TERRACOTTA RING MEMORIALS - NEW EVIDENCES FROM THE SOUTHER

PART OF INDIA

Dr. S. Rama Krishna Pisipaty

SCSVM University,
Enathur, Kanchipuram – 631561. India.
Email – pisipaty@indiainfo.com

The utility of terracotta objects had also started along with the potting craft. The early farmers
and the pastoral communities had initiated the production of clay objects probably for ritualistic
purposes. Crude and archaic forms of bulls, ram, etc. animal figurines were the main category in
use during the Neolithic time. These clay forms were hand modeled and undecorated. The utility
of terracotta objects appear to have increased considerably during the Early Iron Age. The
Megalithic builders of this region under study were producing and utilizing objects not only for
daily utility but also for different specific purposes. Legged sarcophagus in different forms and
sizes were in use for disposal of dead body. The sarcophagi varied in length from two to seven
feet and two to three rows legs [Plate I & II] , ram shaped [Plate III], elephant leg and trunk,
etc., forms are unique examples of artistic amplitude of clay modeling (Gururaja Rao, 1972).
Another interesting production for the same purpose has been unearthed from South India during
2006 and 2007 field season on the bank of river Vegavathi at Kanchipuram that is terracotta ring
monuments. Hundreds of terracotta rings in different diameter and coarse were noticed in the
river bed. All these were not for a single purpose. Rings for memorial and grave goods with
human shaped graffiti and grave goods arranged under cap stone along with a hood stone are not
only interesting but also a new finding during last and present field seasons and the subject
matter for the present paper. This is the first time these human shaped engravings inside the pot
sherds and rings for memorials reported anywhere in the region or outside. Moreover, the
terracotta craft developed in accordance with the aesthetic value of the society during Early
Historic period of the region under study.

Kanchipuram (120 50'N & 79025'E) is one of the important cities in the southern part of India
from the very beginning. Like all ancient cities, Kanchipuram is also situated on the banks of
river, Palar and Vegavati. These are rain fed subterranean rivers and now with rare visible flow
of water. The present city is situated a little bit away from the existed channels. This city was
ruled by illustrious monarchs from very celebrated dynasties like Pallavas, Cholas, Rastrakutas,
Vijayanagaras, Nayakas, Pandyas, etc. together with Muslims and Britishers (Mahalingam, T.V.
1969). It was the capital of the Early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BCE and Pallava’s
between the 6th and 8th centuries CE. The successive dynasties from Pallavas to Vijayanagar
kings have been consciously added to the architectural and religious grandeur and value
(Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. 1966). It is rich in ancient monuments, inscriptions, glorified in Sanskrit,
ancient Tamil literature, eulogized by the Chinese traveler, Yuanchuang (7th century CE). It is
revered as one of the seven sacred places of the Hindus. The foundations of south Indian art and
architecture were truly laid in the region round sixth century CE. Once in the region, existence of
thousand temples of different religious sets like Jaina, Buddha, Saiva, Vaishnava, etc. have been
recorded in various contexts. Kailasanath, Vaikunta Perumal, Kamakshi Amman,
Ekambaranath, Varadaraja , Ulagananda, etc are some of the unique examples of art activities in
the region under study. Further, this city was destined to become a great centre of literature also.
Many references to it can be found in the Sangam Tamil compositions. Institution for the
advanced studies in Vedas called Ghatika was also established here and this gave literary pre-
eminence to Kanchipuram (Gurumurthy, S. 1970; 1979). The river Palar and the Vegavathi are major
river systems, out of seven described in the literature, of the Kanchipuram region. The river Palar (pal –
milk or ksheeranadi) is a seasonal river and the Vegavathi ( vega + vathi – possessed of violent
speed), a split channel of Palar, travels through Kanchipuram and takes an important role in the history.
On the left bank of the river Vegavathi, the present temple town is situated. In between the left bank of
river Palar and the right bank of river Vegavathi, the famous Janina (an early religious set) temple is
situated.

Since 1954, the temple town has been excavated many times by the different organizations and
institutions. Among them, both state and central Archaeological Survey, University of Madras
are noteworthy. In 1954 and 1962, the Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India,
and in 1975 the Department of Archaeology, Tamail Nadu undertook small-scale excavations.
The major efforts were undertaken by the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology,
University of Madras in between 1970 and 1976 at five different areas of with in Kanchipuram
town (Raman, K.V. 1978;1979; 1987). Further, the Department of Sanskrit and Indian Culture,
SCSVM University, Enathur, Kanchipuram undertook field explorations and excavations in
various parts of peripheral areas, Palar and Vegavathi river basins, palaeo-channels, etc. areas of
in and surrounding present Kanchipuram town since its incipience in 1999 under the present
author’s direction.

In 2006, on either side of the river Vegavathi excavations were conducted in six different
localities. Trenches were laid at different localities like at Tiruparuttikundram (3),
Pillaiyarpalaiyam (3), Chintapulitopu (2), Eri (1), etc. and in the dried channel of the river
Vegavathi (22). Tirupatrikundram is located on the right bank of river Vegavathi, known in
literature and tradition as the centre of Jaina (Jaina Kanchi) (Raman, K.V.1974:13-23). The site
has been washed away by the floods occurred in river Vegavathi. Evidence of this flood has been
obtained in the form of a very pronounced erosion on the river side edge. No house plans have
been obtained, but there is evidence of walls of wattle-and-daub, kiln brunt brick of different
sizes (large size 51 X 25 X 15 cm almost similar size which occurred at Satavahana sites in
Deccan platue).

The excavations have provided many new evidences like habitational as well as ritual practices
of the early society of the region under study. Terracotta rings for multi purpose were an
important observation from the Vegavathi dried channel and subject matter for the present paper.
Hundreds of terracotta rings in different diameter and course were traced from the region during
the field season. Within a stretch of one kilometer, more than fifty ring well localities were traced
and many more were noticed in distracted condition. All these were not for one single purpose
and similar coarse. These were utilized not only for different domestic activities like storage,
cattle feeding, well rings, soak pit, pounding of grains (plate XV ), etc. but also for ritualistic
activities ( symbolic/secondary burial). Thirty localities [Table I] with spacing of a kilometer
were selected and traced rings in different diameter of single to 14 courses (plate XIV, XV)
during the 2005-06 and 2007-08 field seasons. Among these, eight are for ritual purposes
(secondary burial), other for different domestic activities. Rings, except utilized for ritualistic,
have been filled with river sand along with fallen brick bats, pot sherds, etc flooded materials.
Rings which were used for ritualistic purposes are almost in same diameter (75 cm) and in seven
courses filled with similar type of soil. Grayish compact clay with fine sand, which is not a local
deposit, filled from the bottom to top with domical shape has been noticed in all monuments.
According to local people, this type of soil is used by the gold smiths for metal melting,
purification and other purposes in smiths. Between fourth and sixth course of the rings from the
surface, funerary goods were noticed. Again sixth and seventh rings were filled with clay (plate
IX ). In all, five pots and one big half broken globular vessel’s lower portion have been
unearthed in good condition from TCR 3, TCR 3a, TCR 8, TCR 08 I, TCR 08 II, TCR 08 III and
TCR 08 IV. All are in Red Ware, fine to medium fabric with or without slip. In the case of
globular and spouted vases, the red slip has been noticed up to body portion and flatter bottom
portion is devoid of any slip. Out of five pots, one is with spout, two globular vases with almost
same in measurements, one half broken globular vase (rim and neck portion up to body curve
removed) and one cooking vessel (hundi) with firing marks (a thick lamp black on outside
bottom portion) ( plate VIII). Among two globular vases, one with charred grains and other in
liquid deposit marks were noticed. Neck and rim portion removed globular vase is another note
worthy evidence from TCR 3a. Inside the vase some portion painted with black (plate V). On the
painted portion human shaped engravings are interesting observations (plate VI). Head, neck and
shoulders are incised on the painted portion after firing. Head raised human (may be a male ?)
face/skull in oval shape [6 X 5 cm] with a long line for nose and two small lines on either side in
eyes place, three small cross line for chin, lips and mouth (plate VI) are incised with sharp needle
on the painted portion. Other body portion is not prominent but engraved in wavy lines. On the
left side, below an inch from face and on the above left shoulder, another face (may be a
female?) in round shape [5 cm] has also been depicted with less prominent lines (plate VII). The
eyes, nose, etc, facial parts are incised similarly like the above mentioned figure. It is facing in
another direction and body details are not known. In this context, engraving on the ‘cap stone’
which is used to cover the burial at Tonnur, Karnataka, western India, is worthwhile to mention.
The engravings consists of human beings to the right hand raised, perhaps showing the heaven,
and the left hand kept on the waist (Rangaraj, N.S. 1996)

TCR 3, another locality traced in the region where the rings were also used for secondary burial.
Similar type of human shaped engravings on painted portion, other graffiti marks on pot sherds
have also been appeared in this ring memorial. Other important grave goods (plate IX ) are – a
skin rubber [12 X 5.5 X 3.5 cm] of sand stone, a scraper of crypto crystalline silica [8 X 5 X 1.5
cm], a round [5.5 cm in diameter] pebble with little flatter base and a lamp in Red Ware [7.5 cm
in diameter] have been unearthed, apart from an usual globular pot of cooking and storage
vessels.

Ring well TCR 08 I, TCR 08 II, TCR 08 III and TCR 08 IV were arranged in a semi circle
alignment with a two meters distance each (may be a family memorial?). From TCR 08 II, two
well dressed sand stone blocks were traced. One is in horizontal position and other arranged in
horizontal. All the grave goods were arranged under the horizontally placed cap stone (45 X 40
X 7 cm). In the middle of the second ring from top, a hood stone () facing south, placed
horizontally besides the cap stone [plate VIII]. Under the cap stone all five pots were arranged
like in the above mentioned manner [plate IX]. On the inside portion of hood stone a horizontal
and vertical carved lines are traced. In TCR 08 I, terracotta ring pieces ceiling has noticed for
grave goods [plate ] in the second ring from the top.

Unidentified iron objects, (probably nail or knife?) were noticed along with some charred wood
or bone pieces (?) form TCR 10. Rings and grave goods were disturbed and broken in to many
pieces. Broken Red Ward sherds with graffiti marks on the surface and a few sherds with incised
lines on painted inside portion of Red Ware sherd (12 X 8 cm) are interesting findings from this
memorial. Three stone objects [plate II] in different shapes and composition were also unearthed
form the TRW 10. One is in an oval shape (1.8 X 1.3 X 3.2 cm) with ruff surface. It may be used
for grinding of sandal or turmeric or other herbals. A half broken pebble (10 X 12 X 6 cm) with a
little tapered end which is providing a good grip for holding, is another interesting stone object
and may be used for crushing nuts or herbals. A broken granite stone ( 1.7 X 1.7 X 3.5 cm) with
smooth surface was another grave goods of the same well. Similar type of grinding and crushing
stone objects were reported from Megalithic sites of South India (Gururaja Rao, B.K. 1972). It is
found that all these five ring wells were located with in a quarter kilometer area and little bit
away from the habitational area. Further, very near to these ring wells, a standing statue (plate
XI), locally popular as Harichandra, has also been noticed in granite stone. It is further attesting
that the area was in a continues use for death rituals. The modern settlements are using little
away from this area, on the same and opposite sides, for the same.

Graffiti and inscribed sherds, so common on the megalithic pottery of India [plate ], occurs on
the ring burial-ware as well. The symbols are drawn after firing on the exterior, except human
shape, of the pottery using a pointed stylus. The symbols are from small lines to complex designs
and geometric forms. In most of the cases, only one symbols appears and a few of them are
fragments since they are found in broken pieces of pottery. More than one symbol in row appears
in about three instances. All the inscriptions are fragmentary and containing a few letters which
are similar to other reported sites like Uraiyur, Arikamedu, Kanchipuram, Korkai, Sanur, etc., in
the region (Shanmugam,P 1983). Associated with other datable materials and stratified layers,
these Brahmi letters are dated between First and Second century CE by Mortimer Wheeler and
his follow excavators (Raman, K.V. (ed).1988). Post firing graffiti marks were also found along
with inscribed sherds.

The foregoing observations reveal that terracotta craft developed not only for domestic as well as
aesthetic but also ritualistic. Apart from domestic, utility of clay objects for disposal of dead
body and construction of memorials, etc after death practices are unique practices of this region.
The terracotta sarcophagus with ornamental forms and various artistic compositions reflected the
artistic amplitude of the contemporary society. The funerary monuments with the clay rings
further indicating their socio-traditions and reported in first time any where till today. The
graffiti, so common on the grave pottery of Southern India in different geometric forms, human
shaped incisions are another interesting and an early report. Two human faces are indicating a
memorial of two persons. One face is looking towards upward, indicating that upward word or
after death world. Other face depicting on the left shoulder of the first figure shows that it may
memorial of a couple. Grave goods under cap stone within the backed rings indicating the
continuation of the megalithic burial practice. Similar type of grave goods and arrangement and
filling pattern within the rings in all cases shows the social custom of a single community of
same period. Graffiti marks and inscribed sherds further attest the socio-cultural characteristic of
a few centuries after starting of the present CE.

References

Banerjee, N.R. & K.V. Soundra Rajan. 1959. Sanur 1950 & 52: a Megalithic Site in District
Chingleput. Ancient India. Bulletin of the Archaeological Survey of India. Edited and Published
by the Director General of Archaeology in India. New Delhi. No 15:4-42.
Gurumurthy, S. 1970. Some Educational institutions in South India. Bulletin of the Institute of
Traditional Culture – Jan. – June. University of Madras. Madras.
Gurumurthy, S. 1979. Popular Education in Ancient . Journal of Madras University. Madras.
LI,1 - II:19-28.
Gururaja Rao, B.K. 1972. Megalithic Culture in South India. Prasaranga, University of Mysore.
Mahalingam, T.V. 1970. Report on the Excavations in the Lower Kavery Valley. University of
Madras. Madras.
Nilakanta Sastri, K.A.1966. History of South India. Oxford University press. Madras.
Raghavan, M.O. et al. 1974:29-31
Raman, K.V. 1974.Jainism in Tondaimandalam. Bulletin of the Institute of Traditional Cultures.
University Madras. Madras. Jan – June:13-23.
Raman, K.V. 1987. Archaeological Excavations in Kanchipuram. Tamil Civilization. Quarterly
Journal of Tamil University. Tanjaur. 5,1&2: 61-72.
Raman, K.V. (ed).1988. Excavations At Uraiyur (Tiruchirappalli) 1965-69. University of
Madras. Madras.
Shanmugam, P. 1983. Graffiti and Tamil Brahmi. Origin, Evolution and Reform of the Tamil
Script. The Institute of Traditional Cultures. University of Madras, Madras:31-36.
Sridharm T.S. (ed) 2004. Excavations of Archaeological sites in Tamilnadu [1969-1995].
Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamilnadu. Chennai : 57, 8.
Srinivasan, C.R. 1979. Kanchipuram through the Ages. Agam Kala Prakashan. Delhi.
 Table I
Details of Exposed Terracotta Rings form the Vegavathi River
Channel during 2006 and 2008 field seasons

S. No. No.
course Remarks
Measurements
s Filling materials
(in cm)

diameter height thickness

I.T 5 100 30 6 Grey soil filling, red Disturbed

ware pottery, bricks, animal may be burial ?
bones etc.

TCR 2 2 60 20 5 Sand filling Cattle feeding

TCR 3 7 75 15 5 Filled with grey soil. Five pots Memorial

(spouted, cooked food, secondary burial,
globular vase, a lamp, stone disturbed
objects like scraper & ball)

TCR 3 7 75 15 5 Filled with grey soil. Five pots Memorial

a (spouted, cooked food, incised secondary burial
human figurines, globular
vas, one with bone)

TCR 4 11 110 15 5 Sand filling Well

TCR 5 1 60 40 5 Sand filling Used in grains

pounding

TCR 6 5 120 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known

TCR 7 8 100 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known

TCR 8 7 75 15 5 Grey soil filling, five pots Memorial

(spouted, cooking vessel, three secondary burial
globular vases)
TCR 9 4 100 30 6 Sand filling Above the working
floor.

TCR 7 75 15 5 Grey soil filling, five pots Memorial

10 (spouted, cooking vessel, three secondary burial
globular vases), iron objects?, disturbed
charred wood ?

TCR 5 110 20 5 Sand filling Purpose not known

11
TCR 4 100 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known
12
TCR 5 105 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known
13
 II. 8 100 25 6 Sand filling Disturbed
TCR
14
TCR 1 105 55 6 Sand with brick bats Very huge
15
TCR 3 75 24 5 Sand filling Disturbed
16
TCR 7 90 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known
17
TCR 14 100 25 5 Sand filling well
18
TCR 3 90 20 5 Sand filling Purpose not known
19
TCR 4 90 25 5 Sand filling storage
20
TCR 2 NK NK NK Sand, brick bats Disturbed
21
TCR 2 75 20 5 Sand filling Cattle feeding
22
TCR 4 112 24 6 Sand filling Purpose not known
23
III. 7 75 15 5 Grave goods under Cap stone Memorial
TCR besides a Hood stone secondary burial
08 I
TCR 7 75 15 5 Grave goods covered with Memorial
08 II Terracotta rings pieces secondary burial

TCR 7 75 15 5 Graves goods with iron Memorial

08 III objects secondary burial
disturbed

TCR 7 100 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known

08 IV
TCR 7 100 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known
08 V
TCR 7 100 25 6 Sand filling Purpose not known
08 VI
TCR Not 90 20 6 Sand filling Disturbed
08 VII known