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In many cities, archaeologists have found rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one on top
of the other. These are known as ring wells.

The exploration of the cities and main towns/commercial centres were come through the
sailor and explorers. One of the detailed accounts has been found written by an unknown
Greek sailor. He described all the ports that he had visited.

coIns

Trade prospered in this period due to the introduction of coins.
These coins were called punch-marked coins because the designs

were punched on the coins made of silver or copper.
Coins

cItIes WItH many functIons

The Greeks greatly contributed to the development of Taxila,

Gandhara and Mathura as the centres of art in India.
They gave birth to Gandhara School of Art. It is partly Indian and

partly Greek. Stone images and statues of the Buddha were carved.
Mathura, which was the centre for indigenous school of art was
also influenced by the invasions. A number of images of terracotta

and red sandstone, which have definite Saka-Kushana influence,
have survived. The Mathura school became first to make faces and
figures of Buddha.

‘The Mathura school of Art’ began about the end of the Ist

century BC and it was flourishing in the reign of Kanishka. Its
A broken statue of Kanishka
work is known by its material of white-spotted red stone. The
Mathura art is Indian in thought and style. The images of the
Buddha, Boddhisatvas and some images of kings were made in this style by the artists. A
headless statue of Kanishka has been found which is a notable example of Mathura art.

crafts and craftsperson

Extremely Fine pottery, known as the Northern black Polished has been discovered by the
Archaeologists. It is called so because it is found in the northern part of the subcontinent.
It is black in colour and has a fine polish. Various available texts reveal that manufacturing
of cloth was also an important activity during that time and both men and women worked
in the cloth industry. The two important cloth manufacturing centers were Varanasi in the
North and Madurai in the South. During this period, many crafts persons and merchants
formed associations known as shrenis. Their function was to provide training, procure

Social Studies-6 67