Chalcolithic Age in India

An age which revolved much around the Harappan Civilization, The Chalcolithic age was much pre-harappan and some post-harappan period when people first used metal i.e. copper that's why this age is also known as Copper-Stone age. The people led a sub-urban lifestyle when the village community were growing bigger but not as big as the first cities of the Harappan Culture. Chalcolithic age was a kind intermediate between the pre-historic and the Harappan era as it had certain features which were more developed from the Neolithic period while some of it's features were developed more duringthe Harappan Culture thus it acted as the mediate between both the cultures. There are some more points about the Chalcolithic age, so let's start reading;

Lifestyle -

People lived relatively in large groups as compared to the Neolithic age. The houses were built in the groups with much modern design but the concept of burnt bricks were not known to them. The economy was not much stable as the whole was based on the village level system. The infant mortality rate was higher and the death due to unnatural reasons was also high in number which suggests that the period lacked the basis information of medications. There exist the inequality among the people as the leader of the village lived in the large rectangular house while all the villagers lived in the small round huts which gives the idea of the dominating power of the village head. Religious activities started flourishing and the worship of mother goddess was also practiced as some small clay images of earth goddess have been discovered at certain places. 

Agriculture -

Domestication of the animals were much popular and animals domesticated were sheep, goats, pigs and buffaloes and also the hunting of deer was quite popular however the horse was not known to them. People used to eat beef and pork and the animals were domesticated for slaughtering not for milk and dairy products. People used to produce rice, wheat, bajra and other cereals while practicing the slash and burn agriculture method. Many tools were used for agricultural purposes but the plough and hoe was not known to the people. 

Technology -

Much technological advancement took place during the Chalcolithic age however the major advancement took place during the Neolithic period and the Harappan Culture. The red and black decorative pottery came into the existence during this period which continued even in the Harappan Civilization. The Chalcolithic people were the expert copper-smith and knew how to smelt the copper and make tools from it. Also, the manufacturing of different types of ornaments, jewelry, and beads started from the Chalcolithic age only. The people also knew how to spin and weave however the technology did not change much after the Neolithic age.

Area Influenced -

The most prominent site of the chalcolithic age was the Khetri mines present day Rajasthan as most of the copper used in thi age was mined from this mine only. Although, the towns of this age also flourished in the states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnatak, etc. However the most developed chalcolithic sites are Nevasa, Jorwe, Navdatoli, Malwa, etc. Some of the Chalcolithic age sites which were part of Harappan culture are Kalibangan, Banawali, and Kot Diji.

The Chalcolithic age is always considered as the secondary age as there is no particular time in which the age flourished independently as either Neolithic age or Harappan Civilization was flourishing contemporary to it at some different place which overtook it's identity and also much innovations took place during this age particularly in India.

You will also like my article on Neolithic age at neolithic-age.

These notes can be helpful for UPSC Preparation, Board Exams, and other competitive exams.

The article on the Mesolithic age is at Mesolithic Culture in India.