Chalcolithic Age
Chalcolithic Age| Culture, Sites, Time Period and Features
• Chalco+Lithic was derived from the Greek words “khalkos” + “líthos” which means “copper” and “stone” or Copper Age. It is also known as the Eneolithic or Æneolithic.
• It was a transition period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. It was developed in central India and Deccan region.
• The culture is characterized by well developed lithic blade industry and has an evidence of copper in its cultural assemblage.
• Some Chalcolithic cultures are contemporary of Harappan and some of pre-Harappan cultures but most Chalcolithic cultures are post-Harappan
• The centers flourished in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
→ Sites of this culture appears to be heavily concentrated in the Tapi valley/ less in Godavari-Pravara valleys and unevenly in the Bhima valley.
• Chalcolithic sites are spread over a wide areas, occupying different regional contexts and environments.
• Excavations at the sites like Inamgaon, Nevasa, Daimabad, Kaothe, Chandoli and Walki have provided information of this early agricultural population.
Chalcolithic Culture
| Chalcolithic Culture | Sites | Time Period | Features |
| Ahar Culture | Aahar (Rajasthan), balathal, Gilund etc. The distinctive feature is black and red ware. | 2,800-1,500 B.C. | • Black and red ware decorated with white designs. |
| Kayatha Culture | Found in Chambal and its tributaries, the sturdy red slipped ware with chocolate designs is main feature. | 2,450-700 B.C. | • Sturdy red shipped ware with chocolate coloured designs. |
| Malwa Culture | Narmada and its tributaries in Gujarat (One of the largest Chalcolithic settlements) | 1,900-1,400 B.C. | • Thick polished surface with red or black designs over it. |
| Savalda Culture | Dhulia district of Maharashtra. | 2,300-2,000 B.C. | • ‘Savalda ware’ which is brown blackish and chocolate coloured design. |
| Jorwe Culture | Maharashtra, Nevasa, Chandoli, Daimabad and Imamgaon. | 1,500 -900 B.C. | • Painted black-on-red and has a matt surface treated with a wash |
| Prabhas Culture | Very few sites | 2,000-1,400 B.C. | • Derived from Harappan culture
• Lustrous Red Ware because of their glossy surface. |
| Rangpur Culture | Ghelo and Kalubhar rivers in Gujarat. | 1,700-1,400 B.C. | • Derived from Harappan culture
• Lustrous Red Ware because of their glossy surface. |
Features or Characteristics of Chalcolithic Age
• Can be distinguished by its painted pottery.
• The first full-fledged village communities evolved in the Chalcolithic phase. Chalcolithic villages could be differentiated from each other mainly on the basis of pottery and other artefacts such as terracotta and tools.
• The Chalcolithic people built rectangular and circular houses of mud wattled-and-daub. Floors were made
of rammed clay. Most of the houses had chullahs’ either inside or outside, and these had their variations also
• Barley and wheat are cultivated. Others crops are bajra, jowar, millets, ragi, green peas, lentil, green gram and black gram.
• Polished stone tools and Metals like Copper and its alloys were used in making axes, chisels, knives, fishhooks, pins, rods.
• The chalcolithic communities traded and exchanged goods with other contemporary communities.
• Chalcolithic sites have yielded vertebral faunal remains in plenty consisting of both wild and domesticated variety.
• The domestic animals represented are the Indian humped cattle, sheep, goat, dog and pig . The wild species are black buck, nilgai, gazella, chital, sambar, barking deer, wild pig, hare etc.
• Cattle was the most predominant domestic animal.