Chalcolithic Period
Chalcolithic culture refers to the period that wedges between the first farming societies known as the Neolithic Age and the Urban and literate site of the Bronze age. The Chacolith period begins in the mid 5th millennium BC and ends with the beginning of the Bronze age, in the late 3rd to 4th millennium BC, depending on the region. The term Chacholith means “Copper Age” in Greek and indeed chalcolithic period is generally not always related to extensive metal metallurgy. Read the article below to know more about the chalcolithic culture of India.
What Does Chalcolithic Culture Mean?
Chalcolithic Cultures, also known as the Copper Age Period, is a culture that uses both copper and stone tools. These chalcolithic cultures in India are rural cultures, which do not differ much in Economy but retain a different ceramic tradition. The Chalcolithic culture of India originated by E. V. Gordon Childe during the second millennium B.C. in his work “What Happened in History” has discussed in detail the development and benefits related to the use of Copper.
This phase is primarily applied to the preHarappans, but a large number of Chalcolithic cultures occurred after the decline of Harappans with different regional characteristics. These chalcolithic cultures are largely observed in isolation from Harappan civilization. On the basis of the material remains unearthed during excavations at different sites, the sequence of the chalcolithic sites is described as:
Kayatha Chalcolithic Culture
Ahar Chalcolithic Culture
Malwa Chalcolithic Culture
Jorwe Chalcolithic Culture
Chalcolithic Age In India Overview
What Is the Chalcolithic Age?
The chalcolithic age in India is regarded as the first metal age which saw the use of copper along with stone. It was also commonly known as the Stone- Copper age. Along with the use of copper and stone, these people also used low-grade bronze to make different tools and weapons. The chalcolithic age in India span around 2000 B.C. to 700 B.C. This culture was mainly observed in the Pre-Harappan phase but it extended to Post- Harappan phases in many places. The chalcolithic period relates to the farming communities namely Kayastha, Ahar or Banas, Malwa, and Jorwe.
The term chalcolithic is composed of two words Chaco and Lith and was derived from the Greek words (Khalkos and Lithos respectively) which means copper age or Copper and Stone age.
Chalcolithic Age Tools
Chalcolithic means the use of copper along with the stone. It was considered the Stone-Copper age. Along with the copper, the people during the Chacolith period used low-grade bronze to make tools and weapons like knives, fishing hooks, axes, oins, chisels, and rods.
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Significance of Chalcolithic Age in India
Chacolith age areas were observed throughout the country excluding thick forest and alluvial regions.
Most of the people were settled near rivers and lakes.
Microlithics tools of copper and stone were used by the people.
The place where the Neolithic age transferred to the chalcolithic age is known as the Neolithic chalcolithic
The people in chacolith culture are observed as colonizers.
Fish and Rice were important foods during the chalcolithic period.
Pottery during the chacolith period was painted for the first time. The Black and Red Pottery were most commonly seen. These potteries were used for drinking, storing, cooking, and eating.
Chalcolithic Age Sites in India
The table given below discusses the different types of chalcolithic sites in India
FAQs on Chalcolithic Culture In India
1. What does the chalcolithic age in India refer to?
Chalcolithic age, also known as the copper age in India is considered as the transition period between the bronze age and the neolithic age. The Chalcolithic age is the first age in India where metals like copper and its alloy bronze were discovered. In this period, both metals and stones were used for making tools and vessels that are used in day-to-day life. Indus valley sites are considered the most important sites observed during this period.
2. What were the different tools used by chacolith people?
The different tiny tools and weapons used by chacolith people were made up of stones and copper. They made bangles using copper and manufactured beads using semi-precious metals such as carnelian, quartz, and stelities. The discovery of flax and cotton at sites exhibits that they knew the manufacturing of threading and weaving. In contrast with paleolithic and mesolithic, chalcolithic people used metals to make tools.
3. What were the different potteries used during the chalcolithic age?
Black and rare pottery were widely observed in the chacolith age. Black and Red ware pottery with white linear design were observed during Ahar- Banas culture. Jorwe ware is painted with balck on Red and has a small matt surface treated with wash. Ochre colored pottery is determined as the junior contemporaries of Harappa. The pottery was determined with copper hoard culture that was largely seen in the regions like upper Ganga valley and Ganga Yamuna doab.
4. What was the main feature of the chalcolithic age?
The economy during the chalcolithic age was based upon stock raising, hunting, agriculture, and fishing. The copper and bronze tools were also observed during this period. The presence of painted pottery is regarded as the hallmark of the chalcolithic period. Another striking feature of the chalcolithic period was burial practice and dead were found buried in a particular direction all over a particular area.
