The Chalcolithic culture emerged in western India around 2800 BC due to the local availability of copper from mines in Rajasthan. Archaeological evidence has revealed aspects of life during this period, including that people lived in stable, stratified villages and practiced agriculture while also engaging in trade. Religious beliefs centered on a mother goddess, and social hierarchies existed based on variations in house and grave goods. The highly decorated black and red pottery produced provides insights into the mathematical, artistic, and scientific knowledge of Chalcolithic people.
The Chalcolithic culture emerged in western India around 2800 BC due to the local availability of copper from mines in Rajasthan. Archaeological evidence has revealed aspects of life during this period, including that people lived in stable, stratified villages and practiced agriculture while also engaging in trade. Religious beliefs centered on a mother goddess, and social hierarchies existed based on variations in house and grave goods. The highly decorated black and red pottery produced provides insights into the mathematical, artistic, and scientific knowledge of Chalcolithic people.
The Chalcolithic culture emerged in western India around 2800 BC due to the local availability of copper from mines in Rajasthan. Archaeological evidence has revealed aspects of life during this period, including that people lived in stable, stratified villages and practiced agriculture while also engaging in trade. Religious beliefs centered on a mother goddess, and social hierarchies existed based on variations in house and grave goods. The highly decorated black and red pottery produced provides insights into the mathematical, artistic, and scientific knowledge of Chalcolithic people.
The Chalcolithic culture emerged in western India around 2800 BC due to the local availability of copper from mines in Rajasthan. Archaeological evidence has revealed aspects of life during this period, including that people lived in stable, stratified villages and practiced agriculture while also engaging in trade. Religious beliefs centered on a mother goddess, and social hierarchies existed based on variations in house and grave goods. The highly decorated black and red pottery produced provides insights into the mathematical, artistic, and scientific knowledge of Chalcolithic people.
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1/ 3
CHALCOLITHIC CULTURE
INTRODUCTION Around the middle of 4th millennium B.C ( 3500 BC), man become aware of 1st metal Copper. Gradually man using copper tools but use of stone tools was not given up. The phase of life is based on the use of copper and stone tools is called chalcolithic phase. This culture phase commenced in India around 2800 B.C and continued upto 700 B.C at some places.
DISTRIBUTION OF CHALCOLITHIC CULTURE
This culture emerged in western parts in India because of availability of copper. Khetri mines in Rajasthan were the source of copper. As copper was available locally, the people began to use copper tools. The archaeological excavations have brought to light four cultural phases in western India. Four phases are represented by, Kayatha culture Ahar culture Malwa culture Jorwe culture
LIFE AND PATTERN DURING CHALCOLITHIC AGE
Archaeological excavation carried out at various chalcolithic settlements throw light on the socio, religious, economic and political life of the age. Common people not aware of script did not leave behind any written record. But the material remain discovered at the settlement in form of pottery, tools and implement helped in reconstruction of the life of chalcolithic culture.
SOCIAL LIFE Archaeological evidences indicates that chalcolithic people lived in stable society their houses were made up of permanent material. These people were not nomads. They lived in villages. Social startification was prevalent during chalcolithic period as revealed by the variations of house sizes and items found from the graves. Some of houses were small while some houses were big. Some of grave had yielded semi – precious stones and costly pottery while other graves had only cheap pottery has been found. These evidences indicate that some people were rich and some other were poor in chalcolithic settle. Size of settlements varies from place to place. At some places 100’s of people lived. Evidences indicate that 200-300 people lived at Navdatoli. On the basis of predominance of female figures in the findings from chalcolithic settle, it has seen opined that the society was matriarchal in character.
RELIGIOUS LIFE A large number of female figurines have been discovered from chalcolithic settlements. These evidences indicate that mother goddess was the chief diety of chalcolithic people. Male gods were rare. Only from Inamgaon, three male figurines have been found. The graves also throw light on the religious belief of chalcolithic people. The dead bodies were buried properly. Discovery of items of common use from the graves indicate that the people believed life after death.
POLITICAL LIFE Discovery of public buildings such as dams and forts indicate that some kind of public authority would have been there in chalcolithic settlements. The big houses discover during excavation, are also believed to be occupied by politically powerful people.
ECONOMIC LIFE Agriculture was main occupation of chalcolithic people. Barley was main crop. From Walki (MH) a plough-share was found. Evidence of crop rotation was found at Inamgoan. People constructed dams for irrigation purpose. Domestication of animals also carried out. Sheep and goat were domesticated. People practised hunting and food gathering as well as indicated by discovery of bones of wild animals. The discovery of some items are not found locally indicate that trade and commerce was also practiced at same extent. Arts and crafts were also prevalent in chalcolithic culture. Tools made of stone and copper were found. Pottery making was an important craft a highly refined pots have been fund from chalcolithic settlements SIGNIFICANCE OF POTTERY A large number of varieties of pottery have been found from chalcolithic settlements. Black on red ware is the most common pottery of chalcolithic period. Pots were painted on outside using different colours. The geometrical designs found on outer surface of pots indicate that some kind of mathematical knowledge was there with chalcolithic people. The difference in quality of pots indicate that these pots were used by different classes of people. The highly lenigated fine pots were perhaps used by rich people and cheap coarse pottery were used by poor people. The pots were turned on wheels indicate that chalcolithic people were aware of wheel and there would’ve been used it for transportation too. The paintings found on the outer surface throw light on cultural activities. These paintings indicates that chalcolithic people had developed refined of taste The colours used for paintings throw light about the knowledge on chemical science Birds and animals depicited in paintings would have played important role in life of chalcolithic people.
