Funci´ on Logaritmica

1977, PP. 57-112.

25

Lllders List,

Nos. 1239 and 1297; J. Burgess,

The Buddhist

Stupas at Amaravati and Jaggayyapeta,

(Reprint), Varanasi,

1970, pp. 97 and 102.

60

Very few articles of ivory have been found in Andhra

Pradesh. A significant find is an ivory plaque from Kondapur

(27

excavations. It has been associated with similar finds from (28

Begram in Afghanistan. Both types have similar sketch-like

engraving recalling Amaravati sculptures of the pre-Christian era.

It is not possible to infer a trade link based on these finds as

they could have been carried by monks. Inscriptions from Nagarjuna-

(29 konda refer to local monks from the region of present-day Afghanistan.

Although Dosarene of

The Periplus

and Paloura of Ptolemy, both

(30

situated in Kalinga country, were famous for ivory, these texts

do not attribute it to any part of Andhra Pradesh. Ivory may have

been traded from the districts of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam, which

are included in the region of Kalinga in later centuries.

That shell-cutting was an important industry at this time

can be inferred from not only the Nagarjunakonda sculptures which depict

(31

bangles of shell and conches but also the large quantity of bangle

pieces of shell in different stages of manufacture and other rejects

(32

from the same place. Kondapur excavations have also yielded shell (33

ornaments. The material was probably brought to these places from

the coast through trade. From a study of the remains at Nagarjunakonda

and at a site near modern Uppugundur we may assume that the latter

26 At Sankaram, Amaravati and Yelleswaram, see respectively

M.A.R.,

1908-09, pp. 9 ; K.R.Subrahmanyam,

op. cit.,

p. 22; M.A.W. Khan,

A Monograph of Yeleswaram Excavations,

p.

kk.

27 Yazdani, 'Excavations at Kondapur....', p. 183 ff.

28 Moti Chandra, 'An Ivory Figure from Ter',

Lalit Kala,

No. 8, (

1959

),

pp. 7-15; M.N. Deshpande, 'Some Observations on the Ivory Figure from Ter',

Ibid.,

No. 10, (1961), pp. 55-56.

29 J. Ph. Vogel,

E.I.,

Vol. XX, pp. 22-23.

30

Ptolemy,

pp. 70-71. 31 K. Krishna Murthy,

op. cit.,

pp.110,

187

-

88

.

32 H. Sarkar and B.N. Misra,

op. cit.,

p. 22.

33 G. Yazdani, 'Excavations at Kondapur....', p. 183 ff.

6i

supplied shells to the former.

The ubiquitous iron tools from the

Pandukal

burials in

South India and the Deccan suggest not only an established industry

but also trade in that metal. During the early historical period,

sedentary agriculture would have increased the demand for iron tools.

It is not surprising that they have been unearthed in large quantities

at most of the early historical sites. In fact, the large-scale

building industry in urban centres would have increased the demand

for iron considerably.

Iron-ore suitable for pre-industrial smelting occurs all (35

over Andhra. Although the mere proximity of iron deposits is

(36

not the only factor which makes acquaintance possible, the large

number of iron implements from all over Andhra and the archaeological

(37

evidence as at Kondapur and Peddabankur illustrating ironworking

suggest that the locally available ores could have been exploited.

Even then, local trade for the ore to areas where it was not available

must have existed.

There is no inscriptional material on blacksmiths in

Andhra Pradesh. However, such prosperous artisans made donations

to the Buddhist establishments in Maharashtra. Since the socio­

economic conditions in the two areas were very similar, we can

tentatively assume their presence in our region.

3h

B. Ch. Chhabra,

E.I.,

Vol. XXXIII, pp. 189 ff.

35 D.K. Chakrabarti, ’Distribution of Iron Ores and the Archaeo­ logical Evidence of Early Iron in India,

J.E.S.H.O.

Vol. XX, Pt. II, pp. 182-83.

36 The Australian Aborigines and the American Indians had abundant iron deposits, but no acquaintance with or use of the metal. 37 Excavations at these places have yielded blacksmiths’ workshops,

see Yazdani, ’Excavations at Kondapur....’ pp. 171-85; I.A.A.R., 1971-72, p. 3;

Ibid.,

197*1-75, p. 5.

62

63

around the Gulf of Cambay, has been attributed to the working of iron near Hyderabad, and we m ay locate the area near Kondapur on the

(38 basis of archaeological remains.

The black cotton soils of the inland districts were ideally suited to the cultivation of cotton, an important commercial

crop. The inland

taluks

of Guntur district produced large quantities

of this crop. Cotton production and weaving we r e k n o w n during the

(39

Pandukal times. Buddhist texts of the early historical period

attest that the Bodhisattva found shelter in the quarters of a weaver

(1+0 while in Andhra, and that the place was known for its weaving.

The Periplus

refers to the great quantities of muslins produced in

Andhra. Although the text refers to the exports of muslin from other

parts of India, it does not specify whether it was an item of export

(1+1

from Andhra Pradesh. However, the very fact that the region is

singled out for producing such large quantities of muslin m ay be taken as sufficient evidence for its trade, both locally and with the Roman

empire. Even if the local demand for cloth was low, the above

evidence points to its export. Kosambi mentions that it was not in

In document 3 Funciones de Variable Real (página 41-49)