Archaeobotanical Investigations into Golbai Sasan and Gopalpur, Two Neolithic-Chalcolithic Settlements of Odisha

Eleanor Kingwell-Banham,Dorian Q Fuller,Rabindra Kumar Mohanty,Emma Karoune Nee Harvey

doi:10.5334/aa.164

Eleanor Kingwell-Banham, Dorian Q Fuller + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5334/aa.164

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of plant macro-remain and phytolith analyses from two Neolithic-Early Historic mounded settlement sites in Odisha, eastern India: Gopalpur and Golbai Sasan. Macrobotanical and phytolith samples were taken throughout the stratigraphy and the results are presented here. The plant remains confirm the presence of a distinct agricultural economy in Neolithic-Chalcolithic Odisha based on rice (Oryza sativa), pulses (Vigna spp., Macrotyloma uniflorium and Cajanus cajan) and millets (Bracharia ramosa, Panicum spp., Setaria spp. and possibly Paspalum sp.). Crop processing activities have been reconstructed using both phytoliths and macro-remains, and suggest that threshing occurred off site as part of a communal harvesting strategy. Potential differences between the economies of Golbai Sasan and Gopalpur are suggested, with a broader range of pulses present at Gopalpur. Radiocarbon dates from individual rice grains and legumes provide a secure chronology for the sites. This paper therefore provides the first published details for the agricultural base of the Neolithic-Chalcolithic coastal lowlands in Odisha, as well as new AMS radiocarbon dates for the Odishan Neolithic-Chalcolithic period.

Highlights

Gopalpur and Golbai Sasan are situated in the coastal lowlands of Odisha, close to Chilka Lake (Figure 1)
For each of the excavations/diggings reported here bulk soil samples of between 5 and 50 litres were taken and charred plant remains were recovered via bucket floatation. These were collected on a 0.25 mm mesh at Golbai Sasan 2011 to ensure the recovery of small weeds and rice spikelet bases, which can be used to differentiate between wild and domestic rice (Fuller et al 2009), whilst a 0.5 mm mesh was used at the earlier 2003/2004 work at Gopalpur and Golbai Sasan
Radiocarbon dates The new radiocarbon dates from Golbai Sasan 2011 place the site at between c.3450 and c.2850 cal BP (Table 2, Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

Gopalpur and Golbai Sasan are situated in the coastal lowlands of Odisha, close to Chilka Lake (Figure 1). They are large, highly stratified settlement mounds, situated close to rivers within the zone of transition from hilly escarpments to the west and the flat alluvial coastal plains to the east. Pottery recovered from both sites include red and grey ware, and hand made pottery at the lower levels (Mohanty et al 2012), indicating that the earliest levels are Neolithic, often dated to c. Based on the results of this excavation and questions surrounding the site’s relationship to the development of Sisupalgarh (a large Early Historic fortified settlement located nearby (Mohanty and Smith 2008, Smith and Mohanty 2010, Mohanty et al 2013) two large stepped trenches were opened at Golbai Sasan in 2011 (Mohanty et al 2012) (Figure 2)

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