Terracotta Arts of Ancient Vidarbha

Archaeologically Vidarbha is one of the most important and richest regions of the country. It has played a vital role during the Early Historic period as a cultural catalyst to pass the traditions of the north to south and vice versa. Among such cultural traditions, terracotta art was also played its part during Early Historic period of Vidarbha. The present book throws light on the artistical and typological as well as socio- religious profile of the ancient society of the Vidarbha through four phases, ranging from the Late Fifth Century BCE to Late Fifth Century CE as gleaned through the terracotta art.

A large number of terracotta art objects are reported from the various excavations as well as explorations in Vidarbha. Terracotta art traditions had begun from the Chalcolithic period onwards and increase in the Early Historic period. This was the period when Vidarbha region enjoyed terracotta art to its fullest extent. During said period the multi-dimensional clay modeling activities in the Vidarbha appears to be of significant value. Due to the political and cultural evolution urban centers came up and flourished. The internal as well as external Indo-Roman trade helped in exchange of ideas and techniques.

Adaptation and modification of some of the foreign elements appear to have influenced art and craft traditions immensely. For a proper understanding of these aspects, it is imperative to have reliable data in the form of excavated objects coming from well stratified archaeological horizons. In accordance, the present book is the first comprehensive work on the Early Historic terracotta art of Vidarbha.

The author critically analyses the published and unpublished terracotta art objects to understand the types, forms, styles and techniques related to various cultural phases of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The four Phases are representing different cultural changes in the art established the fact that Vidarbha terracotta have their own distinct regional identity with some stylistic as well as theme based influence from outside. The author has also traced the artistical and typological continuity in the terracotta art from early to late phases.

The stylistic comparison of terracotta art of the early historic period from Vidarbha along with other art forms of the Early Historic phase in India reflects the flow of thoughts and concepts in the contemporary society. It also establishes the developmental stages of the Early Historic terracotta art of Vidarbha and the surrounding region. The social and religious aspects of the life in the Early Historical period of this region have also be understood on the basis of the terracotta art.

Dr. Mohan Shankarraoji Pardhi (b. 26.10.1986) serves as a guest faculty in the Department of Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), Nagpur. He is a 2009 MA gold medalist in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, RTMNU. He cleared UGC-JRF in the same year. He did a second MA in 2011. He completed Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India in 2011 and Post Graduate Diploma in Museology from Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University in 2014. He completed his Ph.D. in Archaeology in 2017 from Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed to be University).

Dr. Pardhi has actively participated in several national and international conferences; published several research papers in referred research journals; and contributed chapters on terracotta art and metal objects in several excavation reports. He has more than a decade of experience working in archaeological fields. He is also a life member of many archaeological societies, including ISPQS, IAS, IAHC, ISC, IHC, ESI, SOSAA, etc.

The present work by Mohan Shankarraoji Pardhi titled 'Terracotta Arts of Ancient Vidarbha' is a welcome effort in understanding the nature of art style, technical execution and socio- religious life of the people of Vidarbha in ancient times. The studied material ranges from human and animal figurines, beads, bangles, ear ornaments, pendants with many artistic shapes, playing objects, ritualistic and religious objects and various other objects including coin mould, seals and sealings, weights etc.

A study of terracotta art is one of the very interesting and fascinating subjects. Different types of terracotta art objects were produced by clay artists in ancient times. It was the common art of the ancient society, which were predominantly found from large number of scientific explorations and excavations. It was an important medium of expression and source which helps to understand the past human history. Because of its easy accessibility the artisans working in terracotta have enjoyed the greater liberty to improvise and experiment than sculptors in stone or metals and continuously evolved, developed, and changed its form and concepts through the ages.

The antiquity of terracotta art practices in ancient Vidarbha goes back to Chalcolithic period which increased manifold in the Early Historic period. Terracotta objects in large quantity have been unearthed from the many Early Historic sites in Vidarbha. No serious study of terracotta art of ancient Vidarbha has been undertaken in its totality. Though a few scholars have undertaken is carried out by the author.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude towards the three main educational institutes in the field of Archaeology, viz. the Department of Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi and the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune. I also take the opportunity to acknowledge the faculties of these institutions for giving me the opportunities and helping me to build and develop my research skill.

The word 'Terracotta' is derived from an Italian term, which means 'baked clay' (Sant 1997: 2; Jayaswal and Krishna 1986). The art of backed clay is one of the facets that depict a realistic picture of the contemporary society of an ancient as well as modern culture. Ancient people selected clay because it is flexible and soft in nature, could be easily fashioning in any desired shape and it could be hardened by fire (Sant 1997). Because of conveniently accessed, and was largely used by human for various purposes. Terracotta is one of the most precious artifacts of the past. It has continuously evolved, developed and changed its form and concepts throughout the ages. Artisans working in terracotta enjoyed the liberty to improvise and experiment than sculptors working on stone or metals (Kumar 2000: 1). Many techniques have been used from time to time for fashioning terracotta objects.