59 



these chank remains were two fragments of sandstone 

 hammers. 



This site is notable as being on an islet in the Tapti 

 river protected against assault by steep and almost 

 inaccessible sides — a place very defensible and therefore 

 an ideal place for the settlement of craftsmen. 



(c) Mahuri, in Vijapur Taluk. From " an old site 

 at the head of the gully system which cuts deep into the 

 alluvium of the Sabermati " at this place, a series of 

 working sections and waste pieces of chank shell was 

 found sufficiently numerous and varied to convince me, 

 after examination of the fragments, that a bangle work- 

 shop undoubtedly existed here at a remote period. The 

 presence of sawn waste associated with sawn working 

 sections is conclusive. 



Of completed bangles the remains found were few 

 (8 are shown in the collection) but of these, three are of 

 special interest on account of the elaboration of ornament 

 exhibited. Two of these fragments are of broad bangles 

 richly carved in patterns (fig. 3310-6-7, pi. IV) very 

 closely approximate if indeed not identical with forms in 

 use at the present day. The third fine example is a tiny 

 fragment (fig. 3310-8. pi. V) of the narrow form of 

 bangle known as churi in Bengal, usually worn in sets of 

 three on each wrist and figured on pi. XII. The other 

 fragments found are of simpler patterns. 



An interesting associated find was that of a small 

 " finial " carved out of shell, probably mother-of-pearl, 

 (pl.V). It is identical in form with a mother-of-pearl nose- 

 pendant now in use among the poorer castes in some 

 country districts in Bengal. An example which I 

 purchased in Eastern Bengal, is carved from the shell of 

 a river mussel ( Unio sp.). From the alluvium at Mahuri 

 whence the bangle fragments came, a few neolithic 

 implements, chert flakes and scrapers principally, were 

 unearthed, together with several noticeable pieces of 

 pottery. Of the latter, one is of special importance as it 

 affords some evidence better than the neoliths touching 

 the age of the bangle factory once situated at this place. 

 It is a small headless figure of a sacred bull, of polished 

 earthenware, red externally and black within. Two 

 garlands are indicated around the hump by means of 



