Chalcolithic Culture of India
Chalcolithic signifies the usage of copper and stone simultaneously.
The word Chalcolithic can be divided into two words, namely, ‘Chalco’ which means Copper, and ‘lith’ which means stone. So Chalcolithic Culture signifies the use of Copper and Stone simultaneously.
This practice of using Copper and Stone tools and things started in Neolithic Phase, but it became dominant during the Chalcolithic period which was between 1800 BCE to 1500 BCE in India.
Thus, we can say that after the disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization, the Chalcolithic period started in India.
Society during the Chalcolithic period
Just like the Indus Valley people, they were also dependent upon Agricultural practices. In addition, they were also dependent upon Animal Husbandry, Stock raising, fishing, etc.
They also made textile clothes and many metal crafts. One of the very important developments in this phase was the uniform practice of burying the dead, which was not uniform in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Moreover, they also followed the North to South position while burying a dead person.
Copper Sites
Copper was the most widely used metal in this phase, which was obtained from,
- Ahar, Rajasthan
- Gilund, Rajasthan
- Khetri Mines, Rajasthan
- Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan
Important Chalcolithic Culture site in India
(1800 BCE — 1500 BCE)
- Ahar-Banas Culture (Rajasthan)
- Kaytha (Madhya Pradesh)
- Malwa (Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat)
- Svalda (Maharashtra)
