2. Black-and- red ware is a distinct pottery characterized by
two surface colours, black on the interior and outer rim
and red on the exterior.
A similar ware in Egypt is known as Black – topped ware
and its antiquity goes back to the
This pottery was first reported in India in 1945 at
Arikamedu by Mortimer Wheeler who designated it as
black-and-red ware. fourth millennium B.C.
But, recently from the excavation at Lahuradeva a
Neolithic site in Santkabir nagar U.P the date has been
pushed back to 6th millennium B.C (B&R plain variety).
It is associated with Neolithic, chalcolithic and iron age
cultures.
Typologically this ware is devoid of any fossilized shape,
as its shape and fabric went on transforming with the
change of culture.
3. In the pre-Harappan context the black-and-red ware is
reported from the pre-Prabhas levels (C 3000-2800 B.C)
at Somnath in Gujarat.
Another site that has yielded this ware in the pre-
Harappan context is Kunnal in Haryana.
On the other hand it is reported in the Mature Harappan
context from Lothal in Gujarat, from the earliest levels (C
2500-2160B.C.)
Black-and –red ware has been reported from the eastern
and southern Neolithic cultures contemporary to the
Harappa culture.
At Chirand in Bihar it has been found in the Neolithic level
with other wares.
The important shapes reported from this site are :
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Simple and spouted vases, bowls, footed
cup and channels spouted bolwls which
are different from the later chalcolithic
black- and-red ware of this region.
In south India, the white painted black- and-
red ware is found associated with burials
of Neolithic – chalcolithic phase at
Tekkalkota to Karnataka.
Atranjikhera
9. Both plain and painted variety of this ware
have been found from sties like Chirand
and Sonepur in Biahr and Pandurajar-
Dhibi, Mahisdal, Nanoor and Bharatpur
etc.
The chalcolithic level at Chirand has been
dated by radiocarbon to C. 1950 B.C.,
while the time bracket for the sites in West
Bengal in between C. 1400 B.C. and 800
B.C,
the earliest date being 1410 + 140 B.C
from Baratpur. A plain variety of black-and-
red ware has also been reported from the
chalcolithic leves at Golbabai Sasan in
10. In the iron age context in India this ware is
available in most of the culture stated from
1000 B.C. to the early centuries of the
Christian era.
In northern India, it is found in a separate
horizon succeeding the Ochre coloured
pottery at Noh in Rajasthan.
At other sites, it is associated with the
Painted Grey Ware, black slopped ware
and Northern Black Polished ware cultures
in succession
