Daimabad is a significant archaeological site located in Srirampur taluka of Ahmednagar district, in the Indian state Maharashtra. It is basically a deserted village lying on the left bank of Pravara River, which is a tributary of the Godavari River. B. P. Bopardikar is accredited with the discovery of this site in the year 1958 and since then it has been excavated thrice by the Archaeological Survey of India. Various researches in the region have established that this place in the Deccan plateau had sheltered the late Harappan civilizations. The excavation of 5 metres thick occupational deposits has revealed evidences which support the presence of five distinct Chalcolithic cultural phases in Daimabad, distinguished by the features of their painted ceramics. All the phases are continuous except a break of about half century between Phase II and Phase III.
Phase I: Savalda Culture
Phase I, also known as Savalda Culture, belonged to the time before 2300/2200 BCE. The houses comprising this phase had mud walls having rounded ends, multiple rooms, jars, storage pits and hearths. Courtyards were also there in front of the houses and a lane has also been found at one place. The plant remains found in this phase were of black gram, grass pea, lentil, barley etc. Other artefacts found include querns, tanged arrow-heads of bone, stone mullers, microliths, carnelian and agate, terracotta, beads of shell and copper-bronze rings. The wares found here constituted medium-to-coarse fabric which were possibly made on slow wheel and were painted mostly in ochre-red colour. In a few cases they were also painted in black and white pigments. These were also ornamented with beautiful decorations.
Phase II: Late Harappan Culture
Phase II is also recognized as late harappan culture and extends from 2300/2200 to 1800 BCE. This phase was characterized by increase in the size of settlement and demolitions of the house walls owing to later disturbances. Made of black clay, these walls stand on black soil. Patches of finely plastered floors have also been unearthed in some houses. The occupational deposit also contained a grave with mud brick lining having a skeleton in extended position. Sticking to it were remains of reeds of fibrous plants, which suggest that the body was covered with the same, originally. Fine red-wares having geometric and linear designs were the main wares during this phase which were painted with black pigment. The most prominent discovery of this phase comprised two terracotta button-shaped seals having Harappan writings. Four inscribed potsherds were also unearthed. Other articles excavated include terracotta measuring scale, bangles of shell, beads of gold, microlithic blades and plant remains. Remains of horse grams were revealed in this phase for the first time.
Phase III: Daimabad Culture
Phase III is also called as Daimabad culture and belongs to 1800 to 1600 BCE. Black-on-buff-and-cream wares were the prevalent pottery of this phase. These were embellished with black paint and geometric designs. Other important artefacts found in this phase include fragments of graduated terracotta rings which were probably used as measuring devices, decorated elephant tusks, beads, bone tools and microlithic blades. Remains of Hyacinth bean were an addition to the plants remains found in common with the previous phases. Three different burials were also unearthed constituting symbolic burial, post-cremation urn burial and pit burial.
Phase IV: Malwa Culture
Phase IV is also known as Malwa culture, extending from 1600-1400 BCE. Among the structural remains found in this phase the mud houses were found to be spacious having mud-plastered floors, wooden posts engraved in mud walls and steps reaching to the doorway from outside. Fire altars were also found which establishes their resemblance with religious structures. A temple has also been identified in association with some sacrificial activity. 16 burials, comprising either pit or urn burials were found and twigs of fibrous plants were laid at the bottom of the pits. Other artefacts discovered were terracotta and bone objects, faience beads, copper objects, microlithic blades and plant remains of pulses, lentils, millets and wheat. The pottery of phase IV comprised much variety including incurved bowl, handi-type vase with tubular spout, carinated bowl etc.
Phase V: Jorwe Culture
Phase V is also identified as Jorwe culture and continues from 1400 to 1000 BCE. The size of settlement further increased in this phase. The houses of merchant, bead maker, potter, lime maker and butcher were identified on the basis of various remains. This phase also constituted five structural phases. Ruins of a mud fortification wall having bastions were also unearthed. The characteristic pottery of this phase comprised deep-red painted wares having beautiful decorations, some having a lustrous red surface. The significant artefacts found in this phase were terracotta figurines, beads, copper objects, microliths and many more. The plant remains were similar to the previous phase including three new types of millet namely jowar, foxtail millet and kodon millet. Pit and Urn burials were also discovered.
Daimabad Hoard
Daimabad hoard forms another major discovery which comprises a hoard of four bronze objects discovered in 1974 by a local farmer named Chhabu Laxman Bhil. The hoard comprised four sculptures of chariot, water buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. Many researchers believe that the hoard belong to late Harappan period while others opine that they belong to historical period.
