Russet-coated painted ware pottery: The potential chronological, social, and economic significance of a poorly-understood south Indian ceramic type

Russet-Coated Painted Ware (RCPW) is a distinctive ceramic ware found predominantly across the Deccan and southern regions of India. Noteworthy as one of the few painted ceramic wares in this region and for its presumed role as a chronological indicator of the Early Historic period, important questions about RCPW nevertheless remain. There is at present no complete accounting of the spatial distribution or chronological range of this ware, nor any understanding of patterns of production and possible exchange. While RCPW is generally viewed as a single type, its internal variability has likewise not been systematically documented. This article presents an overview of RCPW, examining its technical characteristics, chronological position, distribution patterns, and possible socio-cultural significance. Drawing upon existing archaeological evidence from the 4th-3rd centuries BCE to the Early Medieval period (circa 13–14 CE), this study begins to elucidate the origin and extent, production techniques, and morphology and decorative motifs of RCPW as a baseline for more advanced analysis. We trace the evolution of RCPW from its initial identification as ‘Andhra Ware’ by Wheeler in 1947 to its reclassification as Russet Coated Painted Ware by Thapar in 1957. Subsequent exploration and excavation efforts have expanded the geographical scope of RCPW's distribution, highlighting its presence in diverse regions such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. This paper offers the most comprehensive spatial analysis of RCPW to date.