Table Of ContentMuseum of Anthropology, University of Michigan
Memoirs, Number 41
The Vijayanagara Metropolitan Survey
Volume I
by
Carla M. Sinopoli
Kathleen D. Morrison
Ann Arbor, Michigan
2007
©2007 by the Regents of the University of Michigan
The Museum of Anthropology
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 978-0-915703-65-4 (paper)
ISBN 978-1-951519-85-8 (ebook)
Cover design by Katherine Clahassey.
The University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology currently publishes three monograph series:
Anthropological Papers, Memoirs, and Technical Reports, as well as an electronic series in CD-ROM
form. For a complete catalog, write to Museum of Anthropology Publications, 4009 Museums
Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sinopoli, Carla M.
The Vijayanagara Metropolitan Survey / by Carla M. Sinopoli, Kathleen D. Morrison.
p.cm. -- (Memoirs I Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan; no. 41)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-915703-65-4 (alk. paper)
1.Vijayanagara Metropolitan Survey. 2. Vijayanagara (Extinct city) 3. Vijayanagar (Empire)-
Antiquities. 4. Excavations (Archaeology)--India--Vijayanagar (Empire) I. Vijayanagara Metropolitan
Survey. IL Morrison, Kathleen D. III. Title.
DS486.V56S56 2007
934--dc22
2007014642
The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the ANSI Standard Z39.48-l 984 (Perma
nence of Paper)
Contents
LIST OF FIGURES, iv
LIST OF PLATES, ix
LIST OF TABLES, xiii
PREFACE, xiv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, xvi
PART I. BACKGROUND
CHAPTER 1. BACKGROUND: VIJAYANAGARA IN REGIONAL CONTEXT, 3
Vijayanagara: Empire and City, 3
A Brief History of Settlement, 4
Previous Research, 8
Goals of the Research: Understanding Urban Economies, 10
Production, 11
Layout and Infrastructure, 13
The Survey Area: Physiographic Setting, 13
Discussion: The Vijayanagara Landscape, 14
CHAPTER 2. SURVEY METHODOLOGY, 15
Archaeological Survey, 15
The Sample Area: The Vijayanagara Metropolitan Region, 17
Sampling Design, 18
The Site Concept, 18
Survey Methods, 19
Blocks 0, T, and S, 23
Survey Block 0, 23
Survey Block T, 23
Survey Block S, 23
Summary, 29
PART II. DATA PRESENTATION
INTRODUCTION TO PART II, 32
CHAPTER 3. BLOCK 0: SITE SUMMARIES, 33
CHAPTER 4. BLOCK T: SITE SUMMARIES, 97
CHAPTER 5. BLOCK S: SITE SUMMARIES, 147
CHAPTER 6. ARTIFACT DISTRIBUTIONS AND ANALYSIS, 263
Contexts of Artifact Recovery, 263
Earthenware Ceramics, 264
Ceramic Counts and Wares, 265
Vessel Forms, 265
Vessel-Use Class Distributions, 285
Other Earthenware Materials, 289
Imported Ceramics, 291
Ground Stone, 291
Quarrying and Peg Production, 291
Other Chipped Stone Artifacts, 294
Metal Artifacts and Slag, 300
Other Small Finds, 301
Discussion, 303
CHAPTER 7. END NOTE, 305
GLOSSARY OF INDIAN NAMES AND ARCHITECTURAL TERMS, 325
REFERENCES CITED, 328
iii
Figures
1.1. The Vijayanagara empire, 5
1.2. The study area, 6
1.3. Vijayanagara urban core, 9
2.1. The Vijayanagara metropolitan region, 19
2.2. The region: intensive and extensive sampling strata, 20
2.3. Sample transects in intensive survey area, 21
2.4. Block 0: setting, sample transects, and sites, 24
2.5. Block T: setting, sample transects, and sites, 25
2.6. Block S: setting, sample transects, and sites, 26
3.1. VMS-I, plan, 33
3.2. VMS-2, plan, 35
3.3. VMS-2, Feature 2, 36
3.4. VMS-9, plan, 37
3.5. VMS-lO, schematic plan, 37
3.6. VMS-12, plan, 38
3.7. VMS-13, plan, 38
3.8. VMS-14, plan, 39
3.9. VMS-I5, plan, 39
3.10. VMS-15, artifacts: iron knife blade and inscribed steatite bead, 39
3.11. VMS-16, plan, 40
3.12. VMS-19, plan, 41
3.13. VMS-20, plan, 41
3.14. VMS-21, plan, 41
3.15. VMS-26, plan and location of collection areas, 43
3.16. VMS-29, plan, 44
3.l7. VMS-30, plan, 44
3.18. VMS-33, plan, 45
3.19. VMS-34, plan, 45
3.20. VMS-35, plan, 49
3.21. VMS-36, plan, 50
3.22. VMS-37, plan, 51
3.23. VMS-38, plan, 52
3.24. VMS-39, plan, 52
3.25. VMS-40, plan, 53
3.26. VMS-41, plan, 54
3.27. VMS-42-47, VMS-50, temple complex, 55
3.28. VMS-42, plan, 56
3.29. VMS-43, plan, 58
3.30. VMS-48, plan, 60
3.31. VMS-49, plan, 60
3.32. VMS-52, plan, 62
3.33. VMS-59, plan, 64
3.34. VMS-59, section, 64
3.35. VMS-61, plan, 65
3.36. VMS-62, plan, 65
3.37. VMS-64, plan, 66
3.38. VMS-65, plan, 66
3.39. VMS-66, plan, 67
3.40. VMS-67, plan, 67
iv
3.41. VMS-72, plan, 69
3.42. VMS-73, plan, 69
3.43. VMS-7S, plan, 70
3.44. VMS-77 , plan, 71
3.4S. VMS-7S, plan, 71
3.46. VMS-79, plan, 72
3.47. VMS-SO, plan, 73
3.4S. VMS-S1, plan, 74
3.49. VMS-S3 and VMS-S4, plan, 75
3.S0. VMS-S6, plan, 77
3.S1. VMS-SS, plan, 77
3.S2. VMS-91, plan, 78
3.S3. VMS-93, plan, 79
3.S4. VMS-97, plan, 80
3.SS. VMS-99, plan, 81
3.S6. VMS-lOO, plan, 81
3.S7. VMS-10l, plan, 83
3.SS. VMS-lOS, plan, 84
3.S9. VMS-107, plan, 85
3.60. VMS-lOS, plan, 85
3.61. VMS-1I1, plan, 86
3.62. VMS-Il2, plan, 88
3.63. VMS-1I3, plan, 90
3.64. VMS-229, plan, 92
3.6S. VMS-371 and VMS-372, plan, 93
3.66. VMS-604, plan, 95
4.1. VMS-I36, plan, 97
4.2. VMS-292, plan, 98
4.3. VMS-293, plan, 99
4.4. VMS-297, plan, 101
4.S. VMS-29S, plan, 102
4.6. VMS-299, plan, 102
4.7. VMS-300, plan, 103
4.S. VMS-301, plan, 104
4.9. VMS-30l, plan, 104
4.10. VMS-303, plan, 105
4.11. VMS-304, plan, 106
4.12. VMS-306, plan, 107
4.13. VMS-30S, plan, 108
4.14. VMS-309, plan, 109
4.IS. VMS-31O, plan, 109
4.16. VMS-311, plan, 110
4.17. VMS-312, plan, 110
4.1S. VMS-313, plan, 111
4.19. VMS-31S, plan, 112
4.20. VMS-317, plan, 114
4.21. VMS-3IS, plan, 116
4.22. VMS-319, plan, 116
4.23. VMS-320, plan, 116
4.24. VMS-321, plan, 117
4.2S. VMS-322, plan, 118
4.26. VMS-323, plan, 118
4.27. VMS-324, plan, 118
v
4.28. VMS-325, plan, 119
4.29. VMS-327, plan, 122
4.30. VMS-328, plan, 122
4.31. VMS-329 and VMS-328, plan, 122
4.32. VMS-330, plan, 123
4.33. VMS-33I, plan, 124
4.34. VMS-332, plan, 124
4.35. VMS-335, plan, 125
4.36. VMS-336, plan, 126
4.37. VMS-338, plan, 126
4.38. VMS-340, plan, 128
4.39. VMS-34l, plan, 129
4.40. VMS-342, plan, 129
4.41. VMS-343, plan, 130
4.42. VMS-344, plan, 131
4.43. VMS-346, plan, 131
4.44. VMS-349, plan, 132
4.45. VMS-350, plan, 133
4.46. VMS-351, plan, 133
4.47. VMS-353, plan, 134
4.48. VMS-354, plan, 134
4.49. VMS-355, plan, 135
4.50. VMS-356, plan, 135
4.51. VMS-357, plan, 136
4.52. VMS-358, plan, 137
4.53. VMS-361, plan, 139
4.54. VMS-362, plan, 140
4.55. VMS-364, plan, 141
4.56. VMS-365, plan, 142
4.57. VMS-367, plan, 144
4.58. VMS-368, plan, 145
4.59. VMS-369, plan, 146
5.1. VMS-8, plan, 148
5.2. VMS-I2l, plan, 149
5.3. VMS-124, plan, 151
5.4. VMS-125, plan, 152
5.5. VMS-l27, plan, 153
5.6. VMS-I28, plan, 153
5.7. VMS-129, plan, 154
5.8. VMS-130, plan, 156
5.9. VMS-131, plan, 156
5.10. VMS-132, plan, 157
5.11. VMS-133, plan (VMS-226 in lower left), 159
5.12. VMS-135, plan, 160
5.13. VMS-137, plan, 161
5.14. VMS-138, plan, 161
5.15. VMS-139, plan, 162
5.16. VMS-140, plan, 163
5.17. VMS-142, plan, 165
5.18. VMS-144, plan, 168
5.19. VMS-145, plan, 169
5.20. VMS-146, plan, 169
5.21. VMS-148, plan, 170
vi
5.22. VMS-150, plan, 171
5.23. VMS-15l, plan, 172
5.24. VMS-152, plan, 172
5.25. VMS-153, plan and location of collection units, 173
5.26. VMS-158, plan, 175
5.27. VMS-159, plan, 175
5.28. VMS-161, plan, approximate site boundaries and collection units, 176
5.29. VMS-163, plan, 177
5.30. VMS-164, plan, 180
5.31. VMS-165, plan, 182
5.32. VMS-166, plan, 182
5.33. VMS-167, plan, 183
5.34. VMS-168, plan, 183
5.35. VMS-169, plan, approximate site boundaries and collection units, 184
5.36. VMS-l72, plan and location of collection units, 186
5.37. VMS-I73, plan, 188
5.38. VMS-174, plan, 189
5.39. VMS-176, plan and location of collection units, 190
5.40. VMS-I77, plan, 190
5.41. VMS-179, plan, approximate site boundaries and collection units, 191
5.42. VMS-18l, plan, 192
5.43. VMS-182, plan and location of collection units, 193
5.44. VMS-183, plan, 195
5.45. VMS-184, plan, 196
5.46. VMS-186, plan and location of collection units, 197
5.47. VMS-187, plan, 197
5.48. VMS-189, plan, 198
5.49. VMS-190, sluice 2, section, 199
5.50. VMS-I92, plan, 200
5.51. VMS-193, plan, 201
5.52. VMS-194, plan, 201
5.53. VMS-I98, plan, 203
5.54. VMS-I99, plan, 203
5.55. VMS-200, plan, 204
5.56. VMS-201, plan, 205
5.57. VMS-201, Feature 1, plan, 206
5.58. VMS-203, plan, 207
5.59. VMS-204, plan, 207
5.60. VMS-205, VMS-206, and VMS-207, plan, 209
5.61. VMS-208, plan, 210
5.62. VMS-209, plan, 211
5.63. VMS-210, plan, 212
5.64. VMS-211, plan, 212
5.65. VMS-213, plan, 213
5.66. VMS-214, plan, 214
5.67. VMS-215, plan, 214
5.68. VMS-216, plan, 215
5.69. VMS-218, plan, 218
5.70. VMS-219, plan, 219
5.71. VMS-220, plan, 220
5.72. VMS-225, plan, 223
5.73. VMS-230, plan, 224
5.74. VMS-23I, Kamalapuram reservoir plan, 225
5.75. VMS-23 I , western basin of Kamalapuram reservoir, 225
vii
5.76. VMS-237, Pattabhirama temple complex, plan, 229
5.77. VMS-237, Pattabhirama complex, main temple, 230
5.78. VMS-238, plan, 232
5.79. VMS-239, plan, 233
5.80. VMS-241, plan, including locations of sluices, 234
5.81. VMS-244, plan, 235
5.82. VMS-249, plan, 237
5.83. VMS-252, plan, 238
5.84. VMS-254, plan and location of collection units, 239
5.85. VMS-256, VMS-257, and portions of VMS-259, plan, 242
5.86. VMS-260, plan, 246
5.87. VMS-274, plan, 253
5.88. VMS-277, plan, 254
5.89. VMS-279, plan, 255
5.90. VMS-280, plan, 256
5.91. VMS-281, plan, 257
5.92. VMS-283, plan, 257
5.93. VMS-284, plan, 258
5.94. VMS-285, plan, 259
5.95. VMS-286, plan, 259
5.96. VMS-287, plan, 259
5.97. VMS-288, plan, 260
5.98. VMS-291, plan, 261
6.1. Unrestricted vessels: lamps, 270
6.2. Unrestricted vessels: shallow bowls and other bowls, 272
6.3 Unrestricted vessels: shallow bowls, 273
6.4. Unrestricted vessels: large shallow bowls, 274
6.5. Unrestricted vessels: other bowls, size histogram, 277
6.6. Restricted vessel rim forms, 277
6.7. Round rim restricted vessels, 279
6.8. Straight rim restricted vessels, 280
6.9. Straight rim restricted vessels, 281
6.10. Restricted vessels: flange rims, 282
6.11. Restricted vessels: flange rims, 283
6.12. Restricted vessels: flange rims, 284
6.13. Restricted vessel categories RV1-RV6, 286
6.14. Sculpted sherd depicting portion of a human face, VMS-372, 290
6.15. Basalt pegs, 293
6.16. Flaked stone artifacts, VMS-26, 298
6.17. Flaked stone artifacts, 299
6.18. Flaked stone artifacts, 299
6.19. Copper bangle, VMS-35, 301
6.20. Nandi figurine, VMS-24, 303
7.1. Intensive survey region: all recorded sites, 306
7.2. Block G: setting, sample transects, and sites, 319
7.3. Block H: setting, sample transects, and sites, 320
7.4. Block J: setting, sample transects, and sites, 321
7.5. Block M: setting, sample transects, and sites, 322
7.6. Block R: setting, sample transects, and sites, 323
viii
Plates
Cover Mandapa in Block S, VMS-220.
1.1. Temple complex in the Vijayanagara sacred center, 10
2.1. Irrigated fields to the south of the Kamalapuram Reservoir (VMS-231), Block S, 22
2.2.. Crew laying out surface collection unit, 22
2.3. Block 0: overview, 27
2.4. View of Block T, looking north from southern boundary of VMS-339, 27
2.5. Block T: overview to south, 28
2.6. Block S: outer city wall (VMS-l23) and terrain in northeast quadrant, 28
2.7. Block S: irrigated rice fields, 29
3.1. VMS-2, Feature 2, elephant balustrade, 36
3.2. VMS-2, Feature 4, inscribed stone column, 36
3.3. VMS-lO, site overview showing bastion and wall, 37
3.4. VMS-18, images carved on shelter floor, 40
3.5. VMS-26, overview of mound and setting, 43
3.6. VMS-35, outline of unfinished bedrock mortar, 48
3.7. VMS-35, "horse tie" on outcrop boulder, 48
3.8. VMS-37, structural detail, 51
3.9. VMS-37, structural detail, path 2, 51
3.10. VMS-40, view of stone superstructure, 53
3.11. VMS-40, detail of ceramic water pipe, 54
3.12. VMS-42, main temple (F1), 56
3.13. VMS-42, mandapa (F2), 57
3.14. VMS-42, stairway (F4) and memorial marker (F3), 57
3.15. VMS-43, step well, 58
3.16. VMS-50, stairs, 61
3.17. VMS-51, stairs, 61
3.18. VMS-59, reservoir overview, 64
3.19. VMS-59, reservoir, sluice and embankment detail, 64
3.20. VMS-69, column detail, 68
3.21. VMS-79, unfinished column in situ; note flaking debris in foreground, 72
3.22. VMS-80, view of porch and entryway into walled temple complex, 73
3.23. VMS-80, naga stones along the south wall of complex courtyard, 73
3.24. VMS-83, overview, 75
3.25. VMS-84, view from south, 76
3.26. VMS-85, fortification wall segment, 76
3.27. VMS-91, overview, 78
3.28. VMS-91, sluice gate, 78
3.29. VMS-92, detail of rock surface, 79
3.30. VMS-93, overview, 79
3.31. VMS-WI, wall segment, 82
3.32. VMS-WI, bedrock mortars, one unfinished, 82
3.33. VMS-104, shrine, 84
3.34. VMS-108, detail of embankment construction, 85
3.35. VMS-ll1, standing column, 87
3.36. VMS-ll1, inscription, 87
3.37. VMS-Ill, sculpted block, 87
3.38. VMS-1l2, well overview, 89
3.39. VMS-Ill, columned gate, entry to well, 89
ix
