Terracotta Animal Figurines in the Ganga-Yamuna Valley (600 B.C. to 600 A.D.) (An Old and Rare Book)

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In this present book an untouched and extremely popular subject of Terracotta has been highlighted. It supplies invaluable data for study of the life and culture of the people. It enables us to appreciate the directional changes in the form and contact of the artistic creation of the Indian people from the prehistoric times.

Proper records and data with regard to stratigraphical evidence of such discoveries are extremely meagre. What is available is an assertment on the evidence of stratigraphy of numerous terracotta objects that are usually discovered in course of scientific excavation of an ancient site.

The subject animal terracottas and their contribution to the development of Indian Art has scarcely been evaluated. It has not been given the importance which it deserves. The subject matter of these figurines has a bearing on the social conditions of the period to which they belong. The excavation of sites in Ganga-Yamuna valley show that they occur in fairly large numbers. Inspite of this significance no serious attempt has been made to compile a corpus of the animal figurines occurring in large numbers from various sites and belonging to different periods. A comprehensive study of animal terracotta finds on the evidence of stratigraphy is expected to determine a sequence of the vast mass of Indian terra cottas from the various sites.

There are occasional references to the occurrance of the animal figurines. There is no single publication which exclusively deals with the subject of animal figurines made in clay. A need therefore was felt to prepare a corpus of animal figurines recovered from stratified excavations, and to show the development from a period beginning from 600 B.C. to about 600 A.D. i.e., Gupta period. The present book is an attempt to fulfil this objective. This study is restricted to the sites of Ganga-Yamuna valley.

The academic career of the author has begun after the death of her husband, Dr. Vidya Prakash (Author of KHAJURAHO, Taraporevala, Bombay 1967, Reprint 1982). She had done her graduation and M.A. in Economics from Allahabad University. Subsequently she did her second M.A. in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology in 1971 from Banares Hindu University securing First Class and second position. At the age of 38 she completed her Ph.D. in A.1.H. Cul. & Arch. She is at present working in the Deptt. of A.I.H. Cul. and Arch. B.H.U. She has experience of working on the excavation sites of Rajghat, Bhitari and Kheradih. Besides this she has written 16 research papers on this subject with special emphasis on terracottas.

The terracotta figurines are traced in a big number from most of the excavated sites. Their number is next to pottery. Among these figurines the animal figures have not yet been properly studied. Even in the published reports of the excavated sites it has not always been given the importance it deserves. While working on the animal figurines from Rajghat excavations, I became interested in the subject. It then occurred to me that animal figurines from other excavated sites in Ganga-Yamuna Valley could be studied and a corpus of the main types of different periods could be prepared.

I was encouraged to take this topic for Ph.D. Research by my Supervisor Prof. K.K. Sinha, Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University. I am grateful to him for his continuous interest and untiring guidance, directions and supervision.

This gives me an opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. A.K. Narain, Prof. K.D. Bajpai, Prof. A.L. Basham and Dr. N.R. Banerji for their encouragement. I am particularly obliged to Prof. A.K. Narain, the Director of Rajghat excavations for allowing me to utilize the Rajghat terracotta animal figurines for the present study.

I am thankful to the present Head of the Department, Prof. Lallanji Gopal for providing me the necessary facilities.

I wish to express my thanks to my teachers and colleagues in the Department Dr. L.K. Tripathi, Dr. Smt. M. Jauhri, Dr. J.N. Tiwari, Dr. P.C. Pant, Dr. P. Singh, Dr. M. Prasad, Dr. J.P. Singh, Dr. T.N. Roy, Dr. B.P. Singh, Dr. H.C. Bhardwaj, Dr. (Smt.) S. Singhal and Dr. (Km.) V. Jaiswal for their help and encouragement.

The book, Terracotta Animal Figurines in the Ganga-Yamuna Valley, is the result of much painstaking effort of the authoress. She had to brave considerable personal problems in writing it. That she has succeeded in producing the Volume is an indication of her determination and dedication. She had of course the advantage of an able guide in Professor K.K. Sinha.

In so far as the material is concerned very few people would normally have been interested in such a topic for a Ph.D. thesis. That she has been able to breathe life into it is reflective of her own character, may be, developed as a result of the impact of her scholar husband, the late Dr. Vidya Prakash, who has even otherwise left his stamp on the sands of time. It is meant as a tribute to his memory.

The promise shown in the maiden effort will, I am sure, be redeemed by many more works in future.

The terracottas are the most popular medium of the artistic expression of the people from the earliest times. It is this folk art that enables us to appreciate the directional changes in the form and the content of the artistic creation of the Indian people from pre-historical times. This is evident from the abundant number of terracotta figurines that have been discovered from the ancient sites. Proper records and data with regard to stratigraphical evidence of such discoveries are extremely meagre. Many of the significant terracotta figurines, relevant for the study, represent accidental finds and no accurate data with regard to the strata of their discoveries are available. What is available is an assortment on the evidence of stratigraphy of numerous terracotta objects that are usually discovered in course of a scientific excavation of an ancient sites.

The use of terracottas was extensive and its purpose varied. Terracottas were intended chiefly for domestic use and worship, for household decoration, for children's toys, etc., for popular religious and magical practices. Terracottas supply invaluable data for a study of the life and culture of the people.

The subject animal terracottas and their contribution to the development of Indian art has scarcely been evaluated. It has not been given the importance which it deserves. The excavation of sites in Ganga-Yamuna Valley show that they occur in fairly large numbers. Their number is often next to the pottery. The subject-matter of these figurines has therefore a bearing on the social conditions of the period to which they belong. In spite of this significance, no serious attempt has been made to compile a corpus of the animal figurines occurring in fairly large numbers from various sites and belonging to different periods. A comprehensive study of animal terracotta finds on the evidence of stratigraphy is expected to determine a sequence of the vast mass of Indian terracottas from the various sites.

**Contents and Sample Pages**