08-11-2024
11:10 AM
GS I
Sub-Categories:
Ancient History Notes for UPSC
Table of Contents
Prelims: History of India
Mains: Indian Culture - Salient Aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Chalcolithic Age in India: Different regions of the Indian subcontinent experienced the emergence of numerous regional cultures by the second millennium B.C., which were distinguished by the use of copper and stone tools. Thus, these societies are known as chalcolithic societies. The Chalcolithic Age is a transitional phase between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age where humans began to use copper as a material for tools and weapons.
Chalcolithic cultures are named based on their location such as Banas culture in Rajasthan, Kayatha culture in Madhya Pradesh and Jorwe culture in Maharashtra.
This period followed the Neolithic Age and marked the emergence of metal usage, particularly copper and low-grade bronze.
The largest site of the Chalcolithic period is Daimabad (mainly part of the Jorwe Culture), situated on the left bank of the Pravara River.
Culture Name | Features |
Ahar Culture | Also known as the Banas culture, it is one of the earliest Chalcolithic cultures in India. Most sites of this culture are located in the Banas Valley in southeastern Rajasthan, known as Mewar. - Mineral Deposits and Copper Supply:
- Sites and Excavations:
- Phases and Material Culture:
- Settlement Patterns and Industrial Activities:
- Agriculture and Economy:
- Cultural and Ideological Aspects:
- Decline and Termination:
|
Kayatha Culture | The culture is named after the chalcolithic site Kayatha, located in Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh. Most of these settlements are situated along the tributaries of the Chambal River. Its ancient name is Kapitthaka, the birthplace of Varaha, a celebrated astronomer. - Ceramics:
- Tools and Ornaments:
- Lifestyle and Economy:
- End of the Culture:
|
Malwa Culture | It is a prominent chalcolithic culture in central India and widely distributed throughout the Malwa region flourished between 1900-1400 BC. - First identified by the excavations at Maheshwar (on the bank of Narmada), which is the ancient Mahishmati. - Malwa culture sites flourished mostly on the banks of the tributaries of Narmada. - Settlement Patterns:
- Structures and Artifacts:
- Expansion:
- Chalcolithic diet:
- Material culture:
- Religious beliefs:
- Decline and Interpretation:
|
Jorwe culture | is the most important chalcolithic culture of Maharashtra, spanning almost all of the state except for the coastal strip and Vidarbha. - Regional Centers:
- Types of Sites:
- Subsistence Patterns:
- Material Culture:
- Burial Practices and Religious Beliefs:
- Decline:
|
Ochre Coloured Pottery Culture | OCP pottery with larger fragments has been discovered at sites in the upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab. Key Sites were Ahichchhatra and Jodhpura (the only sites where the habitational deposit of the OCP has been found). - Association with Copper Hoards:
- Development of OCP:
|
Painted Gray Ware (PGW) Culture | Painted Grey Ware (PGW) is a high-quality grey pottery with a thin fabric and sophisticated firing techniques. - Geographic Distribution:
- Culture and practices:
- Iron and Second Urbanization:
|
The Chalcolithic period in India, also known as the Copper Age, is an important archaeological phase that occurred between the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age. It is characterised by the usage of both stone tools (typical of the Neolithic) and metal tools (copper-based tools, indicative of the Bronze Age) by the people of that time.
During the Chalcolithic period, metals such as copper and tin were extensively used. As the period progressed, individuals acquired the knowledge of incorporating tin into copper, resulting in the production of bronze. Compared to tin and copper alone, bronze emerged as a stronger alloy.
Over sixty Ahar culture sites have been discovered. Important among them are Balathal, Gilund, Ojiyana, Pachamta etc.
The different types of cultures that developed in the Chalcolithic age of India are Ahar culture, Kayatha culture, Malwa culture, Jorwe culture, Ochre Coloured Pottery culture and Painted Gray Ware (PGW) culture.
The Chalcolithic and Megalithic periods in India are crucial phases in prehistoric archaeology as they mark significant transitions in human technological, social, and cultural development.
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