Fig. 16: Black-on-Red ware found in habitation

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Fig. 17: Irod'-objects: (a) knife, and (b) sickle

Deposit of Period II was identified as Early Iron Age on the basi$f the cultiiral material. However, on the basis of ceramic assemblage, deposit of Early Iron Age period is divided in two phases. Phase I is identified in lowermost strata of the trench A found in layers 17 to 20 (65 cm def0sit). Layer 16 to layer 2 formed Phase II (2.30 m deposit). The material of Phase I was meagre in quantity and quality due to restricted area ofexcavation. Floor levels with compacl kankar base and lime plaster were found from this phase. Ceramic assemblages of this phase were typical black and red ware with shiny and glossy surface, thin section and well fired. White core black bumished ware was mainly associated ware of Black-and-Red ware. Fine red ware with pinkish red slip was also found. This fine ware is only connected with lower levels of this phase, not associated with upper deposit ofPhase II. Less occuffence of micaceous red ware was found. Discussion and Conclusions Excavation at habitation at Malli yielded variety of ceramics like micaceous red ware, black burnished ware, red ware, coarse red ware and Black-on-Red ware. Coarse red ware and micaceous red ware show affinity with the megalithic ceramics. Ceramics obtained from habitation are fine and less gritty than those recovered from burials. Moreover, unlike burial pottery large amount of painted pottery was also found from the habitation deposits. Along

with painted pottery considerable sherds bearing graffiti marks were also recovered only from the habitation. Typological examination of the pottery found in the habitation deposits suggests affinity with ceramics found in megalithic Vidarbha. Many shapes of micaceous red ware and black and red ware show close similarity with Vidarbha megalithic culture. Painted designs and graffiti marks also show similarity to those at Takalghat Khapa (Deo 1970), Mahurjhari (Deo 1973) Raipur (Deglurkar and Lad 1992) and Koudinyapur (Dixit 1964).

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Large amount of animal bones recovered from the habitation indicate wide-scale consumption of animals, probably wild animals. Bones of domesticated animals were also found. It was observed that cattle bones were found in large numbers followed by bones of sheep and goats. Sharp cut marks on the bones suggested

their processing for consumption (Goyal et aL.2015, this volume). A few charred bones recovered from the habitation gives evidence of how meat was cooked. Botanical remains of rice (Oriza sativa) and green gram (Vigna mungo) from the site also reveal that the diet of Early Iron Age people in Malli (Personal communication: Dr. SatishNaik). As far as material culture is concerned Malli has given reasonably good evidence regarding iron objects. Number ofiron slag pieces recovered in proper context during the excavation of the habitation along with number of iron implements suggests that iron smelting and manufacturing units were situated at the site. It is also important to note that source of iron was not far from the excavated site (Soitkar 1991). Almost all metal objects at Malli came from the habitation which is in sharp contrast with evidence of the Megalithic culture of Vidarbha where most of the iron objects are found from the megalithic burial excavations. Though, metal objects from Malli show similarity with Vidarbha megalithic types, regional characteristic feafures are also clearly observed. For instance, an axe with double ring, a typical iron tool found in most of the sites of Vidarbha, is completely absent at Malli. Along with this other iron tool-types too show slight differences from the Vidarbha Megalithic culture. Contrary to iron, only a few copper objects were noticed at Malli. Sporadic evidence of beads of semi-precious stones was also documented during the excavations. In sum, we can suggest that the microlith using people were the first settlers of Malli, though their concentration was in a smaller area nearer to the water bodies. True expansion ofthe site had probably taken place during

Malli: An Early lron Age Site, Gondia Dislricl, l4darbha Region, Maharashtra the Early Iron Age period. The people extensively adopted the ecological surrounding they had and out of that they constructed nearly four hundred megaliths. The construction perhaps took a century. The inner architecture observed in each megalith solemnly proved their ecological adaptation. Other than usage of stone for burial construction, forest material, network of water bodies, arable land, deposit of iron ore etc. helped them to satisfy their needs. They lived in wattle and daub houses supported by bamboo and plastered the inner side. They had a variety qf occupations as indicated from the different type of iron implements found. There is also evidence of a double crop agricultural system. Evidence of large number of wild and domestic animals along with few specimens with cut -u'ks'iu''"t that these were also

consumed'

References Bhandara District Gazetteer 1979. (Revised Edition), Mumbai: Gazetteer Department, Government of Maharashtra.

Deo, S.B. 1910. Excavation at Takalghat and Khapa (1968-69), Nagpur: Nagpur University. Deo, S.B 1973. Mahurjhari Excavations (1970-72), Nagpur: Nagpur University. Deglurkar, G.B. and G. Lad 1992. Megalithic Raipur (1985-1990), Pune: Deccan College. Dixit, K.R. 7986. Maharashtra in Maps.Mumbai: Maharashtra State Board for literature and .

Culture.

Dixit, M.G. Naranje,

Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Archaeological Survey of

India

for granting permission for the excavations. I also thank Sanjay Patil, D]rector, Dept. ofArchaeology and Museum, Govt. of Maharashtra for his support and help. I express my gratitude to my Guru Prof. Rabi K. Mohanty for his expert remarks and endless guidance. I also thank the staff of the Dept ofArchaeology, Nagpur, for their assistance and essential help. I am thankful to Dr. Tilok, Dr. Shantanu, Dr. Tosabanta, Garima, Dhanraj, Pramod, Shobhna, Sheila, Kailash and Pranjali for their active participation in excavations. I am in debt to the people of Malli for their extensive support, efforts and affection.

1964. Excavations at Koudinyapur.Mumbai:

fr:t:Tffi:lb?"I;:;:::;:*

of Bhtandara District,

Unpublished PhD. Thesis Submitted to Nagpur University. Naranje, M.G. 2013. Bhandara, Gondia Jilhyache Puratafva (in Marathi), Wardha: Sudhir Prakashan Sharma,

A.K. 2005. Excavating in a Cave, Cist and

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Maharashtra 1991.Mumbai: Director of Geology and Mining Government of Maharashtra. Wadia, D.N. 1944. Geologlt of India, London: Macmillan and Co. Ltd.

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Fig. 11: Microlithic tools at Malli

5tM

Fig. 13: Remains of

a

hearth, TrenchA

VG. Sontakke, Man and Environment XL(l): 43_53 120151.