Rediscovering the forgotten Culture

Perhaps it is first time when an attempt has been made to lift the lid from an unknown, centuries old hidden culture.  It is called terracotta culture, believed to have flourished during the first few centuries of christen era.

It is in place to mention here that the remains of ancient wonderful terracotta settlement sites and artifacts were found at several places across Jammu and Kashmir, and in the recent past evidences of this culture have come into light at few other places of this land, for example at Hionar and Darakote, on left bank  of Nallah Lidder in Lidder valley  and at Kotebal in the Kothar  sub valley of the Anantnag .

These are the significant terracotta pavement sites, which not only speak about earliest terracotta settlements but of its advanced art and culture as well.  The  pavements are formed of terracotta tiles which are baked ones, and  are laid  out in concentric circle  with a motif of full blown lotus in the centre.  The tiles are of various shapes,  sizes and patterns and are laid in a shape that forms a circular shaped pavement.

The tiles on its obverses are stamped over in variety of motifs of human beings, animals, birds and other flora and fauna designs with Kharoshti numerals and letters. These artifacts reveal the traces of some advanced culture which according to experts has flourished here during the early centuries of christen era. This   culture in archaeological terms has been named as the early terracotta art and culture of Jammu and Kashmir which according to archaeologists have evolved here from the time of Indo Scythian in 1^st century BC   and extended in the same form up to 8^th century AD to the period of Karkotas.

In my recently  published  book titled, “Terracotta art and Culture of Jammu and Kashmir”, I  have  documented this culture which included  terracotta sites, pavements, tiles and other artifacts related to this culture and  have  deciphered and described them.

The terracotta heads  and motifs devised on the tiles are in Hellenistic style and speak of some advanced  civilization. Attempts  have been made to identify the people and tribes who have set this wonderful tradition here. Besides, the logic behind setting of these highly advanced terracotta pavements at such abandoned places are also being ascertained, but so far no definite hypotheses have agreed upon.

On the other hand, one can see and observe the glory of this terracotta art in various museums of the country. In the archaeological gallery of SPS Museum Srinagar, there has been kept a designated section for Kashmir terracottas, which showcase the representative series of this wonderful heritage. But here as well no replica of any of the tile pavement has been designed yet.

‘In fact it looks  that this art is, undoubtedly, a highly professional art that strives on themes apart from religion.  The art involves not only the preparation of stamped moulded bricks but miniature sculptures too.’

I have made several observations about this culture and have also raised very interesting questions for the working archaeologists. ‘No doubt partly the terracotta heritage has been recovered and preserved  but still there are several questions related with this heritage which have not been satisfactorily replied by the archaeologists.'

I do not know if any material analysis of these tiles has ever been taken. Since I verified most of the excavation and trial dig reports of these sites, but I could not find any material analysis of the exhumed materials recorded in any such reports. The major quires which require serious attention of the scholars and researchers is

No 1.  What has been the actual purpose of lying of such a marvelous terracotta floors and pavements on such abandoned places?

No 2.  Who were the people, the tribes who have laid these pavements and

The last but not the least what has been the ancient manufacturing and baking techniques and technology used in making of these tiles and sculptures.’

No doubt the substantial evidences of terracotta culture has been acquired through the excavations and trial digs but to be honest the quires raised above have not been satisfactorily answered. These questions will get solved only when our concerned institutions, produce and encourage the efficient and genuine researchers and archaeologists who shall undertake the detailed and scientific study of these sites and its materials.  The history, archaeology and Buddhist studies departments of  our universities shall  involve their respective research scholars to study terracotta sites and their exhumed artifacts.

It is in place to mention here that decades have passed since terracotta settlement sites were explored and investigated by trial digs, but the systematic excavations are yet to be undertaken at number of these sites.  Over the decades of their neglect, several of terracotta find spot sites have also disappeared.   These sites need to be re-identified, excavated and then mapped and the archaeological materials recovered from these sites through trial digs needs to be identified, documented and properly studied. The exposed tranches refilled with earth shall be left open for the tourists and at major terracotta find spot terracotta site museums should be set up.

Remains of Terracotta pavement and diaper rubber wall, circa 1^st century AD

Terracotta tile depicts bearded men and ear ringed women in railing, Harwan

The writer is a senior archaeologist and an author