Red ochre on IVC figurines

[Geoffrey Samuel]

A brief note on the "practice among women of wearing red ochre in the
part of their hair". This has become one of the more frequently cited
continuities between IVC and later Indic cultures and is (as far as I
know) based on the red ochre visible in the hair-parting of Indus
Valley figurines of women.

I was able to look at a number of these figurines a couple of years
ago, at Theresa McCullough's gallery in London, and it seems that (1)
the red ochre is found on both male and female figurines, and (2)
there are traces of red ochre all over the body of the figurines, not
just in the hair parting.

This suggests, rather to my disappointment I must admit, that the red
ochre on the figurines may be nothing to do with the modern practice
of married women placing sindhur in their hair parting. Any comments?

Geoffrey

>Date:    Tue, 21 Dec 2004 04:50:05 -0600
>From:    Dean Anderson <dean_anderson at SACARI.ORG>
>Subject: Re: IVC on Indology list

[etc]

>
>A few examples: the Harappan weight system is still used in India today.
>A field at the Harappan city of Kalibangan was ploughed in distinct way
>still in use in that part of South Asia. There are undeniable
>connections between designs of carts, boats, clothing styles including
>the practice among women of wearing red ochre in the part of their hair;


--

Geoffrey Samuel and Santi Rozario, School of Religious and
Theological Studies, Cardiff University, Humanities Building, Colum
Drive, Cardiff CF10 3EU, Wales UK
Tel. (029) 2087 4240. Fax +44-29-2087 4500.
e-mail: Geoffrey.Samuel at newcastle.edu.au, Santi.Rozario at newcastle.edu.au
Web site at http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~mbbgbs