Chalcolithic Period- Introductory Study

After the end of the Neolithic period, a civilisation flourished in the valleys of Indus and Saraswati. In central India and the Deccan region, a different kind of culture was developed, which is known as the Chalcolithic culture. This culture was generally seen in the Pre-Harappan phase. Most of the people were rural and lived close to hills and rivers. They started the use of metal alongside stone to craft tools for different purposes. This is why this period is also known as the stone-copper age. The first people to make and use painted pottery belonged to this age.

Agriculture and animals

The people of the Chalcolithic period were mostly dependent on farming, hunting, and fishing. They domesticated animals such as sheep, buffalo, goats, pigs, etc. and slaughtered them for food. Archaeologists have also found remains of camels. The diet of the people included fish and meat too. People also consumed beef; however, no evidence of pork consumption was found.

They cultivated different crops. The main crop cultivated in Inamgaon was rice, but it is found that bajra, ragi, and wheat were also grown. The area was rich in black soil good for the cultivation of cotton. Therefore, cotton cultivation was also rampant. The people of this age were skilled as coppersmiths, ivory carvers and terracotta artisans.

Houses

During the Chalcolithic period, bricks were extensively used for the construction of houses, but there is no trace found of constructions using burnt bricks. Their houses were either rectangular shaped or circular shaped. Mud was used for building the houses, and plaster was done using cow dung and lime. Most of the houses were single-roomed, but some houses had multiple rooms as well. Influential people used to live in large mud houses that had five rooms.

Art and craft

In the Chalcolithic culture, pottery was made using the potter’s wheel, and it was coloured red and orange. Different shapes were used to decorate the pottery, and linear designs were painted on the pottery. They used animals, birds, and flowers as motifs. Black and red coloured pottery first came into existence during this period. Semi Precious stones such as agate, jasper, and chalcedony were used to make beads. People were aware of spinning and weaving. Threads of flax, cotton, and silk were found at various sites in Maharashtra.

Burials

People would bury the dead inside the floors of their houses and pots and other copper objects were also buried along with them. The children belonging to affluent families were buried with necklaces around their necks or they buried pottery of copper with them. 

Pottery and lifestyle

People used to make tools using copper, and a mixture of copper and stone at times. Bronze was also used, which was made by mixing copper and tin. People used to create many types of potteries during this period. They used to make painted pottery, which is also a distinctive feature of this age. In Ahar culture, people would make pottery in black and red colour and it was decorated with white designs. However, the people of kayatha culture would use strong red colour to glaze the pots featuring designs in chocolate colour. Some types of potteries used in their culture are spouted vases, big storage jars, spouted basins and bowls, stemmed cups, etc.

Trade and commerce

The communities of the chalcolithic period used to trade and barter materials with the other communities. The settlement of the Ahar community was nearby a copper source, so they used to make tools using copper and supplied them to other communities. Some copper axes were found to have identical marks embedded in them that suggest that the maker was probably a trademark symbol. The Jorwe people imported gold and ivory from Tekkalkotta in Karnataka. Rajpipla in Gujarat supplied semiprecious stones to different parts. People used wheeled bullock carts to carry their goods over long distances. Some pots have been found containing drawings of the wheeled bullock cart.

Conclusion

The Chalcolithic period came into existence after the end of the Neolithic period. For the first time, people started to use metals and stone together to make tools, which is why it is also known as the stone-copper age. It was a Pre-Harappan phase. The people of this age were mostly dependent on farming, hunting, and fishing. They cultivated crops like wheat, jowar, barley, lentil, ragi, cotton, etc. The people of this age were the first to make and use painted pottery. Copper and its alloy bronze were used to make tools such as knives, axes, fishing hooks and rods, etc. They were also involved in trading and exchanging goods.