Chalcolithic Age (3,500 BC-1,000 BC)

The Chalcolithic period, which refers to the period when copper and stone were used, was designated as the stone-copper phase. These civilizations have a specific regional identity that distinguishes them. The Chalcolithic epoch is separated into three distinct stages.

• The Chalcolithic people were renowned for their coppersmithing skills. They were well-versed in the trade of copper smelting, and they were also skilled stone masons
• This period also marked the emergence of social inequities, since chiefs resided in rectangular mansions while the commoners lived in round huts, a situation that continues today. Their settlements were made up of more than 35 dwellings of varying sizes and shapes, which were either round or rectangular in design. The chalcolithic economy is seen as a village-based system of production
• The following are some of the most important chalcolithic sites: Ahar (Banas valley, South Eastern Rajasthan), Gilund (Banas valley, Rajasthan), Daimabad (Ahmadnagar, Gujarat), Malwa (Madhya Pradesh), Sonpur (Bihar), and Songaon, Inamgaon, and Nevasa (Maharashtra)

Features of Chalcolithic age

• This civilization of India is defined by its use of copper and stone, which distinguishes it from other non-urban, non-Harappan cultures in the country
• Some of the alternate subsistence strategies they adopted included pastoralism, agriculture, hunting, and fishing, to name a few. Farming was carried out with the use of a wooden or bone plough as well as irrigation systems. In good weather, they were cattle-pastures, but when the weather became bad, they transitioned to sheep-goat pastoralism
• It was customary for these people to dwell in buildings made of mud and mud bricks, which were often rectangular or circular in shape. They had a greater number of rooms, were constructed of rammed board, and had thatched roofs
• They were adherents of the cults of ‘Bull’ and ‘Mother-Goddess,’ among other things
• Among the Chalcolithic people of Pre-historic India, fire-worship appears to have been a highly common phenomena, according to archeological evidence. Because fire-altars have been discovered at a considerable number of Chalcolithic sites during excavations, it is reasonable to conclude that they were used to sacrifice animals
• Due to the fact that pots were essential in their everyday life, we can witness a high level of uniformity and specialism in pot-making. These are painted products with a black-on-red background, but distinct subcultures have varied characteristics
• Pots and other funeral items, as well as the burial sites of the Malwa and Jorwe people, have been discovered. This also suggests that the people may have held onto the concept that there is life after death
• They were also involved in cultural interactions with other cultures, as evidenced by the presence of foreign items and tools in their respective areas of operation
• Chalcolithic sites associated with the Jorwe culture (c. 1300–700 BCE) have been unearthed in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and other Indian states. The most distinguishing characteristics of this civilization are its red pottery, which has a matt surface and is painted in black. Jorwe is a small town in Maharashtra that also happens to be an archeological site

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Chalcolithic Culture Chronology

The following is a list of India’s chalcolithic cultures in chronological order:

• Period I: Chalcolithic (c. 18th–7th BCE)
• Period II: Early historic (c. 7th–2nd century BCE & 2nd century BCE – first century CE),
• Period III: 1st–6th centuries CE
• Period IV is defined as the late medieval period (16th – 18th centuries CE)

Characteristics of Chalcolithic Culture

• Ahara Culture: There are several others such as Ahar (Rajasthan), Balathal, and Gilund. The use of black and red pottery is a distinguishing element
• Kayatha Culture: The durable red slipping clay with chocolate motifs is the prominent feature of this region, which includes Chambal and its tributaries
• Malwa Culture: Gujarat is home to the Narmada River and its tributaries. One of the most important Chalcolithic settlements in the world
• Prabhas and Rangpur Culture: Both of them are descended from the Harappan civilization. The polished red ceramic is the distinguishing characteristic of this civilization

Significance of Chalcolithic Age

• With the exception of the alluvial zone and dense woodlands, the chalcolithic area spread throughout the country
• The majority of people chose to live near hills and rivers
• Microlithic instruments made of stone and copper were employed by the ancients
• They were well-versed in the process of smelting
• They were the first to use painted pottery in their project. The majority of them used wheel made pots in black and red. These pots were used for a variety of tasks including cooking, storing, drinking, and eating. There is evidence of the use of lota and thali
• Neolithic-Chalcolithic was the name given to a period of time when the Neolithic phase transitioned into the Chalcolithic
• The Chalcolithic people were pioneers in colonization
• There was a large hamlet in Peninsular India, and there was a large amount of cereal agriculture that was known or observed
• They raised wheat, barley, lentils, and rice, among other crops
• Fish and rice were the most major foods consumed during this time period
• Folks in the villages of Kayatha, Inamgaon, and Iran were well-off, whilst those in the villages of Chirand and Pandi Rajar Dhibi were destitute
• The dead were buried in Maharashtra in a north-south direction, whereas in South India, they were buried in an east-west direction

Conclusion

The Chalcolithic Age in India saw the use of copper combined with stone. The Stone-Copper Age. Their tools and weapons were made of low grade bronze along with copper and stone. There are various settlements in time. A few are Pre-Harappan (Kalibangan in Rajasthan, Bhanawali in Haryana), while others are Harappan or Post-Harappan. Between 2000 and 700 BC, the Chalcolithic culture centered on farming settlements. It was found in southern Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and southern and eastern India.

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